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 |
 
 LETTERS 
 
 OF \j\ 
 
 PL i Nr 
 
 THE 
 
 CONSUL: 
 
 With Occafional REMARKS. 
 
 By WILLIAM MELMOTH, Efq; 
 THE NINTH EDITION, 
 
 REVISED AND CORRECTED. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 LONDON: 
 Printed for J. DODSLEY, in Pall-Mall.
 
 THE 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 DL INT may be conjidered in thefe 
 Letters as writing his own me- 
 moirs : every epiflle is a kind of hifto- 
 rical (ketch, wherein we have a view 
 of him in fomejlr iking attitude^ either 
 of aElive or contemplative life. Arid 
 if 'That were his real dejign in their 
 public at ion y he could not^ it jhould 
 feem, have taken a more agree able y 
 nor^ perhaps^ a more modeft method 
 of tranfmitting himfelf to pofterity. 
 70 enter therefore into a detail con- 
 cerning him, would be only anticipat- 
 ing the Author himfelf ^ and amujing 
 the Reader with a copy>> while the ori- 
 ginal ftands jbefore him. Nothing 
 feems requifite to be farther added to 
 the piece, than juft to mark the date : 
 PLINY was born in the reign of NERO, 
 about the eight hundred and fifteenth 
 
 year 
 
 2056283
 
 The PREFACE. 
 
 year of Rome, and the^fixty-fecond of 
 the Chriftian tzra. As to the time of 
 his death) antiquity has given us no in- 
 formation ; but it is conjeElured he 
 died either a little before* or foon after 
 the deceafe of that excellent Prince^ 
 the admirable TRAJAN ; that is y about 
 the year of CHRIST one hundred and 
 fix teen. 
 
 THE elegance of this Author s 
 manner, adds force to the moft inte- 
 refting^ at the fame time that it en- 
 livens y the moft common fubjeEls, But 
 the polite and fpirited turn of thefe 
 Letters^ is by no means their principal 
 recommendation : they receive a much 
 higher value^ as they exhibit one of the 
 moft amiable and 'exemplary charac- 
 ters in all antiquity. PLINY',? ^hole- 
 life feems to have been employed in the 
 exercife of every generous and focial 
 virtue. "To forward mod eft merit^ 
 1 to encourage ingenious talents, to vin- 
 
 d'a. '-
 
 The PREFACE. 
 
 die ate opprefs'd innocence, arefome of 
 the glorious purpofes to which he de- 
 voted his power) his fortune, and his 
 abilities. But how does he rife in our 
 ejleem and admiration, 'when we fee 
 him exerting (with a grace that dif- 
 covers his humanity as well as his 
 politenefs) the noblejl aBs both of pub- 
 lic and private munificence, not fo 
 muck from the abundance of his wealth >, 
 as the wifdom of his ceconotnyt 
 
 WHA T a celebrated ancient has 
 obferved concerning the Jtyle of the 
 
 famous Grecian painter Timanthes, 
 is applicable to that of PLINY, in- 
 telligitur plus Temper quam pingi- 
 tur ; his meaning is generally much 
 
 fuller than his exprejjion. This, as it 
 heightens the difficulty of his interpre- 
 ter s tajk, fo it neceffarily gives great 
 
 fcope to an objecJor. But in Drawing 
 after thefe excellent majlers of anti- 
 
 yuity,
 
 The PREFACE. 
 
 quity^ the moft fuccefsful are only, 
 perhaps, the moft excufable ; as thofe 
 who have the trueft tafte of their works y 
 will leajl expeEl to fee theflrength and 
 fpirit of them fully preferred in a 
 copy. This, how ever y is not mentioned 
 as claiming indulgence to any errors 
 in the prefent attempt : on the con- 
 trary ', they are willingly refigned to 
 juft correction. A true critic is a 
 kind of cenfor in the republic of let- 
 ters \ and none who wifh well to its 
 interejisy would defire to fupprefs or 
 reftrain his office. The tranflator^ at 
 leafty has received too much advan- 
 tage in the courfe of this performance , 
 from the animadverjions of feme of the 
 heft judges in both languages, not to 
 value that enlightening arty wherever 
 it may be exercifed with the fame ac- 
 curate and candid j pint* 
 
 c THE
 
 ERRATA, VOL. I. 
 
 Page 1 8. 1. i. for is, r. are. 
 
 24. I. 10. dele his gratifications, r. of him, and place a 
 
 full ftop after him. 
 
 27. 1. 5. after ivritc, place a corrAna. 
 
 59. I. 16. after the words, bar-orators, dele the repe- 
 tition of them. 
 
 90. . 15. dele up. 
 
 91. . 7. for propofes, r. propojcd. 
 102. . 10. dele c/y. 
 
 124. 2. for arrived, to r. acquirea. 
 
 1 27. . 8. in note, for y?/, r. /y^. 
 
 128. . i. for Jit, r. /y. 
 
 156. . z. in note, for that*, r. /r. 
 
 213. n note, for Milieu, r. Milan. 
 
 215. .12. for <wtiich, r. ivhom. 
 
 235. .16. for pen, r. pencil. 
 
 253. 1 9 . for papers, r. manufcript. 
 
 283. .17. forjctf, r. &. 
 
 288. . 23. fa* papers, r. writings. 
 
 291. . 5.' after >, add //&. 
 
 298. . 12. in note, for national, r. notional. 
 
 310. .19. for a paper, r. writing, 
 
 318. . 1 8. for extrafiing, \. ersfting. 
 
 Vet. L
 
 ( I ) 
 
 THE 
 
 LETTERS 
 
 O F 
 
 FLINT. 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 L E T T E R I. To SEPTITIUS. 
 
 YO U have frequently prefled me to make a 
 felect collection of my Letters (if in truth 
 there be any which deferve a preference) and give 
 them to the public. I have feledted them accord- 
 ingly j not indeed in their proper order of time, 
 for I was not compiling a hiftory; but juft as they 
 prefented themielves to my hands. And now I 
 have only to wifh that you may have no reafon to 
 repent of your advice, nor I of my compliance: 
 in that cafe, I may probably enquire after the reft, 
 which at prefent lie negle&ed, and preferve thofe 
 I mall hereafter write. Farewel. 
 
 VOL. I. A LET-
 
 5 THE LETTERS Book I. 
 
 LETTER II. To ARIANUS. 
 
 IForefee your journey hither is likely to be de- 
 layed, and therefore fend you th-- fpeech which 
 I promifed in my former; requefting yon, as 
 ufual, to revife and correct it. I defire this the 
 more earneflly, as I never, I think, in any of 
 my former fpeeches attempted the fame ftyle of 
 compofition ; for I have endeavoured to imitate 
 your old favourite Domofthenes, and Calvus who 
 is lately become mine. When I fay this, I mean 
 only with reipect to their manner ; for, to catch 
 their fublime fpirity is given alone to the infpired 
 few. My fubject indeed feemed naturally to lead 
 me to this (may I venture to call it ?) emulation ? 
 as it was, in general, of fuch a nature as demand- 
 ed all the thunder of eloquence, even to a 
 degree fufficient to have awakened (if it be pof- 
 fible) that indolence in which I have long re- 
 pofed. I have not however neglected the fofter 
 graces of my admired Tully, wherever I could 
 with propriety flep out of my direct road to en- 
 joy a more flowery path: for, it was warmth 
 not aufterity, at which I aimed. I would not 
 have you imagine by this, that I am befpeaking 
 your indulgence : on the contrary, to induce you to 
 exercife the utmoft fe verity of your critic! r m, I 
 will confefs, that neither my friends nor myfelf 
 
 are
 
 Book I. O F P L I N Y. 3 
 
 are averfe from the publication of this piece, ifyott 
 fhould join with us in giving the fame partial vote. 
 The truth is, as I muft publifh fomething, I wi(h 
 (and 'tis the wiih, I confefs, of indolence) it might 
 be this performance rather than any other, merely 
 becaufe it is already nnifhed. At all events, how- 
 ever, fomething I muft publifh, and for many rea- 
 fons; chiefly, becaufe the tracts which I have al- 
 ready fent into the world, though they have long 
 fince loft all their recommendation from novelty, 
 are ftill, I am told, in requeft; if, indeed, the 
 Bookfellers do not flatter me. And let them, fince 
 by that innocent deceit I am encouraged to pur- 
 fue my ftudies. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER III. To CANINIUS RUFUS. 
 
 HO W ftands a Comum, that favourite fcene 
 of yours and mine ? What becomes of the 
 pleafant Villa, the vernal Portico, the ftiady Plane- 
 tree-walk, the cryftal Canal fo agreeably winding 
 along its flowery banks, together with the charm- 
 ing b Lake below, which ferves at once the purpofes 
 of ufe and beauty ? What have you to tell me of 
 A 2 the 
 
 * The city where Pliny was born: it ftill fubfifts, and is 
 now called Coma, fituated upon the lake Larius, or Lago di 
 Come, in the duchy ^f Milan. 
 
 b The lake Larius, upon the banks of which this villa was 
 fituated.
 
 4 THE LETTERS Book! 
 
 the firm yet foft c Geftatio, the funny Bath, the 
 public Saloon, the private Dining-rocm, and all 
 the elegant apartments for repofe both at d noon and 
 night ? Do thefe poffefs my friend, and divide his 
 time withpleafing viciffittide ? Or do the affairs of 
 the world, as ufual, call him frequently from 
 this agreeable retreat ? If the fcene of your enjoy- 
 ments lies wholly there, you are happy : if nor, 
 you are under the common error of mankind. But 
 leave, my friend (for certainly it is time) the 
 fordid purfuits of life to others, and devote your- 
 felf in this calm and undifturbed recefs, entirely 
 to pleafures of the fludious kind. Let thefe em- 
 ploy your idle as well as ferious hours; Jet them 
 be at once your bufmefs and your amufement j the 
 iubjeftsofyour waking and even fleeping thoughts: 
 produce fomcthing that mail be really and for ever 
 your own. All your other pofleflions will pafs 
 from one mailer to another : this alone, when once 
 yours, will remain yours for ever. As I well 
 know the temper and genius of him to whom I am 
 addreffing myfelf, I muft exhort you to think 
 of your abilities as they defer ve: do juftice to 
 thofe excellent talents you poffefs, and the world, 
 believe me, will certainly do fo too. Farewei. 
 
 LET- 
 
 c A piece cf ground fet apart for the purpofe of excrcifing ei- 
 ther on horfrbaclc, or in their vehicles; it was generally conti- 
 guous to their gardens, and laid out in the form of a Circus. 
 
 d It was cuiiomary among the Romars to fleep in themiddle 
 of the day ; and they had apartments for that purpoie diftiuft 
 //am their bedchambers.
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 5 
 
 LETTER IV. ?o POMPEIA CELERINA. 
 
 YO U might perceive by my laft fhort letter, I 
 had no occaiion for yours to inform me of 
 the various convenienciesyou enjoy at your feveral 
 villas. The elegant accommodations which are to 
 befoundat a Narnia, b Ocriculum, c Carfola/-Perufia, 
 particularly the pretty bath at Narnia, I am ex- 
 tremely well acquainted with. The fact is, I have 
 a property in every thing which belongs to you j 
 and I know of no other difference between your 
 houfe and my own, than that I am more carefully 
 attended in the former than the latter. You may, 
 perhaps, have occafion to make the fame obferva- 
 tion in your turn, whenever you fhall give me 
 your company here j and I wiih for it, not only 
 that you may partake of mine with the fame eafe 
 and freedom that I do of yours, but to awaken the 
 induftry of my domeftics, who are grown fome- 
 what carelefs in their attendance upon me. A long 
 courfe of mild treatment is apt to wear out the 
 impreffions of awe infervants; whereas new faces 
 quicken their diligence, and they are generally more 
 inclined to pleafe their mafter by attentions to his 
 gueil, than to himfelf. Farewel. 
 
 A 3 L E T- 
 
 * Now called Narni, a city in Ombna, in the dutchy of 
 Spoleto. 
 
 5 Otricoli, in the fame dutchy. 
 c Carfola, in the fame dutcfiy. 
 d Perugia, in Tufcany,
 
 D 
 
 THE LETTERS Book L 
 LETTER V. ToVocoNius ROMANUS. 
 I D you ever fee a more abject and mean- 
 
 fpirited creature than Regulus has appeared 
 fmce the death of Domitian ; during whole reign 
 his conduct was no lefs infamous, tho' more con- 
 cealed than under Nero's ? He has lately tx- 
 prefled fome apprehenfions of my refentment : and 
 indeed he has reafon j for, I look upon him with 
 the utmoft indignation. He not only promoted 
 the profecution againft Ruflicus Arulenus, but 
 exulted in his death; infomuch that he actually 
 recited and publifhed a libel upon his memory, 
 wherein he ftiles him, the Stoics ape: adding, 
 that " he was ^ftigmated by the wound he re- 
 
 " ceived 
 
 a The impropriety of this expreflion in the original feems 
 to lie in the word Jtzgmofum, which Regulus, probably, either 
 eoin'd through affectation, or ufed through ignorance. It is a 
 \voru at ieaft which does not occur in any author of authority : 
 the tranflator has endeavoured therefore to preferve the fame 
 fort of impropriety, by ufmg an expreflion of the like un- 
 warranted ftamp. 
 
 It is obfervable how careful the Romans were of preserving 
 the purity of their language. It feems even to have been a 
 point whicli they thought worthy the attention of the ftate 
 itfelf 1 for, we find the Cumeans not daring to make ufe of 
 the Latin language in their public acts, without having firft 
 obtained lenve in form * : And Tiberius himfelf would not 
 hazard the word monopoiium,'m the fenate, without makir.g an 
 excufefor employing a foreign term ||. Seneca gives itas a cer- 
 tain maxim, that wherever a general falfe tafte in Icile and ex- 
 pi. , on prevails, it is an infallible iign of a corruption of man- 
 ners in that people : a liberty of introducing obfolete words, or 
 forming new ones, is a mark, he thinks, of an equal licentiouf- 
 nefs of the moral kind f . Accordingly it is obferved, % there is 
 
 fcarce 
 Liv. 1, 40. c. 42. 2 Suet in lib. c. 7 1. -j- Ef, 1 14. J Sanad>Jur Hor,
 
 Book I. O F P L I N Y. 7 
 
 " ceived in the caufe of Vitellius:" fuch is the 
 ftrain of his eloquence! He fell fo furioufly 
 upon the character <J Herennius Senecio, who was 
 capitally convicted upon the information of Metius 
 Carus, t'^ac the latter faid to him one day, Pray 
 wba f bufimjs have you with my dead men? Did 1 
 ever interfere in the i-fftiir of Craftus^ or Camerinus? 
 The lie, you know, were victims to Regulus in Nero's 
 tirre. For thefe reafons he imagines I am highly 
 exafperated; and therefore when he recited his laft 
 piece, did not give me an invitation. Befides, he 
 has not forgotten, it teems, the dangerous fnare he 
 once laid for me, when he and I were pleading be- 
 fore the b Centum viri. Rufticus had defired me to 
 be counfrl for Aricnilla, Timon's wife: Regulus 
 was engaged againft her. In the courfe of my de- 
 fence I ftrongly infifted upon a decree which had 
 A 4 been 
 
 fcarce more than eight or ten inftances of new words can be 
 produced from the moft approved Roman writers, in the courfe 
 of two or three centuries. It is poflible, however, a delicacy 
 of this fort may be carried too far, and in fad we find feme 
 of their beft writers complaining of the poverty of their lan- 
 guage * ; notwithstanding Tully has ventured to affert it was 
 jnrre copious than the Greek f. 
 
 b A feleft body of men who formed a court of judicature, 
 called the Centumviral court. Their jurifdiftion extended 
 chiefly, if not entirely, to queftions concerning wills and in- 
 teilates eftates; for, though Tully in his firft book de Oratore, 
 enumerates other points which came in queftion before them, 
 yet Pitifcusjis of opinion (and with great probability) that 
 in latter times their bufmefs was fmgly confined to the cafes 
 Jirft mentioned. Their number, as appears by our author, 
 Amounted to 180. 
 
 Liter, i. 332. $ui*tih 8. 3. P/in. Ef>. 13. 1. 4- t DtFin. 1. I. 
 [ub init* t Lex* In vsrbt
 
 $ THE LETTERS Bookl. 
 
 been formerly made by the worthy Modeilus, at 
 that time bammed by Domitian. Now behold 
 Regulus in his true colours : " Pray, fays he, 
 (t what are your fentiments of Modeftus ? " You 
 will eafily judge how extremely hazardous it 
 would have been to have anfwered in his fa- 
 vour, and how infamous if the reverfe. But 
 fome guardian power, I am perfuaded, afiifted 
 me in this emergency. < f I would tell you my 
 <e fentiments, I faid, if that were a matter for the 
 ({ confideration of the Centumviri." Still he re- 
 peated his queftion. 1 replied, " It was not cuf- 
 " tomary to examine witnefles to the character 
 ce of a man after fentence had pafled upon him/' 
 He prefTed me a third time : " / do not enquire, 
 faid he, what you think of Modeftus in general; I 
 cnly ajk your opinion of his Loyalty. Since you 
 will have my fentiments then, I returned, / think 
 it illegal even to ajk a queftion concerning a fer- 
 Jon wboftands convifted. This filenced him j and 
 I was univerfally applauded and congratulated, 
 that without wounding my character by an ad- 
 vantageous, perhaps, though ungenerous anfwer, 
 I had not entangled myfelf in fo infidious a fnare. 
 Regulus, confcious of this unworthy treatment, 
 has folicited Ccecilius Celer, and Fabius Juf- 
 tus, to ufe their intereft to bring about a re- 
 conciliation between us. And left this fhould 
 j;ot be fufficient, he has applied alfo to Spurinna 
 
 fop
 
 Book I. O F P L I N Y. g 
 
 for the fame purpofe ; to whom he came in the 
 humbleft manner (for he is the moft abject crea- 
 ture living, where he has any thing to fear) and 
 intreated him to call uport me very early the next 
 morning, and endeavour by any means to foften 
 my refentment ; " for, fays he, I can no longer 
 " fupport myfelf under this anxiety of mind." 
 Accordingly I was awakened the following day 
 with a meflage from Spurinna, informing me that 
 he would wait upon me. I lent word back, I would 
 call upon Him : however, both of us mutually fet- 
 ting out to pay this vifit, we met under Livia's Por- 
 tico. He acquainted me with the commifTion he 
 had received from Regulus, and interceded for 
 him, as became fo worthy a man in behalf of one of 
 a very different character, without greatly preflmg 
 the thing. I ought not, I (aid, to conceal from him 
 the true flate of the cafe, and after I fliould have 
 informed him, 1 would leave it to himfelf to con- 
 fider what anfwer was proper for me to return. 
 " But, I cannot pofitively, I added, determine any 
 " thing till Mauricus c (who was then in exile) fhall 
 " return, by whofe fentiments I think myfelf obli- 
 " ged to be entirely guided in this affair." A few 
 days after, Regulus met me as I was attending 
 upon the Praetor, and calling me afide, faid, he 
 
 was 
 
 c Brother to Rufticus Arulenus, who had been put to death 
 tipon the information of this Regulus.
 
 io THE LETTERS Book I. 
 
 was afraid I deeply refented an expreflion he had 
 once made ufe of in his reply to me and Satiius 
 Rufus, before the Centumviri, to this purpofe : 
 Rufus and that other, who affefts to rival Tully, 
 and to dsfpife the eloquence cf cur age. I an- 
 fwered, that now indeed I perceived he fpoke it 
 with a fneer, fmce he owned he meant it fo ; other- 
 wife it might have paffed for a compliment. I was 
 free to own, I faid, that I endeavoured to i-nitate 
 Cicero, and was by no means contented with taking 
 my example from modern eloquence; for, I looked 
 upon it as a very abfurd thing not to copy the bed 
 models of every kind. But, " how happens it," 
 continued I, " that you who remember fo well 
 <f what paffed upon this occafion, fhould have for- 
 * f gotten that other, when you pufihed me fo ftrong- 
 * ly concerning the loyalty of Modeftus ?" Con- 
 founded by this unexpefted queftion, palid as he 
 always is, he turned ft ill paler. After a good 
 deal of hefitation, he faid, it was not at me he 
 aimed ; it was only at Modeftus. Obferve now, I 
 befeech you, the implacable ipirit of this fellow, 
 who was not afhamed thus to confefs himfelf capa- 
 ble of infulting the unfortunate. But the reafon he 
 gave in j unification of this infamous proceeding, is 
 pltafant. "He wrote," faid he, "in a certain letter, 
 which was read to Domitian, that I was the moft 
 < f execrable of all fcoundrels ;" and the character 
 
 Modeftus
 
 Book I. OF PLINY, n 
 
 Modeftus gave of him,was the truth beyond all man- 
 ner of controverfy. Here,! think, I broke offthe con - 
 verfation, being defirous to referve to myfelfthe li- 
 berty of afting as I fhould fee proper whenMauricus 
 returns. It is no eafy matter, I well know,todeftroy 
 Regulusi he is rich,andatthe head ofa party; there 
 arc many with whom he has 1 ' credit, and more that 
 
 are 
 
 d There feems to have been a caft of uncommon blacknefs 
 In the chara&er of this Regulus ; otherwife the benevolent 
 Pliny would fcarce have fingled him out, as he has in this and 
 fome following Letters, for the objedl of his warmest contempt 
 and indignation. Yet infamous as he appears to have been, 
 he was not, it feems, without his flatterers and admirers ; and 
 a contemporary poet frequently reprefents him as one of the 
 moft finiihed characters of the age, both in eloquence and 
 virtue ; particularly in the following epigram occafioned by 
 his efcape from an imminent danger. 
 
 arces. 
 
 Itur ad Herculei gelidas qua Tiburis at 
 
 Canaque fulphureis Albula fumat aquis j 
 Rura. nemufque facrum, dileQaque jugera Mujis, 
 
 Signat 'vicina quartus ab urbe lapis : 
 Hie rudis tefti'vas prceftabat Porticus umbras ; 
 
 Heu quam peene novum Pcriicus auja vefas ! 
 Nam fubito collapfa ruit, cum mole Jub ilia, 
 
 Gejlatus bijugis Regulus efjtt equis. 
 himirum timuit noftras Fortuna querelas, 
 
 Qu< par tarn magn< non crat in<victia:. 
 Nunc & damnajuvanl ; funt ipj'a ptricitla tanti : 
 
 Stantia non pot er ant teflaprobare Deos. 
 
 MART. Lib. I. Ep. 13. 
 
 Where leads the way to Tybur's fhady tow'rs, 
 And fnow-white Albula fulphureous pours, 
 A villa ftands, from Rome a little fpace ; 
 And ev'ry mufe delighu to haunt th place. 
 Here once a Portic lent her cooling ihade ; 
 ^.las ! how near to impious guilt betray'd ! 
 
 Sudden
 
 12 THE LETTERS Book L 
 
 are afraid of him : a paffion that will fometimes 
 prevail even beyond Friendfhip itfelf. But after 
 all, ties of this fort are not fo ftrong, but they 
 may be loofened ; and the popularity of a bad 
 man is no more to be depended upon than he is 
 himfelf. However (to repeat it again) I fhall 
 do nothing in this affair till Mauricus returns. 
 He is a man of found judgment and great faga- 
 city, formed upon long experience, and who 
 from his obfervations on the paft, well knows 
 how to judge of the future. I lhall confult with 
 him, and think myfelf juftified either in purfuing 
 or dropping this affair, as he (hall advife. In 
 the mean while, I thought J owed this account to 
 
 that 
 
 Sudden it fell; what time the fteeds convey 
 Safe frem her nodding walls great Regulus away. 
 To crufh that head not even Fortune dar'd, 
 And the world's general indignation fear'd. 
 Blett be the ruin, be the danger bleft ! 
 
 ing pile had ne'er the Gods confeft. 
 
 But poets, efpecially needy ones, fuch as we know Martial 
 was, are not generally the moft faithful painters in this way ; and 
 of the two copies of Regulus now before us, there can be no 
 doubt which moft refembled the original. If antiquity had de- 
 livered down to us more of thefe drawings of the fame perfon 
 by different hands, the truth of chara&ers might be eaficr af- 
 certained, and many of thofe which we now view with high 
 admiration, would greatly fink, perhaps, in our efteem ; as 
 we muft have conceived a very favourable idea of Regulus, if 
 we had never feen his picture but from Martial's pencil. Even 
 Horace himfelf we find giving a very different air to his * Lo!U 
 Jius from that in which he is represented by f Paterculds. 
 
 Lit. 4. 04. 9. f Lib, ^. 102.
 
 Book I. O F P L I N Y. rj 
 
 that friendship which fubfifts between us, and gives 
 you an undoubted right to be informed not only 
 of all my actions, but all my defigns. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER VI. To CORNELIUS TACITUS. 
 
 CErtainly you will laugh (and laugh you may) 
 when I tell you that your old acquaintance is 
 turned fportfman, and has captured three noble 
 boars. What! (you will fay with aftonifhment) 
 Pliny! Even he. However I indulged at 
 the fame time my beloved inactivity, and whilfl 
 I fat at my nets, you would have found me, 
 not with my fpear, but my pencil and tablet 
 by my fide. I mufed and wrote, being refolv- 
 ed if I returned with my hands empty, at leaft 
 to come home with my memorandums full. Be- 
 lieve me, this manner of ftudying is not to be de- 
 fpifed : you cannot conceive how greatly exercife 
 contributes to enliven the imagination. There is, 
 befides, fomething in the folemnity of the vene- 
 rable woods with which one is furrounded, toge- 
 ther with that profound * filence which is obferved 
 
 on 
 
 a By the circumftance offlence here mentioned, as well as 
 by the whole ;iir of this letter, it is plain the hunting here re- 
 commended was of a very different kind from what is pradHfed 
 amongfi: us. It is probable the wild boars were allured into 
 their nets by fome kind of prey, with which they were 
 baited, while the fportlman watched at a diftance in 
 iilence and concealment. Something at leaft of this manner 
 is here plainly implied, and is neceflary to be hited to the 
 
 Englilh
 
 i 4 THE LETTERS Book I. 
 
 on thefe occafions, that ftrongly inclines the mind to 
 meditation. For the future therefore let me advife 
 you, whenever you hunt, to take along with you 
 your pencil and tablets, as well as your bafket and 
 bc:tle : for be aflured you will find Minerva as 
 fond of ti averting the hills as Diana. Farewcl. 
 
 LETTER VII. fo OCTAVIUS RUFUS. 
 
 SEE to what an exalted ftation you have 
 raifed me ! You have even inverted me with 
 a fovereignty equal to that which Homer attributes 
 to his mighty Jove : 
 
 From heaven's imperial throne Jove heard hi s 
 
 Part he admit 's, and f cotters fart in air*. 
 
 'Tis 
 
 Engliih reader, in order to his conceiving the propriety of 
 Pliny's fentiment, which othervvife muft feem abfurd. This 
 perhaps was their ufaal method of hunting in fummer; as 
 driving thefe animals into toi's by the afiiltance of houndi, 
 is mentioned by Horace as a winter exercile : 
 
 Cum tofiantis annus hibernus Jovis 
 
 Imbres nivefque comparat, 
 *Tru(iit acres bine & bine mult a cane 
 
 Jlpros in cbftahtes plagas. EPOD. ii. 
 
 When rain and fnows appear, 
 
 And wint'ry Jove loud thunders o'er the year, 
 
 With hounds he drives into the toils 
 The foaming boar... Mr. FRAWCIS. 
 
 a . Iliad, xvi. ver. 250.
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 15 
 
 'Tis thus with a nod or a frown, I may grant or 
 reject your petition as I fee proper. To be ferious : 
 as I am at liberty, I think, to excufe myfclf to 
 the b Bstici, efpecially at your requeft, from being 
 their advocate againfl a fingle individual j fo on 
 the other hand, to oppofe a whole province which 
 I have long fmce attached to me by many good 
 offices, and fpared no pains to oblige even at the 
 hazard of my own interefl, would be acting in- 
 confiftently with my honour, and that uniformity 
 of conduct which I know you admire. I fhall fleer 
 therefore in this affair a middle courfe, and of the 
 alternative which you propofe to me, choofe that 
 which will fatisfy your judgment, as well as your 
 inclination. For I do not look upon myfelf obli- 
 ge to confiderd fo much what you at prefent 
 defire, as what a man of your worthy character 
 will always approve. I hope to be at Rome about 
 the 1 5th of October, when we will join our united 
 credit with Gallus in convincing him of the rea- 
 fonablenefs of my offer. In the mean while you 
 may aflure him of my good difpofition towards 
 him : 
 
 the fire of men and gods, 
 
 With gracious afyett mild, compliance nods c . 
 
 For 
 
 " The people of Bxtica, a part of Spain comprehending 
 Andalufia and Granada. 
 c Iliad. I. v. 518. 
 2
 
 16 THE LETTERS Book I* 
 
 For why fhould I not continue to quote Homer's 
 verfes, fmce you will not put it in my power to 
 quote any of yours ? which yet I fo paflionately 
 wifh for, that I queftion whether I could withftand 
 fuch a bribe, even to plead againft my old clients 
 
 the good people of Bsetica. 1 had almoft 
 
 forgotten to mention (what however is of too much 
 importance to be omitted) that I have received 
 the excellent dates you fent me. They are likely 
 to prove very powerful rivals to my favourite figs 
 and morells. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER VIII, To POMPEIUS SATURNINUS. 
 
 Nothing could be more feafonable than the 
 letter I received from you, wherein you 
 defire me to communicate to you fome of my 
 compofittons : I was at that very time defigning to 
 fend you one. Your requeft therefore has for- 
 warded my intentions, and freed me from every 
 thing that I had to apprehend either from your re- 
 fufal of this trouble, or my fcruples to give it you. 
 Without hefitation then I make ufe of your offer; 
 as you muft now take the confequence of it with- 
 out reluctance. But you muft not expect from a 
 man of my indolence any thing new. On the con- 
 trary, I am going to intreat you to revife again the 
 Ipeech I made to my countrymen, when I dedi- 
 cated
 
 Book I. O F P L I N Y. 17 
 
 cated the public library which I founded for their 
 life. You have already, 1 remember, obliged 
 me with fome remarks upon this piece: I 
 now beg of you, not only to take a general 
 view of the whole, but diftinctly to cricicife 
 it, with your ufual accuracy, in all its parts. 
 When you have corrected it, I fliall ftill be at li- 
 berty either to publifh or fupprefs it: and the delay 
 in the mean time will be attended with one of thefe 
 alternatives ; for while we are deliberating whe- 
 ther it is fit for the public view, a frequent revifal 
 will either make it fo, or convince me that it is 
 not. Tho' indeed the principal difficulty with 
 me concerning the publication of this harangue, 
 does not arife fo much from the compofition it- 
 fdf, as from the fubject, which has fomething in 
 it, I fear, that will look like orientation. For 
 be the ftile ever fo plain and unornamented, yer 
 as the occafion neceflarily led me to fpeak not only 
 of the munificence of my anceilors, but of my own; 
 my modefty will be greatly embarraiTed. A dange- 
 rous and flippery fkuation this, even when one is 
 led into it by a plea of neceflity ! For if mankind 
 are not very favourable to panegyric, even when 
 given us by others -, how much more difficulc 
 is it to reconcile them to it when it is a tri- 
 bute which we pay to ourfeives or to our ancef- 
 tors ? Honourable actions, though dripped of all 
 VOL. I. B ex-
 
 i8 THE LETTERS BookL 
 
 external advantages, 1s generally the object of 
 envy, but particularly fo, when glory is her atten- 
 dant j and the world is never fo little difpofed to 
 detract from the rectitude of your conduct, as when 
 it paiTes imobferved and unapplauded. For thefe 
 reafons I frequently afk myfelf, whether I com- 
 pofed this harangue, fi.di as it is, merely from a 
 perlbnal confideration, .or with a view alfo to the 
 public j and I am fenfible, that what may be ex- 
 ceedingly expedient and proper in the profecution 
 of any affair, may lofe all its grace and fitnefs the 
 moment the bufmefs is completed : for inftance, in 
 the cafe before us, nothing could be more to my 
 purpofe than to explain at large the motives of my 
 intended bounty ; for by this means I accuftomed 
 my mind to generous fentiments ; grew mdre en- 
 amour'd of the lovely forms by frequent attention 
 to them, and guarded at the fame time againft 
 that repentance which ufunlly attends a hafty exe- 
 cution of liberalities not well confider'd. There 
 arofe alfo a farther advantage from this method, as 
 it fixed in me a certain habitual contempt of mo- 
 ney. For while mankind feem to be univerfally 
 governed by an innate paffion to accumulate 
 wealth i the cultivation of a more .generous affection 
 in my own bread, taught me to emancipate myfelf 
 from the flavery of fo predominant a principle : and 
 
 I thought
 
 Bookl. Of PLINY. 19 
 
 I. thought my honeft intentions would be the more 
 meritorious, as they fliould appear to proceed, not 
 from a fudden ftart of munificence, but from the 
 dictates of cool and deliberate reflection. I confi- 
 dered, befides, the nature of my defign ; I was not 
 engaging myfelf to exhibit public games or gla- 
 diatorial combats, but to eftablifh an annual fund 
 for the fupport and education of ingenuous youths. 
 The pleafures of the fenfes are fo far from wanting 
 the oratorial arts to recommend them, that we ftand 
 in need of all the powers of eloquence, to moderate 
 and reftrain their influence. But to prevail with 
 thofe who are capable of the office, to undertake 
 with cheerfulnefs the difagreeable bufmefs of edu- 
 cation ; it is necefTary to apply, in the moft artful 
 manner, not only to their intereft, but their pafli- 
 ons. If Phyficians find it expedient to ufe the 
 moft infmuating addrefs in recommending to their 
 patients a wholibme, tho' perhaps unpleafant re- 
 gimen ; how much more occafion had He to ex- 
 ert all the powers of perfuafion, who out of re- 
 gard to the public welfare, was endeavouring 
 to reconcile it to a moil ufcful, tho' not very 
 popular benefaction ? particularly, as my ~im 
 was to recommend an inftitution calculated fole- 
 . ly for the benefit of thofe who were parents, 
 to men who at prefent had no children j and to 
 perfuade the greater number patiently to wait 
 till they fliculd be intitled to an honour, of 
 B 2 which
 
 20 THE LEf TERS Book!, 
 
 which a few only could immediately partake. 
 But as at that time, when I attempted to explain 
 and inforce the defign and benefit of my inftitu- 
 tion, I confidered more the general good of my 
 country-men, than any reputation which might re-' ' 
 fult to myfelfj fo 1 am apprehenfive if I fhould 
 publifh this piece, it will feem as if I had a view- 
 rather to my own glory, than to the benefit of 
 others. I am very fenfible how much nobler it is 
 to place the reward of virtue in the filent approba- 
 tion of one's own bread, than in the applaufe of 
 the world. Fame ought to be the contequence, 
 not the motive of our aftions; and tho' it fhould 
 happen not to attend the worthy deed, yet is it by 
 no means the Itfs meritorious for having miffed 
 the applaufe it deferved. But the world is apt 
 to fufpect that thofe who celebrate their own 
 beneficent acts, performed them for no other 
 motive than to have the pleafure of extolling 
 them. Thus the fplendour of an action which 
 would have been deemed illuflrious if related 
 by another, is totally extinguifh'd when it be- 
 comes the fubject of one's own applaufe. Such 
 is tle difpofition of mankind, if they cannot blaft 
 the action, they will cenfure the vanity ; and whe- 
 ther you do what does not deierve particular 
 notice, or fet forth yourfelf what does, either 
 way you incur reproach. In my own cafe, there is 
 
 a peculiar
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 21 
 
 a peculiar circumftance that weighs much with 
 me : This fpeech was delivered not before a ge- 
 neral aflembly of the people at Rome, but the 
 'Decuriij not in the Forum, but a municipal af- 
 fembly ; 1 doubt therefore it will appear inconfiftent 
 that I, who when I fpoke it, feemed to endeavour to 
 avoid popular applaufe, fhould now, by publifhing 
 this performance, appear to court it : that I, who 
 was fo fcrupulous as not to admit even thofe per- 
 fons to be prefent when I pronounced this difcourfe, 
 who were interefted in my benefaction, left it might 
 be fufpected I was actuated in this affair by any 
 ambitious views j mould now feem to folicit ad- 
 miration, by forwardly difplaying it to fuch as have 
 no other concern in my munificence, than the 
 benefit of example. Thefe are the fcruples which 
 have occafioned my delaying to give this piece to 
 the public; but I fubmit them entirely to your 
 judgment, which I frjalj ever efteem as a fufficient 
 fanction of my conduct. Farewel. 
 
 B3 
 
 ' The Decurii were a fort of Senators in the municipal 
 or corporate cities of Italy.
 
 22 THE LETTERS Book I. 
 
 LETTER IX. ?o MINUTIUS FUNDANUS. 
 
 WHEN one confiders how the time paffes at 
 Rome, one cannot but be furprized, that 
 take any fingle day, and it either is, or at lead 
 feems to be fpent reafonably enough ; and yet, i.pon 
 cafting up the whole fum, the amount will appear 
 quite otherwife. Afk any one how he has been, 
 employed to-day ? he will tell you, perhaps, tc I 
 tc have been at the ceremony of inverting the man- 
 " fy a robe-, this friend invited me to a wedding j 
 " that defired me to attend the hearing of his caule ; 
 " one begged me to be 'witnefs to his will ; ano- 
 " ther called me to a confutation." Thefe are offi- 
 ces which feem, while one is engaged in them, ex- 
 tremely neceffaryj and yet, when in the filence of 
 retirement, we look back upon the many hours thus 
 employed, we cannot but condemn them as folemn 
 impertinences. At fuch a feafon one is apt to re- 
 flect, How witch of wy life has J/emJfyetit^ injrijles I 
 At leafFit is a reflection which frequently -occurs 
 to me at Laurentum, after I have been employ- 
 ing myfelf in my fludies, or even in the neceflary 
 care of the animal machine ; (for the body rnuft be 
 
 repaired 
 
 * The Roman youths at the age of feventeen changed 
 
 their habit, and took up the T'o^a virilis, or Manly gown, 
 
 . upon which occaiion they were conducted by the friends of 
 
 the family with great ceremony either into the Forum or 
 
 C'apitol, and there invefted with this new robe.
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 23 
 
 repaired and fupported, if we would preferve the 
 mind in all its vigour.) In that peaceful retreat, I 
 neither hear nor fpeak any thing of which I have 
 qccafion to repent. I fuffer none to repeat to me 
 the whifpers of flanderj nor do I cenfure any man, 
 unlefs myfelf, when I am diflatisfied with my com- 
 poficions. <?here 1 live undifturbed by rumour, and 
 free from the anxious fblicitudes of hope or fear, 
 converting only with myfelf and my books. True 
 and genuine life ! pleafing and honourable repofe ! 
 More, perhaps, to be defired than employments of 
 any kind! Thou folemn fea and folitary fhore, 
 beft and moft retired fcene for contemplation, with 
 how many noble thoughts have ye infpired me ! 
 Snatch then, my friend, as I have, the firft occa- 
 iion of leaving the noify*town with all its frivo- 
 lous purfuits, and devote your days to ftudy, or 
 even refign them to indolence ; for, as my inge- 
 nious friend Attilius pleafantly faid, " It is better 
 to have nothing to do, than to be doing nothing." 
 Farewel. 
 
 LETTER X. To ATRIUS CLEMENS. 
 
 IF ever polite literature flourifhed. at Rome, it 
 certainly flourifhes now ; and I could give you 
 many eminent inftances: I will content myfelf 
 however with naming only Euphrates the philofo- 
 pher. I firft became acquainted with this excellent 
 B 4 perfon
 
 24 THE LETTERS Book I 
 
 peribn in my youth, when I ferved in the array In 
 Syria. I had an opportunity of converfmg with 
 him familiarly, and took fome pains to gain his 
 affection: tho' that indeed was nothing diffic.uk, 
 for he is exceedingly open to accefs, and actuated 
 by thofe focial principles he profeffes to teach. 
 I ihould think myfelf extremely happy if I had 
 as fully anfwered the expectations he at that 
 time conceived of me, as he exceeds every thing 
 I had imagined of his gratifications. But perhaps 
 I admire his excellencies more now, than I 
 did then, becaufe I know better how to appre- 
 ciate them; if I can with truth fay I yet know. For 
 as none but thofe who are fkill'd in Painting, Sta- 
 tuary, or the plailic art, can form a right judgment 
 of any performance in thofe refpective modes of re- 
 prefentation ; fo a man muft himfelfhave made great 
 advances in Philofophy, before heiscapableof form- 
 ing ajuft opinion of a Philofopher. However,, as far 
 as I am qualified to determine, Euphrates is pofiefled 
 of fo many Jfhining talents that he*cannct fail to flrike 
 the mod injudicious obferver. Kereafons with much 
 force, acutentfs, and elegance, and frequently rifes 
 into all the fublime and luxuriant eloquence of 
 Plato. His ftile is rich and flowing, and at the 
 fame time fo wonderfully captivating, that he 
 forces the reluctant attention of the molt unwilling 
 hearer. His outward appearance is agreeable to all 
 die reftj a fine ftature, a come'y afpecl, long 
 
 hair,
 
 Book I. O F P L I N Y. 25 
 
 hair, and a large filver beard : circumftances which, 
 tho' they may probably be thought trifling and ac- 
 cidental, contribute, however to gain him much re* 
 verence. There is no affected negligence in his 
 habit ; his countenance is grave, but not auftere ; 
 and his approach commands refpect without creat- 
 ing awe. Diftinguifaed as he is by the fanc~r,ity of 
 his manners, he is no Itfs fo by his polite and af- 
 fable addrefs. He points his eloquence sgainft the 
 vices, not the perfons of mankind, and without fe- 
 verity reclaims the wanderer from the paths of vir- 
 tue, p] is exhortations fo captivate your attention, 
 that you hang as it were upon his lips ; and even 
 after the heart is convinc'd, the ear ftill wiihes to 
 liften to the harmonious reaibner. His family con- 
 lifts of three children (two of which are fons) whom 
 he educates with the utmoft care. His father-in- 
 law Pompeius Julianus, as he greatly diftinguifhed 
 himfelf in every other part of his life, fo particu- 
 larly in this, that tho' he was himfclf of the higheft 
 rank in his province, yet among many confiderablc 
 competitors for his daughter, he preferred Euphra- 
 tes, as firft in merit, tho' not in dignity. But to 
 dwell any longer upon the virtues of a man, whofe 
 converfation I am fo unfortunate as not to have 
 kifure fufficiently to enjoy ; what would it avail but 
 to encreafe my regret ? My time is wholly taken 
 up in the execution of a very honourable, indeed, 
 
 but
 
 S 6 THE LETTERS Book I. 
 
 but very troublefome employment ; in hearing 
 caufes, anfwering petitions, paffing accounts, and 
 writing letters ; but letters, alas ! where genius has 
 no fhare. I fometimes complain to Euphrates (for 
 J have Jeifure at leaft to complain) of thefc un~ 
 pleafmg occupations. He endeavours to comfort 
 me, by affirming, that to be engaged in the fervice 
 of the public, to hear and determine caufes, to ex- 
 plain the laws, and adminifter juflice, is a part, and 
 the nobleft part too, of Philofbphy ; as it is redu- 
 cing to practice what her profeilbrs teach in {pecu- 
 lation. It may be fo : but that it is as agreeable 
 as to fpend whole days in attending to his ufeful 
 con verfaticn even his rhetoric will never be able 
 to convince me. I cannot, therefore, but ftrongly 
 recommend it to you, who have leifure, the next 
 time you come to Rome (and you will come, I 
 dare fay, fo much the fooner) to take the benefit of 
 his elegant and refined inftructions. I am not, you 
 fee, in the number of thofe who envy others the 
 happinefs they cannot fhare themfelves: on the 
 contrary, it is a very fenfible pleafure to me, when 
 1 find my friends in pofftffion of an enjoyment 
 from which I have the misfortune to be excluded. 
 Farewel. 
 
 LETTER
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. -37 
 
 LETTER XI. To FABIUS JUSTUS. 
 
 T T is long fince I received a letter from you. 
 You will alledge, perhaps, you have no- 
 thing to write : but let me have the fatisfaction 
 at leaft of feeing it under your hand, that you 
 have nothing to write or tell me in the good 
 old fciie, If you are well, I am well. I fhall be 
 contented even with that; as indeed that fingle 
 circumftance from a friend includes every thing. 
 You may poffibly think I jeft : but believe me I 
 am perfectly in earned. In fhort, all I defire is, 
 to know how it is with you -, for I can no longer 
 remain in this ignorance without the utmoft 
 Anxiety. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XII. To CALESTRIUS TIRO, 
 
 I Have fuffered a moft fcnfible lofs > if that 
 word is fufficiendy flrong to exprcfs the mif- 
 fortune which has deprived me of fo excellent a 
 jnan. Corellius Rufus is dead ! and dead too by 
 his own act ! a circumftance of great aggravation 
 to my affliction"; as that fort of death which we 
 cannot impute either to the courfe of nature, or 
 the hand of providence, is of all others the moft 
 to be lamented. It affords fome confolation in the 
 lofs of thofe friends whom difeafc fnatches from 
 
 us,
 
 s$ THE LETTERS Book I. 
 
 us, that they fall by the general deftiny of mankind; 
 but thofe who deftroy themfelves leave us under 
 the inconfolable reflexion that they had it in their 
 power to have lived longer. 'Tis true Corellius 
 had many inducements to be fond of life; a 
 blamelefs conference, high reputation, and great 
 dignity of character, together with all the tender 
 endearments of a wife, a daughter, a grand- 
 fen, and fitters; and amidft thefe confiderable 
 pledges of happinefs, he had many and faith- 
 ful friends. Still it mud be owned he had the 
 higheft reafon (which to a wife man will always 
 have the force of the ftrongeft obligation) to deter- 
 mine him in this refolution. He had long laboured 
 under fo tedious and painful a diftemper, that 
 even thefe bleflings, great and valuable as they are, 
 could not balance the evils he fuffered. In his 
 thirty- third year, (as I have frequently heard him 
 fay) he was feized with the gout in his feet. This 
 diftemper he received from his father; fordifeafes, 
 as well as pofleffions, are fometimes tranfmitted by 
 inheritance. A life of abftinence and virtue had 
 fomewhat broken the force of this diftemper 
 while he had ftrength and youth to ftruggle with 
 it ; as a manly courage fupported him under the 
 increafing weight of -it in his old age. I remem- 
 ber in the reign of Domidan, to have made him 
 a vifit at his villa near Rome, where I found him 
 
 under
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 29 
 
 under the moft incredible and undeferved tortures ; 
 for the gout was now not only in his feet, but had 
 fpread itfelf over his whole body. As foon as I 
 entered his chamber, his fervants withdrew : for it 
 was his conftant rule, never to fuffer them to be 
 prefcnt when any very intimate friend was with him: 
 he even carried it fo far as to difmifs his wife upon 
 fuch occafions, tho' worthy of the higheft confi- 
 dence. Catting his eyes round the room, Do you 
 know, (fays he) why I endure life under thefe cruel 
 agonies ? It is with the hope that I may outlive, at 
 It aft for one day, that Villain *. dna ! ye Gods 9 
 bad you given me ftrength as you have given me 
 refolution, I would infallibly have that f/eafure! 
 Heaven heard his prayer, and having furvived that 
 tyrant, and lived to fee liberty reflored, he broke 
 thro* thofe other great, but now lefs forcible 
 attachments to the world, fmce he could leave it 
 in pofieffion of fecurity and freedom. His malady 
 increafed ; and as it now grew too violent to admit 
 of any relief from temperance, he re folutely deter- 
 mined to put an end to its uninterrupted attacks by 
 an effort of hercifm. He had refufed all fuftenance 
 during four days, when his wife Hifpulla fent our 
 common friend Gemini us to me, with the melancho- 
 ly news that he was refolved to die ; and that me 
 
 and 
 
 Domitisn.
 
 f 
 
 30 THE LETTERS Book L 
 
 and her daughter having in vain joined in their 
 moft tender perfuafions to divert him from his pur- 
 pofe, the only hope they had now left was my 
 endeavours to reconcile him to life. I ran to his 
 houfe with the utmoft precipitation. As I approach- 
 ed it, I met a fecond mefienger from Hifpulla, 
 who informed me there was nothing to be hoped 
 for, even from me, as he now itemed more in- 
 flexible than ever in his refolution. What con- 
 firmed their fears was an expreffion he made ufe of 
 to his phyfician, who preffed him to take fome 
 rourifliment: 'tis refohed, he replied: an expreffion 
 which as it raifed my admiration of his greatnefs 
 of foul j fo-it does my grief for the Ipfs of him. I 
 am every moment reflecting what a valuable friend 
 what an excellent man I am deprived of. That he 
 was arrived to his fixty-feventhyear, which is an age 
 even the ftrongeft feldom exceed, I well know; that 
 he is delivered from a life of continual pain ; that he 
 left his family and (what he loved even more) his 
 country in a fiouriihing ftate j all this I know. Still 
 I cannot forbear to lament him as if he had been 
 in the prime and vigour of his days : and I lament 
 birn (fhall I own my weaknefs ?) upon a private ac- 
 count. For I have loft, oh! my friend, I have loft the 
 witnefs, the guide, and the governour of my life ! 
 And to confefs'to you as I did to Calvifius in the firft 
 
 tranf-
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 31 
 
 tranfport of my grief, I fadly fear, now that I am 
 no longer under his eye, I fhall not keep fo ftrifl 
 a guard over my conduct. Speak comfort to me 
 therefore, I entreat you j not by telling me that 
 be was old, that he was infirm; all this I know; 
 but by fupplying me with fome reflections that 
 are uncommon and refiftlefs, that neither the com- 
 merce of the world, nor the precepts of the philo- 
 fophers can teach me. For all that I have heard, 
 and all that I have read occur to me of themfelves 
 but all thefe are by far too weak to fupport me 
 under fo fevere an affliction. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XIII. ?o Socius SENECIO. 
 
 THIS year has proved extremely fertile in 
 poetical productions : during the whole 
 month of April, fcarce a day has pa/Ted wherein 
 we have not been entertained with the recital of 
 fome poem. It is a pleafure to me to find, 
 notwithftanding there feems to be fo little dif- 
 pofition in the public to attend afiemblies of 
 this kind, that a tafte for polite literature flili 
 cxifts, and men of genius are not difcouraged 
 from producing their performances. It is vi- 
 fible, the greater part of the audience which 
 is collected upon thefe occafions, come with reluc- 
 tance; loiter round the place of afiembly, join in 
 little parties of converfation, and are perpetually 
 7 fending
 
 32 THE LETTERS Book L 
 
 fending to enquire whether the author has made 
 his entrance, whether he has read the preface, or 
 whether he has almoft finifhed the piece. Then 
 with an air of the greateft indifference, they juft 
 look in and withdraw again ; fome by Health, 
 and others with Ic-fs ceremony. It was not rhus in 
 the time of our anceftors. It is reported that 
 Claudius Csefkr one day hearing a noife near his 
 palace, enquired the occalion j and being inform- 
 ed that Nonianus was reciting a compofition of his, 
 went immediately to the place, and agreeably fur- 
 prifed the author with his prefence. But now, were 
 one to befpeak the company even of the mod idle 
 man living, and remind him of the appointment 
 ever fo often, or ever fo long beforehand, either 
 he would avoid it under pretence of forgetfulnefs, 
 or if not, would look upon it asfo much time loft; 
 and for no other reafon, perhaps, but becaufe he 
 had not loft it. So much the rather do tbofe authors 
 deferve our encouragement and applaule, who have 
 refoluiiori to perfevere in their ftudies, and exhibit 
 their performances, notwithftanding this faftidiouf- 
 nefs, or indifference of their audience. For my own 
 part,! fcarce ever refufeto bepreientuponfuchocca- 
 fions. The/ to fay truth, the authors have generally 
 been my friends j as indeed there are few men of 
 genius who are not. It is this has kept me in town 
 longer than I intended. I am now however at 
 
 ; liberty
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 33 
 
 liberty to return into the country, and corhpofe 
 ibmething myfelf; but without any intention of 
 reciting it, left I fhould feem to have rather lent 
 than given my attendance to thofe recitations of 
 my friends. For in thefe, as in all other good of- 
 fices, the obligation ceafes the moment you feem 
 to expect a return, Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XIV. To JUNIUS MAURICUS. 
 
 "\7 O U defire me to look out a proper hufband 
 * for your mece : it is with juliiee you enjoin 
 me that office. You were a witnefs to the efteetn 
 and affection I bore that great man her father, and 
 with what noble inftructions he formed my youth, 
 and taught me to deferve thofe praiies he was 
 pleafed to beftow upon me. You could not 
 give me then a more important, or more agreeable 
 commiflion j nor could I be employed in an office 
 of higher honour, than that of choofmg a young man 
 worthy of being father of the grand-children of Ruf- 
 ticus Arulenus : a choice I fhould be long in deter- 
 miningif I were not acquainted with Minutius^mi- 
 lianus, who feems formed for our purpofe. He loves 
 me widi all that warmth of affection which is ufual 
 between young men of equal years (as indeed I have 
 the advance of him but by a very few) and re- 
 VOL. I, C veres
 
 54 THE LETTERS Book!. 
 
 veres me at the fame time with all the deference due 
 to age i and in a word, he is no lefs defirous to model 
 himfelf by my inftruftions, than I was by thofe of 
 yourfelf and your brother. He is a native of Brixia*, 
 one of thofe provinces in Italy which flill retain 
 much of the frugal fimplicity and purity of ancient 
 manners. He is the fon of Minutius Macrinus, 
 whofe humble defires were fatisfied with (landing at 
 the head of the b Equeftrian order : for though he 
 was nominated by Vefpafian among thofe whom 
 that Prince dignified with the Praetorian office j yet 
 with an inflexible greatnefs of mind, he refolutely 
 preferred an elegant repofe, to the ambitious, fhall 
 I call them, or honourable purfuirs in which we in 
 public life are engaged ? His grand-mother on the 
 mother's fide is Serrana Procula, of Padua : you are 
 no ftranger to the character of its citizens ; yet 
 Serrana is looked upon, even among thefe people 
 of correct manners, as an exemplary inftanceof ftrict 
 virtue. Acilius, his uncle, is a man of fingular 
 gravity, wifdom and integrity. In fhort, you will 
 find nothing throughout his family unworthy of 
 yours. Minutiu-s himfelf has great vivacity, as 
 well as application, together with a moft ami- 
 able and becoming modefty. He has already, 
 with much credit, patted thro' the offices of Qujef* 
 
 tor, 
 
 * A town in the territories of Venice, now called Brefcia. 
 k See page 45. note b .
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 3$ 
 
 tor, Tribune, and Prsetor ; fb that you will be fpar- 
 ed the trouble of foliating for him thofe honourable 
 employments. He has a genteel and florid coun- 
 tenance, with a certain noble mien that fpeaks the 
 man of diftinction : advantages, I think, by no 
 means to be flighted, and which. I confider as the 
 proper tribute to virgin innocence. I am doubt- 
 ful whether I fhould add, that his father is very 
 rich. When I contemplate the character of thofe 
 who require a hufband of my choofing, I know it 
 is unneceflary to mention wealth j but when I re- 
 flect upon the prevailing manners of the age, and 
 even the laws of Rome, which rank a man ac- 
 cording to his pofiefTions, it certainly claims fome 
 regard; and indeed in eftablifhments of this na- 
 ture, where children and many other circumftances 
 are to be duly weighed, it is an article that well de- 
 ferves to be taken into the account. You will be 
 inclined perhaps to fufpect, that affection has had 
 too great a fhare in the character I have been draw- 
 ing, and that I have heightened it beyond the truth. 
 But 1 will flake all my credit, that you will find every 
 circumflance far beyond what I have reprefented. 
 I confefs, indeed, I love Minutius (as he juftly de- 
 ferves) with the warmth of a moft ardent affec- 
 tion j but for that very reafon I would not afcribe 
 more to his merit, than I know it will fupport. 
 Farewel, 
 
 C 2 LET-
 
 36 THE LETTERS Book!, 
 
 LETTER XV. fo SEPTITIUS CLARUS. 
 
 HO W happened it, my friend, that you did 
 not keep your engagement the other night 
 to fup with me ? But take notice, jnftice is to be 
 had, and I expect you fhall fully reimbnrfe me the 
 expence I was at to treat you j which, let me tell 
 you, was no fmall fum. I had prepared, you muft 
 know, a lettuce apiece, three a fnails, two eggs, and 
 a barley cake, with fome fweet wine and b fno w : the 
 ihow moft certainly I fhall charge to your account, 
 as a rarity that will not keep. Befides all thefe cu- 
 rious dilhes, there were olives of Andalufia, gourds, 
 
 fhalots, 
 
 * The Englifli reader may probably be furprized to find 
 this article in Pliny's philofophical bill of fare; it will not 
 be improper, therefore, to inform him, that a dilh of fnails 
 was very common at a Roman table. The manner ufed to 
 fatten them is related by fome very grave authors of anti- 
 quity ; and Pliny the elder mentions one Fulvius Hirpinus who 
 had ftudied that art with fo much fucccfs, that the (hells cf 
 fome of his fnails would contain about ten quarts. [PL N. 
 i; 9. 56.] In fome parts of Switzerland this food is ftill in 
 hi^h repute. See Addifon's Trav. 364. 
 
 b The Romans ufed fnow not only to cool their liquors, but 
 their ftcmachs after having inflamed themfelves with high 
 eating : Nt-vein rcdunt, fays Seneca,fo/atium ftomacbi tsjluantis. 
 [Ep. 95.] This cuitom ftill prevails in Italy, efpecially at 
 Naples, where (as Mr. Addifon obferves) they " drink very 
 " few liquors, not fo much as water, that have not lain in 
 " frefco, and every body from the higheft to the loweft makes 
 ' ufe of it ; infomuch that a fcarcity of fnow would raife a 
 " mutiny at Naples, as much as a dearth of corn or provifions 
 " in another country." Trav. 185.
 
 Book I. O F P L I N Y. 37 
 
 Jhalots, and a hundred other dainties equally liimp- 
 tuous. You Ihould likewife have been entertained 
 cither with an interlude, the rehearfal of a poem, or 
 a piece of mufic, as you liked beft ; or (fuch was my 
 liberality) with all three. But the luxurious de- 
 licacies c and Spanifh dancers of a certain 1 
 know not who, were, it feems, more to your tafte. 
 However I mall have my revenge of you, depend 
 upon it j in what manner, mall at prefent be a fe- 
 cret. In good truth it was not kind, thus to mor- 
 tify your friend, I had almoft'faid yourfelf ; and 
 upon fecond thoughts I do fay fo : for how agreeably 
 fhould we have fpent the evening, in laughing, tri- 
 fling, and literary amufements ! You may fup, I con- 
 fefs, at many places more fplendidly ; but jfou can , 
 C 3 no 
 
 c In the original the difh.es are fpccified, viz. oyfters, the 
 matrices of fows, with a certain fea flieii-fifh, prickly like a 
 hedge-hog, called Echinus, all in the highelt ellimation among 
 the Roman admirers of table luxury ; as appears by numberlefs 
 pafTages in the claflic vvnters. Our own country had the honour 
 to furni(h them with oyfters, which they fetched from Sayd- 
 ivich : Montanus, mentioned by Juvenal, was ib well {killed 
 in the fcisnce of good eating, that he could tell by the lirit 
 talte whether they came from that coaft : 
 
 Circais nataforent, an 
 
 Lucrinum ad j ax urn t Rupinove editafundo 
 Ojirsa, callebat prin)o deprendere morju. 
 
 Sat. iv. 14.0, 
 
 He whether Circe's rock his oyfters bore, 
 Or Lucrine lake, or the Rutvpian more, 
 Kaew 41 firtf taite.- ". . -r " " 
 
 Mr. DUKE, j
 
 38 THE LETTERS Book I. 
 
 no where be treated with more unconftrained 
 cheerfulnefs, (implicity, and freedom : only make 
 the experiment ; and if you do not ever after- 
 wards prefer my table to any other, never favour 
 me with your company again. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XVI. To ERUCIUS, 
 
 I Conceived an affection for my friend Pompeius 
 Saturninus, and admired his genius, even long 
 before I knew the cxtenfive variety of his talents : 
 but he has now taken full and unreferved pofTeflion 
 of my whole heart. I have heard him, in the un- 
 premeditated as well as ftudied fpeech, plead with 
 no lefs force and energy, than grace and elor 
 quence. He abounds with juft reflections ; his 
 periods are graceful and majeftic j his words har- 
 monious, and ftamped with the mark of genuine 
 .antiquity. Thefe united qualities infinitely delight 
 you, not only when you are carried along, if I may 
 fo fay, with the refiftlefs flow of his charming and 
 emphatical elocution, but alfo when confidered dif- 
 tinctly and apart from that advantage. I am per- 
 fuaded you will be of this opinion when you perufe 
 his orations, and will not hefitate to place him in the 
 fame rank with the antients, whom he fo happily 
 emulates. But you will view him with encreafed 
 plea lure in the character of an hiftorian, in which his 
 6 frle
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 39 
 
 ftile is both concife and clear, elegant and fub- 
 lime ; and the fame ftrength of exprefiion, though 
 more compreficd, runs through his hiltorical ha- 
 rangues, which fo eminently diftinguifties and adorns 
 his public orations. But thefe are not the whole- of 
 his excellencies ; he has compofed feveral poetical 
 pieces in the manner of Calvus and Catullus. What 
 flrokes of wit, what fweetnefs of numbers, what 
 pointed fatire, and what touches of the tender paf- 
 fion appear in his verfes ! in the midfl of which ht 
 fometimes defignedly falls into an agreeable negli- 
 gence in his metre, in the manner too of thofe ad- 
 mired poets. He read to me, the other day, fome 
 letters which he afTured me were written by his 
 wife : I fancied I was perufing Plautus or Terence 
 in profe. Whether they are that lady's, (as he po- 
 fitively affirms) or his own, which he abfolutely 
 denies, he deferves equal applaufe; either for writing 
 fo politely himfelf, or for having fo highly improved 
 and refined the genius of his wife, whom he married 
 young and uninrtru&ed. His works are ever in 
 my hands j and I never fit down to corhpofe any 
 thing of my own, or to revile what I have already 
 written, or am in a difpofition to amufe myfelf, that 
 I do not take up this agreeable author ; and as 
 often as 1 do fo, he is (till new. Let me ftrorigly 
 recommend him to the fame degree of intimacy 
 C 4 with
 
 40 THE LETTERS Book I. 
 
 with you ; nor be it any objection to his works that 
 he is a contemporary author. Had he flourifhed in 
 fome former age, not only his publications, but pic- 
 tures and ftatues reprefenting his perfon would have 
 been paffionately enquired after: fhall we, then, 
 from a fort of fatiety, and merely becaufe he is pre- 
 fent among us, fuffer his talents to languish and fade 
 away unhonoured and unadmired ? It is furely a 
 very perverfe and envious difpofition, to look with 
 indifference upon a man worthy of the higheft ap- 
 probation, for no other reafon but becaufe we havq 
 it in our power to fee him, and to converfe with 
 him, and not only to give him our applaufe, but 
 our friendlhip. . Farewel, 
 
 LETTER XVII. 70 CORNELIUS TITIANUS, 
 
 THE focial virtues have not yet quite forfaken 
 the world ; and there are ftill thofe whofe. 
 generous efteem extends even to departed merit, 
 Titianus Capito has obtained the Emperor's per- 
 miffion to erecl: a flatue in the Forum to the late 
 L. Syllanus. It is a truly laudable and noble ap- 
 plication of princely favour to employ it to fo wor- 
 thy a purpofe,and to exert one's intereft for the glory 
 of others. To preferve the memory of eminent 
 characters, is, indeed, habitual to Capito : He has 
 
 placedi
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 41 
 
 placed in his houfe (where he may fafely take 
 that liberty a ) the ftatues of the Bruti, the Caffii, 
 and the Catos j which he not only contemplates 
 with ardent veneration, but has alfo celebrated the 
 refpective lives of thofe great patriots in fome 
 excellent verfcs. One may be very fure a perfon 
 poffefTes great virtue himfelf, who thus admires 
 it in others. Capito has by this act fecured to 
 himfelf that immortality which he has beftow- 
 ed on Syllanus j for, he who erects a flatue in the 
 Roman Forum to a worthy character, receives as 
 much honour, as he confers. Farewel, 
 
 LETTER XVIIL ft SUETONIUS 
 
 QUILLUS. 
 
 letter informs me that you are ex- 
 trcmely alarmed by a dream ; apprehending 
 that it forebodes fome ill fuccefs to you in. the 
 
 caufe 
 
 * Suetonius informs us, that Caligula deftroy'd the flatue$ 
 of thofe illuftrious perfons which Augufhis had creeled in the 
 Capitol ; and publifhed an edift, whereby he prohibited fta- 
 tues to be railed to any perfon in his life-time, unlefs by the 
 emperor's exprefs permiflion. It is probable Pliny here al- 
 ludes to a decree of this nature made by fome fucceeding 
 emperor, perhaps Domitian, againft publickly creeling ftatues^ 
 tp thefe glorious aflertors of liberty.
 
 42 THE LETTERS Book I, 
 
 caufe you have undertaken to defend ; and there- 
 fore defire that I would get it adjourned for a few 
 days, or 'at leaft to the next. This is a favour, you 
 are fenfible, not very eafily obtained, but I will ufe 
 all my interefl for that purpofe j 
 
 For dreams defcend from Jove". HOM. 
 
 In the mean while, it is very material b for you to 
 recoiled whether your dreams generally reprefent 
 things as they afterwards fall out, or quite the re- 
 verfe. But if I may judge of yours by one that 
 happened to myfelf, yoy have nothing to fear , for, 
 
 * Pope, Iliad i. 63. 
 
 b Dreams were confidered from the earlieft antiquity as fa- 
 cred admonitions and hints of futurity. Many of tne heathen 
 oracles were delivered in this manner, and even among the 
 Jews we find feveral intimations conveyed to their prophets in 
 the fame way. The Romans in general were great obfervers 
 of dreams, and Augustus Catfar is faid to have efcaped a very 
 imminent danger at the battle of Philippi, by quitting his 
 tent in compliance with a dream of Antonius his phyfician*. 
 This is mentioned to obviate any prejudice againft Piiny,which 
 may arife in the mind of a reader unacquainted with the pre- 
 vailing fentiments of the ancients upon this point, who might 
 ptherwife be furprized to find our author talk ferioufly upon 
 a fubjeft of chis nature. The truth is, as an eminent critic f 
 has obferved with great good-fenfe, there feems to be as much 
 temerity in never giving credit to dreams, as there is fuper- 
 flition in always doing fo. " It appears to me, fays he, that 
 " the true medium between thele two extremes, is to treat 
 ?' them as we would aksown liar; we are fure he moll ufually 
 " relates falfehoods, however* nothing hinders but he may 
 1 fometimes fpeak truth." 
 
 * Val. Max. 1. I. c. 7. } DacierJitrHir. 1. z. Ep. z.
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 43 
 
 it portends you will acquit yourfelf with great 
 fuccefs. I had promifed to be counfel for Julius 
 Paftor; when I fancied in my deep that my mo- 
 ther-in-law came to me, and throwing herfelf at 
 my feet, earneftly intreated me not to be concern- 
 ed in the caufe. 1 was at that time a very young 
 man ; the cafe was to be argued in the four cen- 
 tumviral courts ; my adverfaries were fome of the 
 moft confiderable men in Rome, and particular 
 favourites of Csefar ; any of which circumftances 
 were fufficient, after fuch an inaufpicious dream, 
 to have difcouraged me. Notwithstanding this, 
 I engaged in the caufe, reflecting that, 
 
 Without afign, hisjwordthe brave man draws t 
 And ajks no omen, lut his country's caufe c : 
 
 for I looked upon the promife I had given, to be 
 as facred to me as my country, or, if that were pof- 
 fible, more fo. The event happened as I wiihed ; 
 and it was that very caufe which firft procured me 
 the favourable attention of the public, and threw 
 open to me the gates of Fame. Confider then whe- 
 ther your dream, like that which I have related, may 
 not pre-fignify fuccefs. But after all, perhaps, you 
 will think it more fafe to purfue this cautious max- 
 im : <f never do a thin^ concerning the rettitude of 
 
 'which 
 * Jliad xii. 243. POPE
 
 44 THE LETTERS Book I. 
 
 " which you are in doubt :" if fo, write me word. In 
 the interval I will confider of fome expedient, and 
 endeavour that your caufe mall be heard any day 
 you like beft. In this refpect you are in a better 
 fituation than I was : the court of the Centumviri, 
 where I was to plead, admits of no adjournment ; 
 whereas in that where your caufe is to be heard, 
 tho' it is not eafy to procure one, ftill however it 
 is poffible. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XIX. fo ROMANUS FIRMUS. 
 
 AS you are my town's- man, my fchool-fel- 
 low, and the earlieft companion of my youth; 
 as there was the ftricteft friendfhip between my 
 mother and uncle and your father; (a happinefs 
 which I alfo enjoyed as far as the great inequa- 
 lity of our ages would admit) can I fail (thus 
 biafs'd as I am by fo many ftrong and weighty 
 reafonsj) to contribute all in my power to the 
 advancement of your honours ? The rank you 
 bear in our province as Decurio, is a proof 
 that you are poUefTed at leaft of an a hundred 
 
 thoufand 
 
 a About 8ool. of our money. The Sefterce was a Roman 
 filver coin, the value of which the moft accurate antiquarians 
 have fettled at i penny, 3 farthings and 3-4ths, making 1000 
 to be equal to 81. is. 5d.; but to avoid fractions in 
 this place, and throughout all the following calculations, a 
 thoufand feiterces are confidered as equivalent to only 1. 
 fterling.
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 45 
 
 thoufand fefterces; but that we may alfo have 
 the fatisfa6lion of feeing you a Roman b knight, I 
 prefent to you three hundred thoufand % in order 
 to make up the fum requifite to entitle you to 
 that dignity. The long acquaintance we have had, 
 leaves me no room to doubt you will ever be for- 
 getful of this inftance of my friendmip. And I 
 know your difpofition much too well to think it 
 necefiary to advife you to enjoy this honour with 
 the modefty that becomes a perfon who received it 
 from me : for the advanced rank we pofTefs by the 
 good offices of a friend is a kind of facred truft, 
 wherein we have his judgment, as well as our own 
 character, to maintain, and therefore to be guarded 
 with the greater caution. 
 
 LET- 
 
 b " The Equeftrian dignity, or that order of the Roman 
 " people which we commonly call Knights, had nothing in it 
 " analogous to any order of modern knighthood, but de'pend- 
 " ed entirely upon a valuation of their eitates ; and every 
 " citizen whofe entire fortunes amounted to 4.00,000 fef- 
 " terces, that is, to 3229!. of our money, was enrolled of 
 " courfe in the lift of knights ; who were confidered as a 
 " middle order between the fenators and common people, 
 " yet without any other diftindtion than the privilege of 
 *' wearing a gold ring, which was the peculiar badge of 
 " their order." Life of Tully, vol. i. 3. in not. 
 
 c About 2400 1. fterling.
 
 46 THE LETTERS Book I, 
 
 LETTER XX. <To CORNELIUS TACITUS. 
 
 I Have frequent debates with a learned and judi- 
 cious perfon of my acquaintance, who admires 
 nothing fo much in the eloquence of the bar as 
 concifenefs. I agree with him, where the caufe 
 will admit of this precifion, it may be properly 
 adopted > but infift, that to omit what is material 
 to be mentioned, or only flightly to touch upon 
 thofe points which fliould be ftrongly inculcated, 
 and imprefled on the minds of the audience, is 
 in effect to defert the caufe one has undertaken. In 
 many cafes a copious manner of expreffion gives 
 ftrength and weight to our ideas, which frequent- 
 ly make their effect upon the mind, as iron does 
 upon folid bodies, rather by repeated ftrokes than 
 a fingle blow. In anfwer to this he ufually has 
 recourfe to authorities ; and produces Xyfias 
 amongft the Grecians, together with Cato and the 
 two Gracchi among our own countrymen, as in- 
 ftances in favour of the concife ftile. In return, I 
 name Demofthenes,^Efchines, Hyperides, and ma- 
 ny others in oppofition to Lyfias j while I confront 
 Cato' and the Gracchi, as alfo Csefar, Pollio, Cce- 
 lius, but above all Cicero, whofe lon^eft oration is 
 generally efteemed the bed. It is in good com- 
 pofitions, as in every thing elfe that is valuable ; 
 
 the
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 47 
 
 the more there is of them, the better. Yen may 
 obferve in ftatues, baffo- relievos, pictures, and 
 the bodies of men, and even in animals and trees, 
 that nothing is more graceful than magnitude, if 
 accompanied with proportion. Th x e fame holds 
 true in pleading : and even in books, a large 
 volume carries fomewhat of beauty and authority 
 in its very fize. My antagonift, who is extreme- 
 ly dexterous at evading an argument, eludes all 
 this, and much more which I ufually urge to the 
 fame purpofe, by infifting that thofe very perfons, 
 upon whofe works I found my opinion, made 
 confiderable additions to their orations when they 
 publifhed them. -This I deny; and appeal to the 
 harangues of numberlefs orators, particularly to 
 thofe of Cicero for Murena and Varenus, where 
 he feems to have given us little more than the ge- 
 neral charge. Whence it appears, that many 
 things which he enlarged upon at the time he de- 
 livered thofe orations, were retrenched when he 
 gave them to the public. The fame excellent ora- 
 tor informs us, that, agreeably to the ancient cuf- 
 tom which allowed only of one counfel on a fide, 
 Cluentius had no other advocate than himfelf j and 
 he tells us farther, that he employed four whole 
 days in defence of Cornelius : by which it plainly 
 appears, that thofe orations which, when delivered 
 at their full length, had neceflarily taken up fo much 
 
 time
 
 48 THk LETTERS Book I. 
 
 time at the bar, were greatly altered and abridged 
 when he afterwards cornprifed them in a fingle vo- 
 lume, tho' I tftuft confefs indeed, a large one. But 
 it is objected, there is a wide difference between 
 good pleading and jufl compofition. This opinion, 
 I acknowledge, has had ibme favourers, and : tmay 
 be true ; neverthelefs I am perfuaded (tho* I may 
 perhaps be miftaken) that, as ic is pofllble a plead- 
 ing may be well received by the audience, which 
 has not merit enough to recommend it to the 
 reader j fo a good oration cannot be a bad plead- 
 ing: for the oration on paper is, in truth, the 
 original and model of the fpeech that was pro- 
 nounced. It is for this reafon we find in many of 
 the beft orations extant, numberlefs exprtflions 
 which have the air of unpremeditated difcourfe ; 
 and even in thofe which we are fare were never 
 fpoken : as for inftance in the following paflage 
 from the oration againft Verres, " A certain me- 
 tc chanic whaf* his name ? Ob y Pm obliged to you 
 " for helping me to it : yes, J mean Poly clef us." 'It 
 cannot then be denied, that the nearer approach 
 a fpeaker makes to the rules of juft compofition, 
 the more perfect he will be in his art; alwaya 
 fuppofing however, that he has the neceflary 
 indulgence in point of time: for if he be limited 
 in that article, no blame can juftly be fixed up- 
 on the advocate, tho' much certainly upon the 
 
 judge,
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 49 
 
 judge. The fenfe of the laws, I am fure, is on 
 my fide, which are by no means fparing of the 
 orator's time : it is not brevity, bat copioufnefs, 
 a full reprefen ration of every material circumftance, 
 which they recommend. And how is it poffi- 
 ble for an advocate to acquit himfelf of that duty, 
 unlefs in the moil infignificant caufes, if he affefb 
 to be concife ? Let me add what experience, that 
 unerring guide, has taught me : it has frequently 
 been my province to ad both as an advocate and 
 a judge, and I have often alfo attended as an a af- 
 feffbr. Upon thofe occafions, I have ever found the 
 judgments of mankind are to be influenced by dif- 
 ferent modes of application ; and that the flighted 
 circumftanees frequently produce the mod impor- 
 tant confequences. There is fo vaft a variety in the 
 difpofitions and underftandings of men, that they fel- 
 dom agree in their opinions concerning any one point 
 in debate before them; or if they do, it is generally 
 from the movement of different paffions. Befides, 
 as every man naturally favours his own difcoveries, 
 when he hears an argument urged which had before 
 occurred to himfelf, he will certainly embrace it 
 as extremely convincing. The orator therefore 
 VOL. I. D fhould 
 
 * The Prsetor was affifted by ten afTeflbrs, five of whom 
 were fenators, and the reft knights. With thefe he wai 
 obliged to conjult before he pronounced femence.
 
 50 THE LETTERS Bookl. 
 
 fliould fo adapt himfelf to his audience as to throw 
 out fomething which every one of them in turn may 
 receive and approve as conformable to his own par- 
 ticular fentiments. I remember when Regulus and 
 I were concerned together in a caufe, he faid to me, 
 Toujecm to think it mceffary to dwell upon every fmgk 
 cir cum/lance , whereas I always take aim at once at my 
 adverfary's throat, and there I clojelyprejs him. ('Tis 
 true, he tenacioufly holds whatever part he has once 
 fixed upon > but the misfortune is, he is extremely apt 
 to miftake the right place.) I anfwered, it might pof- 
 fibly happen that what he called, the throaty was in 
 reality fome lefs vital part. As for myfelf, faid I, 
 who do not pretend to direct my aim with fo much 
 certainty, I attack every part, and pum at every 
 opening ; in fhort, to ufe a vulgar proverb, / leave 
 noftone unturned. As in agriculture, it is not my 
 vineyards, or my woods alone, but my fields alfo 
 that I cultivate j and (to purfue the allufion) as 
 I do not content myfelf with fowing thofe fields 
 with only one kind of grain, but employ feveral 
 different forts ; fo in my pleadings at the bar, I 
 fcatter various arguments like fo many kinds of 
 feed, in order to reap from thence whatever may 
 happen to fucceed : for the difpofition of your judges 
 is as precarious, and as little to be afcertained, as 
 that of foils and feafons, I remember the comic 
 
 writer
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 51 
 
 writer Eupolis mentions it in praife of that excel- 
 lent orator Pericles, that 
 
 On bis lips Perfuafion hung, 
 
 dnd powerful Reafon rid'd bis tongue: 
 
 tfhus he, akm, could boaft the art, 
 
 To charm at once and pierce the heart. 
 
 But could Pericles, without the richeft variety of 
 expreffion, and merely by force of the concife or the 
 rapid ftile, or both together (for they are extreme- 
 ly different) have thus charmed and farced the 
 heart ? To delight and to perfuade requires time, 
 and a great compafs of language ; and to leave 
 a fling in the minds of his audience, is an effect 
 not to be expecled from an orator who (lightly 
 pulhes, but from him, and him only, who thrufts 
 home and deep. Another b comic poet, fpeaking 
 of the fame orator, fays, 
 
 His mighty words like Jove's own thunder roll', 
 Greece hears, and trembles to her inmoftfouL 
 
 But it is not the clofe and the referved, it is the 
 copious, the majeftic, and the fublime orator, 
 who with the lightening and thunder of his eloquence 
 hurries you impetuoufly along, and bears down all 
 D 2 before 
 
 * Ariftophanes,
 
 5* THE LETTERS Book I. 
 
 before him. There is a juft mean, I own, in every 
 thing j but he equally mifieth the mark, who falls 
 fhort of it, as he who goes beyond it j he who 
 confines himfelf in too narrow a compafs, as he 
 who launches out with too great a latitude. Hence 
 it is as common to hear our orators condemned 
 for being too barren, as too luxuriant; for not 
 reaching, as well as for overflowing the bounds of 
 their fubjecl:. Both, no doubt, are equally diftant 
 from the proper medium ; but with this difference 
 however, that in the one the fault arifes from 
 an abundance, in the other from a deficiency ; an 
 error which if it be riot a fign of a more correct, 
 yet it is certainly of a more fertile genius. When 
 I fay this, I would not be underftood to approve 
 that everlafting c talker mentioned in Homer, 
 but that other d defcribed in the following lines : 
 
 Frequent and /oft as falls tie winter fnow y 
 Thus from his lips the copious periods flow. 
 
 Not but I extremely admire him c too, of whom 
 the poet fays, 
 
 Few were his words but wonderfully ftrong. 
 
 Yet 
 
 e Therfites, Iliad ii. v. 212, 
 * Ulyfles, Iliad iii. v. 222. 
 Menciaus, ibid.
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 53 
 
 Yet if I were to choofc, I fhould clearly give the 
 preference to the ftile refembling winter fnow, 
 that is, to the full and diffufive ; in fhort, to that 
 pomp of eloquence which feems all heavenly and 
 divine. But (it is replied) the harangue of a more 
 moderate length is moft generally admired. It is 
 fo, I confefs : but by whom ? By the indolent only ; 
 and to fix the ftandard by the lazinefs and falfe 
 delicacy of thefe, would furely be the higheft ab- 
 furdity. Were you to confult perfons of this caft, 
 they would tell you, not only that it is beft to fay 
 little, but that it is beft to fay nothing. 
 
 Thus, my friend, I have laid before you my 
 fcntiments upon this fubjecl:, and I fhall readily 
 abandon them, if not agreeable to yours. But 
 Ihould you diiTent from me, I beg you would com- 
 municate to me your reafons. For tho' I ought to 
 yield in this cafe to your more enlightened judg- 
 ment, yet in a point of fuch confequence, I had 
 rather receive my conviction from argument, 
 than authority. If you fhould be of my opi- 
 nion in this matter, a line or two in return, 
 intimating your concurrence, will be fufficient 
 to confirm me in the juflnefs of my fentiments : 
 On the contrary, if you fliould think me mif- 
 takcn, I beg you to give me your objections 
 at large. Yet has it not fomewhat the air of 
 D 3 bribery,
 
 54 THE LETTERS Book I. 
 
 bribery, to requeft only a fhort letter if you agree 
 with me ; but enjoin you the trouble of a very 
 long one, if you fhould be of a different opinion ? 
 Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XXI. ?o PATERNUS. 
 
 AS I rely very much upon the ftrength of 
 your judgment, fo I do upon the good- 
 nefs of your eyes : not becaufe I think your dif- 
 cernment very great (for I would not make you 
 vain) but becaufe I think it as good as mine : 
 which, it muft be owned, is faying a great deal 
 in its favour. Jetting apart, I like very well the 
 appearance of the (laves which were purchafed 
 for me by your recommendation ; all that I want 
 farther, is to be fatisfied of their behaviour : and 
 for this I muft depend upon their characters more 
 than their countenances. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XXII. To CATILIUS SEVERUS. 
 
 I AM at prefent (and have been a confiderable 
 time) detained in Rome, under the mofl alarm- 
 ing apprehenfions. Titus Arifto, whom I efleem 
 and love with fingular reg.ird, is fallen into a dan- 
 gerous and obftinate illneis, which deeply affects me. 
 
 Virtue,
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 55 
 
 Virtue, knowledge, and good fenfe fhine out with 
 fo fuperior a luftre in this excellent man, that 
 learning herfelf, and every valuable endowment, 
 feems involved in the danger of his fingle perfon. 
 How confummate is his knowledge both in the 
 political and civil laws of his country ! How tho- 
 roughly converfant is he in every branch of hif- 
 tory and antiquity ? In a word, there is no article of 
 fcience, you would wi(h to be informed of, in 
 which he is not (killed. As for my own part, 
 whenever I would acquaint myfelf with any 
 abftrufe point of literature, I have recourfe to him, 
 as to one who fupplies me with its moft hidden trea- 
 fures. What an engaging fincerity, what dignity in 
 his converfation ! How humble, yet how graceful his 
 diffidence ! Tho' he conceives at once every point 
 in debate, yet he is as flow to decide, as he is 
 quick to apprehend ; calmly and deliberately 
 weighing every oppofite reafon that is offered, and 
 tracing it with a moft judicious penetration, from 
 its fource through all its remoteft confequences. 
 His diet is frugal, his drefs plain ; and whenever 
 I enter his chamber, and view him reclined upon 
 his couch, I confider the fcene before me as a 
 true image of antient fimpficity, to which his il- 
 luftrious mind reflects the nobleft ornament. He 
 places no part of his happinefs in oflentation, but 
 in the fecret approbation of his confcicnce 3 feek- 
 D 4 ing
 
 56 THE LETTERS Book I. 
 
 ing the reward of his virtue, not in the clamorous 
 applaufes of the world, but in the filent fatisfac- 
 tion which refults from havingj^tejd well. In fhort, 
 you will not eafily Tmdhis equal even among our 
 philofophers by profeffion. He frequents not the 
 places of public difputations 1 , nor idly amufes 
 himfelf and others with vain and endlefs contro- 
 verfies. His exalted talents are employed to nobler 
 purpofes, and exerted in the fcenes of civil and 
 a&ive life. Many has he affifted with his intereft, 
 flill more with his advice ! But tho' he dedicates his 
 time to the affairs of the world, " r he regulates his 
 conduct by the precepts of philofcphys and in tem- 
 perance, piety, juftice, and fortitude, he has no fupe- 
 riour. It is aitonifhing with what patience he fup~ 
 ports his illnefs; how he bears pain, endures thirft, 
 and quietly fubmits to the preflure of thofe cloaths 
 which are laid upon him to promote perfpiration 
 in this raging fever. He lately called me, and 
 a few more of his particular friends, to his bed- 
 fjde, requefting us to afk his phyficians what turn 
 they apprehended his diilemper would take : that 
 if they pronounced it incurable, he might vo- 
 luntarily put an end to his life ; but if there were 
 hopes of a recovery, how tedious and difficult foever 
 
 * The philofophers ufed to hold their difputations in the 
 Gymnafia and Porticos, being places of the jnoflpublicrefort 
 for Balking, &c.
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 57 
 
 it might prove, he would calmly wait the event; for 
 fo much, he thought, was due to the tears and in- 
 treaties of his wife and daughter, and to the affec- 
 tionate interceffion of his friends, as not voluntarily 
 to abandon our hopes, if they were not entirely 
 defperat'e. A refolution this, in my eflimation, 
 truly heroical, and worthy of the higheft applaufc. 
 Inftances are frequent in the world, of rufliing 
 into the arms of death without reflection, and 
 by a fort of blind impulfe ; but deliberately to 
 weigh the reafons for life or death, and to be 
 determined in our choice as either fide of the fcale 
 prevails, is the mark of no common greatnefs of 
 mind b . We have had the fatisfadion to receive 
 the opinion of his phyficians in his favour : may 
 
 heaven 
 
 b The general lawfulnefs of felf-murder was a doftrine by 
 no means univerfally received in the antient pagan world; 
 many of the moll confiderable names, both Greek and Ro- 
 man, having exprefsly declared againft that practice. Pytha- 
 goras, Socrates, Plato, Tully, have condemned it : even 
 Brutus himfelf, tho' he fell by his own hand?, yet in his 
 cooler and philofophical hours wrote a J treatife wherein he 
 highly condemned Cato, as being guilty c'f an aft both of 
 impiety and cowardice in deftroying himfelf. The judicious 
 Virgil alfo adopts the fame fentimmts, and represents luch un- 
 happy peribns as in a ftate of punifhment : 
 
 Proximo, deinde tenent mtxjli !oca, qui fibi If turn 
 ' Imontzs peperere munu y lucemque peroji 
 Prijicere animam : ^uam <vellent eetbere in alfo r 
 Rune & pauper lent & cturos perfcne labotes ! f 
 
 Then 
 J Pl-jt. in Brut. f ^En. vii, 434..
 
 58 THE LETTERS Book I. 
 
 heaven give fuccefs to their art, and free me from 
 this painful anxiety ! If that fhould happily be the 
 event, I mall immediately retire to my favourite 
 Laurentinum, or, in other words, to my books 
 and my ftudies. At prefent, fo much of my 
 time and thoughts are employed in attendance 
 upon my friend, and in my apprehenfions for his 
 life, that I have neither leifure nor inclination for 
 fubjecls of literature. 
 
 Thus have I informed you of my fears, my 
 wifhes, and my intentions. Communicate to 
 me, in return, but in a gayer flile, an account not 
 only of what you are and have been doing, but 
 even of your future defigns. It will be a very fen- 
 fible confolation to me in this diftrefs of mind 5 to 
 be allured that yours is eafy. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XXIII. To POMPEIUS FALCO. 
 U defire my opinion whether you can with 
 decency aft as an advocate during your a Tri- 
 bunelhip ? But before I determine that queftion, I 
 muft know what are your fentiments of that of- 
 fice 3 whether you look upon it as a mere fhadow 
 
 of 
 
 Then crowds fucceed, who prodigal of breath, 
 
 Themfelves anticipate the doom of death; 
 
 Tho' free from guilt, they caft their lives away, 
 
 And fad and fullen hate the golden day. 
 
 Oh I with \vhatjoy the wre.ches now wou'd bear 
 
 Pain, toil, and woe, to breathe the vital air 1 PITT. 
 
 * See JB. 9. let. 13. note*.
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 59 
 
 of honour, and an empty title, or as a facred and 
 inviolable function, the exercife of which as no 
 power can fufpend, fo neither ought the perfon 
 himfelf who is in veiled with it ? When I was my- 
 felf in that poft (poffibly I might be miftaken in 
 fuppofing I was become of any importance, however 
 upon the fuppofition that I really was) I entirely 
 quitted the bar. I thought it unbecoming a ma- 
 giftrate, who, upon all occafions, had a right of 
 precedency, and in whofe prefence every perfon is 
 obliged to rife, to be feen {landing, while all about 
 him were feated j that he w_ho has authority to im- 
 pofe filence on any man, fhould himfelf be direct- 
 ed when to ceafe ipeaking; that he, whom it is held 
 b impious to interrupt, Ihould be expofed to the 
 fcurrilous liberties of bar orators ; bar-orators, which 
 to chaftize, would be thought a fort of infolence of 
 office, and yet it would be weaknefs to overlook. 
 I confidered farther, the great difficulty I fliould be 
 under, if either my client or his adverfary fhould 
 happen to appeal to me as Tribune j whether to in- 
 terpofe my authority, or by a kind of refignation 
 of my office to aft folely in my private capacity. 
 For thefe reafons I rather chofe to officiate as the 
 public magiftrate than the private advocate. But 
 
 with 
 
 * As their characters were held facred, it was efteemed the 
 higheft aft of impiety to offer them any injury, or fo much as 
 to interrupt them when they were fpeaking.
 
 60 THE LETTERS Book I. 
 
 with refpect to you, (I repeat it again) the whole 
 depends upon what your fentiments are of the 
 office in queftion, and under what character you 
 would choofe to appear j remembering always, that 
 a wife man will take upon himfelf fuch only as he 
 is capable of fuftaining with dignity. 
 
 LETTER XXIV. To BEBIUS. 
 
 MY friend and gueft Tranquillus has an incli- 
 nation to purchafe a fmall farm, of which* 
 as I am informed, an acquaintance of yours intends 
 to difpofe. I beg you would endeavour he may ob- 
 tain it upon reafonable terms ; which will add to his 
 fatisfaftion in the purchafe. A dear bargain is 
 always difagreeable, particularly, as it is a reflection 
 upon the buyer's judgment. There are feveral 
 circumftances attending this little villa, which 
 (fuppofing my friend has no objection to the price) 
 are extremely fuitable to his tafte and defires : the 
 convenient diftance from Rome, the goodnefs of the 
 roads, the fmallnefs of the building, and the very 
 few acres of land around it, which are jufl enough 
 to amufe, but not to employ him. To a man of the 
 literary turn that Tranquillus is, it is fufficient 
 if he have but a fmall fpot to relieve the mind and 
 divert the eye, where he may faunter round his 
 
 grounds.
 
 Book I. OF PLINY. 61 
 
 grounds, traverfe his fingle walk, grow familiar 
 with his two or three vines, and count his little 
 plantations. I mention thefe particulars, 'to let 
 you fee how much he will be obliged to me, as J 
 mail be to you, if you can help him to this conve- 
 nient little box, at a price which he mall have no 
 occafion to repent. Farewel. 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 LETTERS 
 
 O F 
 
 FLINT. 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 LETTER I. 'To VOCONIUS ROMANUS. 
 
 ROME has not for many years beheld a 
 more magnificent and folemn fpectacle, than 
 was lately exhibited in the public funeral of that 
 great man, the illuflrious and * fortunate Vir- 
 
 ginius 
 
 * The antients feem to have confidered fortune as a mark 
 of merit in the perfon who was thus diftinguifhed. Cicero (to 
 borrovy the obfervation of the excellent Mr. Addifon) recom- 
 mended Pompey to the Romans for their general upon three 
 accounts, as he was a man of courage, of conducl, and of good for- 
 tune; and not only Sylla the dictator, but feveral of the Roman 
 emperors, as is dill to be feen upon their medals, among other 
 tides, gave themfelves that offeiix, or fortunate.
 
 64 THE LETTERS Book If. 
 
 ginius Rufus. He lived thirty years in the full en- 
 joyment of the higheft reputation ; and as he had 
 the fatisfaction to fee his actions celebrated by poets, 
 and recorded by hiftorians, he feems even to have 
 anticipated his fame with pofterity. He was thrice 
 raifed to the dignity of Conful ; that he who b re- 
 fufed to be the firft of princes, might at lead be 
 the highefl of fubjects. As he efcaped the refent- 
 ment of thofe emperors to whom his virtues had 
 given umbrage and even rendered him odious, 
 and ended his days when this bed of princes, 
 this c friend of mankind, was in quiet ppfieffion 
 of the empire ; it feems as if Providence had pur- 
 
 pofely 
 
 b At the time of the general defection from Nero, Virgini- 
 us was at the head of a very powerful army in Germany, which 
 had prsfled him, and even attempted to force him, to accept the 
 title of emperor. But he conftautly refufed it : adding, that he 
 would not even (uffer it to be given to any perfon but whom. 
 the fenate mould elecl. With this army he marched againit 
 Vindex, who had put himfelf at the head of ioo,oco Gauls, 
 and having come up with him, gave him battle, in which Vin- 
 dex was flain, and his forces entirely defeated. After this vic- 
 tory, when Nero's death was known in the army, the foldiers 
 renewed their application to Virginius to accept the imperial 
 dignity ; and tho' one of the tribunes rufhed into his tent, and 
 threatened that he (hould either receive the empire, or 
 
 thro* bis body, he refolutely periiiled in his former fentiments. 
 But as foon as the news of Nero's death was confirmed, and 
 that the fenate had declared for Galba, he prevailed with the 
 army, though with much difficulty, to fupport that prince. 
 Plutarch, in Galb. 
 
 e The juftnefs of this glorious title, the friend cf mankind^ 
 which our author here gives to Nerva, is confirmed by the 
 concurrent teftimcny of all the hiftorians of thefe times. That 
 
 excellent
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. 6$ 
 
 pofely preferved him to thefe times, that he might 
 receive the honour of a public funeral. He calmly 
 expired in the 84th year of his age, univerfally 
 efteemed and revered , and had enjoyed an unin- 
 terrupted Mate of health during his whole life, ex- 
 cepting only a paralytic tremour in his hands, which 
 however was attended with no pain. His laft fick- 
 nefs, indeed, was fevere and tedious; but even that 
 circumftance contributed to render his character the 
 more laudable. As he was preparing to return his 
 public acknowledgments to the emperor, who had 
 raifed him to the confulfhip, a large volume which 
 he accidentally received at that time, too weighty 
 for a feeble eld man, flipp'd out of his hands. In 
 haftily endeavouring to recover it, the pavement 
 being extremely flippery, he fell down and broke 
 his thigh-bone ; which fra&ure as it was un- 
 fkilfully fet at firil, and having befides the infir- 
 mities of age to contend with, could never be 
 brought to unite again. The funeral obfequies paid 
 to the memory of this great man, have done ho- 
 nour to the emperor, to the prefent age, and even 
 to eloquence herfelf. The conful Cornelius Tacitus 
 
 VOL. I. E pro- 
 
 excellent emperor's (hort reign feems indeed to have been 
 one uninterrupted ieries of generous and benevolent actions ; 
 and he ufed to exprefs the fatisfaftion he felt of being con- 
 fcious that he had not committed a fingle aft which could 
 give juft offence to any man. Dion, 1. 68.
 
 66 THE LETTERS Book IL 
 
 pronounced his funeral oration : and thus the feries 
 of his felicities was completed by the public ap- 
 plaufe of a moft eloquent orator. He died full of 
 years and of glory, as illuftrious by the honours he 
 refufed, as by thofe he accepted. Still however, 
 he will be mified and lamented by the world, as 
 the ihining model of a better age ; efpecially by 
 myfelf, who not only admired him as a patriot, 
 but loved him as a friend. We were natives of 
 the fame province, and of neighbouring towns, and 
 our eftates alfo were contiguous. Befides thefe ac- 
 cidental connections, he was likewife left guardian 
 to me i and indeed he always treated me with the 
 affection of a parent. Whenever I offered my- 
 felf a candidate for any employment in the ftate, 
 he conftantly fupportcd me with his intereft ; and 
 altho' he had long fince renounced all offices of this 
 nature, he would kindly give up the repofe of his 
 retirement and come in perfon to give me his fuf- 
 frage. At the feafon of the year when it is cuftomary 
 for the priefts to nominate fuch as they judge wor- 
 thy to be received into their facred d office, he con- 
 ftantly propofed me. Even in his laft ficknefs I 
 received a diftinguifhing mark of his affection : 
 
 for, 
 
 * Namely of Augurs. " This college, as regulated by 
 " Sylla, confifted of fifteen, who were all perfons of the firft 
 " diitinftion in Rome: it was a priefthood for life, of a charac- 
 c ter indelible, which no crime or forfeiture could efface ; it 
 
 was
 
 Booktt. OF PLINY. 6? 
 
 for, being apprehenfive he might be appointed 
 by the fenate one of the five commifiioners 
 to reduce the public expences, he fixed upon 
 me, young as I am, to carry his excufes, in pre- 
 ference to fo many other friends of fuperiour 
 age and dignity -, and in a very obliging manner 
 allured me, that had he a fon of his own, he would 
 nevenh-ilefs have employed me in that office. 
 Have I not caufe then to lament his death, as 
 if it were immature, and thus pour out the fulnefs 
 of my grief into the bofom of my friend ? if 
 indeed it be reafonable to grieve upon this oc- 
 cafion, or to efteem that event death, which, to 
 Jucb a man, is rather to be looked upon as the 
 period of his mortality than the end of his life. 
 He lives, my friend, and will continue to live for 
 ever; and his fame will fpread farther, and be 
 more celebrated by mankind, now that he is re* 
 
 moved from their fight. 1 had many other 
 
 things to write to you, but my mind is too full of 
 the prefent fubject, to turn it to any other. Vir- 
 ginius is conftantly in my thoughts ; the vain but 
 lively imprefTions of him are continually before 
 my eyes, and I am for ever fondly imagining that 
 2 I hear 
 
 *' was neceflary, that every candidate ftiould be nominated 
 *' to the people by two Augurs, who gave a loleran teftimony 
 " upon oath or" his dignity and fitnefs for that office." Mi<U 
 dleton's life of Cic. vi. 549.
 
 68 THE LETTERS Book II. 
 
 I hear him, converfe with him, and embrace him. 
 We have ftill, perhaps, fome citizens amongft us 
 who may rival him in virtue, and forne may here- 
 after rife ; but not one, I am perfuaded, that will 
 ever equal him in glory. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER II. fo PAULINUS. 
 
 I AM inclined to be angry with you : I am not 
 quite fure I have reafon, but angry however 
 I am. Love, you know, is apt to be capricious, 
 is frequently ungovernable, and ever jealous. The 
 occafion of this my wrath is great, you muft allow, 
 were it juft : yet taking it for granted that it is, 
 I am vehemently angry at your long filence. 
 Would you foften my refentment ? Let your letters 
 for the future be very frequent, and very long; 
 I ftiall excufe you upon no other terms : and as 
 abfence from Rome, or engagement in bufinefs, 
 is a plea I can by no means admit ; fo that of ill 
 health, may the Gods avert ! As for myfelf, I am 
 enjoying at my villa the alternate pleafures of 
 ftudy and indolence j thofe happy privileges of 
 uninterrupted leifure ! Farewel. 
 
 LET-
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. 69 
 
 LETTER III. To NEPOS. 
 
 WE had received very advantageous accounts 
 of Ifeus, before his arrival; but he is 
 fuperiour to all that was reported of him. He 
 pofTefTes the utmoft facility and copioufnefs of ex- 
 preffion, and his unpremeditated lectures have all 
 the correctnefs and elegance of the moil ftudied 
 and elaborate compofition. He delivers them in the 
 Greek language, or rather the genuine Attic. His 
 exordiums are polite, eafy, and harmonious; ahd, 
 when the fubject requires, folemn and majefttc. He 
 gives his audience liberty to call for any queftion 
 they pleafe, and fometimes even to name what 
 fide of it he fhall take ; when immediately he rifes 
 up in all the graceful attitude of an orator, and 
 enters at once into the difcufiion with furprizing 
 fluency. His reflections are folid, and cloathed in 
 the choiceft expreflions, which prefent themfelves 
 to him without the leaft hefitation. The eafe and 
 ftrength of his moll unprepared difcourfes plainly 
 difcover that he has been very converfant in the beft 
 a'uthors, and much accuftomed to compofe him- 
 felf. He opens the topick with great propriety ; his 
 ftile is clear, his reafoning ftrong, his inferencesjuft, 
 and his figures are both graceful and fublime. In a 
 word, he at once inftructs, entertains, and affects 
 E 3 youj
 
 20 THE LETTERS Book II, 
 
 you j and he poflefles each of thofe powers in fo emi- 
 nent a degree, that you are at a lofs to determine in 
 which he moft excels. His arguments are formed 
 with all the ftrength and clofenefs of the ftricteft 
 logic: a point not very eafy to attain even in ftudied 
 compofitions. His memory is fo extraordinary, 
 that he will repeat what he has before delivered ex- 
 tempore, without lofing a fingle word. This won- 
 derful faculty he has acquired by great application 
 and practice -, for his whole time is fo devoted to 
 fubjects of this nature, that he thinks and talks of 
 nothing elfe. Tho' he is above fixty-three years 
 of age, he ftill choofes to continue in this pro- 
 feffion j than which it niuft be own'd, none ' 
 abounds with men of more merit, fimplicity and 
 integrity. We who are converfant in the real 
 contentions of the bar, unavoidably contract: a cer- 
 tain petulance, how contrary foever to our natural 
 tempers j but the bufinefs of the fchools, as it turns 
 merely upon fictitious caufes, affords an employ- 
 ment not only unapt to excite the angry paffions, 
 but particularly agreeable to thofe who are ad- 
 vanced in years, efpecially as nothing can be more 
 defirable at that period of life, than to enjoy thofe 
 rational fatisfactions which were the moft pleafing 
 occupations of our youth. I look therefore upon 
 Jfaeus, not only as the moft eloquent, but the 
 moft happy of men 3 as I fhall efteem you the 
 
 moft
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. 71 
 
 mod infenfible, if you fhould appear to flight his 
 acquaintance. Let me prevail with you then to 
 come to Rome, if not upon my account, or any 
 other caufe, at leaft for the pleafure of hearing this 
 extraordinary perfon. Do you remember to have 
 read of a certain inhabitant of the city of Cadiz, 
 who was fo flruck with the illuftrious character of 
 Livy, that he travelled to Rome on purpofe to 
 fee that great genius j and, as foon as he had fa- 
 tisfied his curiofity, returned home ? A man muft 
 have a very illiberal, and incurious (I had almoft 
 laid a very infenfible) caft of mind, not to think 
 whatever relates to a fcience fo entertaining, fo 
 noble and fo elegant, worthy of his attention. 
 You will tell me, perhaps, you have authors in 
 your own ftudy, equally eloquent. I allow itj 
 and thofe authors you may perufe at any time, 
 but you cannot always have an opportunity of 
 being an auditor of Ifseus. Befides, we are infi- 
 nitely more affected with what we hear, than what 
 we read. There is fomething in the voice, the 
 countenance, the a habit, and the gefture of the 
 E 4 fpeaker, 
 
 a The ancients thought every thing that concerned an ora- 
 tor, worthy of their attention, even to his very drefs. Ovid 
 mentions, the habit, as well as the air and mien of Germanicus, 
 as expreffive of his eloquence : 
 
 Dum -Jilens adjlat, flatus eft vultufque difertt, 
 
 Spemque decens dott* -votis ami&us habtt, De Pont 1. 2. 5. 
 
 Ere
 
 72 THE LETTERS Book II. 
 
 fpeaktr, that concur in fixing an imprefiion upoi? 
 the mind, and give this method of inftruction 
 greatly the advantage of any thing one can receive 
 from books. This at leaft was the opinion of JEf- 
 chines, who having read to the Rhodians a fpeech 
 of Demofthenes, which they loudly applauded ; 
 but how, faid he, would you have been affefed y 
 had you heard the orator himfelf thundering out 
 this Jubiime harangue ? j^Efchines, if we may be- 
 lieve Demofthenes, had great force and dignity of 
 utterance , yet, you fee, he could not but confefs 
 it would have been a confiderable advantage to the 
 oration, if it had been pronounced by the author 
 himfelf; in all the ftrength and energy of his powerful 
 elocution. What I aim at by this, is, to perfuade 
 you to hear I feus ; if for no other reafon, at leaft 
 that you may have it to fay you once heard him. 
 Farewel. 
 
 LE T- 
 
 Ere yet he fpeaks, the orator is feen 
 In all the eloquence of garb and mien. 
 
 And the author of the dialogue de Orat. 39. goes fo far as 
 to affign the ufe of a certain confined garment then in vogue, 
 among the reafons which gave a check to the artcient fpirit of 
 eloquence; as the judicious Qmntilian thought it deferving 
 his pains, to lay dt>vvn very precife rules upon the article of 
 his orator's garments. Vid. Inft. Orat. 1. 1 1. 3.
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. 73 
 
 LETTER IV. ToCALviNA. 
 
 IF your father had left feveral creditors, or in- 
 deed a fmgle one except myfelf, you might 
 juftly, perhaps, fcruple a to enter upon his eftate, 
 which, with fuch encumbrances, might prove a 
 burthen too heavy even for one of our fex to un- 
 dertake. But fince, out of regard to the affinity 
 that fubfifled between us, I was contented to 
 remain the only perfon unfatisfied who had any 
 demand upon the eftate, while other creditors, I 
 . will not fay more importunate, but certainly more 
 cautious, were paid off; and as I contributed 
 1 00,000 b fefterces towards your marriage portion, 
 over and above the fum your father charged upon 
 this eftate for your fortune, which may be efteemed 
 my gift too, as it was to be paid out of a fund 
 before appropriated to me When you confider 
 thefe inftances of my friendship, you can want no 
 ftronger pledge that you will find me an eafy 
 creditor. In this confidence you mould not 
 fcruple to enter upon your inheritance, and by 
 that means protect the memory of your father 
 from the reproach of dying infolvent. But that 
 
 I may 
 
 a By the ancient Roman law, the heir, if he entered upon 
 the eftate, was liable to the debts of the teftator or anceftor, 
 even tho' the eftate were not fufficient to pay them. 
 
 b About 800 1. of our money.
 
 74 THE LETTERS Book II. 
 
 I may give you a more fubftantial encourage- 
 ment than mere words, I entirely acquit you 
 of the debt he owed me. Do not hefitate to 
 receive this prefent at my hands, upon the fup- 
 pofition that I can ill fpare fo large a fum. It is 
 true, my revenue is but moderate : the expences 
 which the dignity of my ftation requires are con- 
 fiderable ; while the yearly income of my eftate, 
 from the nature and circumftances of it, is as 
 uncertain as it is fmall ; yet what I want -in wealth 
 I make up by ceconomy, the fureft fource that 
 fupplies my bounty. I muft be cautious, no doubt, 
 not to exhauft it by too much profufion s but it is 
 a caution which I fhall obferve towards others : 
 with refpect to yourfelf, reafon. will juftify my 
 liberality, tho' it mould overflow its proper 
 bounds. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 I Send you at lad the piece you have fo often 
 defired, and which I have as frequently pro- 
 mifed, but it is a part only j the remainder I 
 am ftill polifhing. In the mean while I thought, 
 there would be no impropriety in laying before 
 you fuch portions as were moft correcl. I beg 
 you to read it with the fame attention that I 
 
 wrote
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. 75 
 
 wrote it ; for I never was engaged in any work that 
 required fo much. In my former fpeeches, dili- 
 gence and integrity only were required; in the 
 prefent, I had to manifeft my patriotifm. But while 
 I dwelt with pleafure upon the honour of my na- 
 tive country, and endeavoured not only to fup*. 
 port its rights, but heighten its glory ; my ora- 
 tion fwelled inlenfibly. However I requeft you to 
 abridge even thofe favourite topics, wherever you 
 find it neceflary j for when I confider the faftidious 
 delicacy of my readers, I am fenfible the fureft 
 recommendation I can have to their favour, is by 
 the fhortnefs of the trouble I give them. But at the 
 fame time that I abandon my performance to your 
 utmoft feverity in this inftance, I muft alk quar- 
 ter for it in feveral others. Some confideration 
 ought to be had to the tafte of young people, efpe- 
 cially where the fubjedt admits of it. In view to 
 this, I have given myfelf a latitude in defcribing 
 thofe places which are frequently mentioned in this 
 performance ; and have ventured to treat them not 
 only hiftorically, but poetically. If any auftere critic 
 fhould take offence at this liberty, and think it too 
 florid for the gravity of this fort of compofition \ the 
 other parts of the oration will, I truft, fatisfy his fe- 
 verity, and obtain indulgence for thefe its gayer co- 
 lourings. I have, indeed, endeavoured to gain my 
 feveral readers by adapting my ftyle to their different 
 
 turns.
 
 76 THE LETTERS Book II. 
 
 turns. And tho' I am afraid there arc fome paflages 
 that will difpleafe particular perfons, as not falling 
 in with their peculiar tafte; yet, upon the whole, its 
 variety, I truft, will recommend it in general : as at 
 an elegant entertainment, tho' we do not, perhaps, 
 tafte of every difh, yet we may admire the general 
 difpofition of the whole ; and if we happen to meet 
 with fome part of the fare which is0/ to our palate, 
 we are not the lefs pleafed however with what is. I 
 am not fo vain as to pretend 1 have actually fur- 
 nifhed out fuch collation ; I would be only under- 
 flood to mean that I have made the attempt : and 
 perhaps not altogether without fuccefs, if you 
 will exerciie your fkill upon what I now and 
 fhall hereafter fend. You will tell me, I know, 
 that you can form no certain judgment till you fee 
 the whole. There is fome truth in this, I confefs : 
 neverthelefs, for the prefent you may acquaint 
 yourfelf with this detached part, wherein you will 
 find fome things, perhaps, that will bear a feparatc 
 examination. If you were to be {hewn the he^d, or 
 any other part of a ftatue, tho' you could not deter- 
 mine what proportion it bore to the entire figure, 
 yet you would be able to judge of the elegancy of 
 that particular member. From what other principle 
 is it that fpecimens of books are handed about, but 
 that it is fuppofed the beauties of particular portions 
 may be difcerned without viewing their relation to 
 5 the
 
 Book II. O F P L I N Y. fr 
 
 the whole ? The pleafure I receive in converfing 
 with you has carried me a greater length than I 
 intended. But I flop here j for it is not reafona- 
 ble that I, who am for fetting bounds even to 2, 
 fpeech, mould fet none to a letter. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER VI. SftAvrrus. 
 
 IT would be a long ftory, and of no great 
 importance to tell you by what accident I 
 flipped lately with a perfon with whom I am by no 
 means intimate, and who in his own opinion treated 
 us with much fplendid frugality ; but according to 
 mine, in a fordid, yet expenfive manner. Some 
 very elegant difhes were ferved up to himfelf and 
 a few more of us j while thofe which were placed 
 before the reft of the company were extremely 
 cheap and mean. There were in fmall bottles, three 
 different forts of wine ; not that the guefts might 
 take their choice, but that they might not have an 
 option in their power. The beft was for himfelf 
 and his friends of the firft rank ; the next for thofe 
 of a lower order, (for, you muft know, he mea- 
 fures out his friendfhip according to the degrees of 
 quality) and the third for his own and his guefts 
 freed-men. One who fat near me took notice of 
 this circumftance, and afked me how I approved 
 
 of
 
 7S THE LETTERS Book It, 
 
 of it? Not at all I replied. Pray then, faid 
 he, what is your method on fuch occafions ? 
 Mine, I returned, is to give all my vifitors 
 an equal reception : for when I make an invi- 
 tation, it is to entertain, not to diftingui/b, my 
 company : I fet every man upon a level with 
 myftlf whom I admit to my table, not ex- 
 cepting even my freed-men, whom I look upon 
 at thofe times to be my guefts, as much as any of 
 the reft. At this he exprefied fome furprize, 
 arid afked if I did not find it a very expenfive 
 method ? I allured him, not at all j and that 
 the whole fecret lay, in being contented to drink 
 no better wine myfelf than I gave to others. 
 And certainly if a man is wife enough to moderate 
 his own luxury, he will not find it fo very charge- 
 able a thing to entertain all his vifitors in general, 
 as he does himfelf. Reftrain the delicacy of your 
 own palate within proper bounds, if you would be 
 an ceconomift in good earneft : You will find tem- 
 perance a much better mode of faving expences, 
 than fuch reproachful diftinctions. It were pity a 
 young man of your excellent difpofition fhould be 
 impofed uppn by the immoderate luxury which 
 prevails at fome tables, under the falfe notion of 
 frugality : whenever any folly of this nature falls 
 within my obfervation, I fhall, in confequence 
 of that affection I bear you, point it out to you as 
 
 an
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. 79 
 
 an example which you ought to fhun. Remem- 
 ber therefore, nothing is more to be avoided than 
 this modern alliance of luxury with fordidnefs ; 
 qualities extremely odious when exifting in diftinct 
 characters, but much more when they meet in the 
 fame perfon. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER VII. To MACRINUS. 
 
 THE fenate decreed yefterday, at the re- 
 commendation of the emperor, a trium- 
 phal ftatue to Veflricius Spurinna j not as to many 
 others who never faw a field of battle, or heard the 
 found of a trumpet, unlefs at a mew j but as to one 
 who by his martial virtues has juftly merited that 
 honour. Spurinna by the power of his arms re- 
 ftored the king of the a Bructeri to his throne : and 
 this by a victory of all others the mod noble ; 
 for he ftruck fuch a terror into that warlike 
 people, that they fubmitted at the very firft 
 view of his troops. But at the fame time that 
 the fenate rewarded him as a hero, they confidered 
 him as a father j and to confole him for the lofs of 
 his fon Cottius, who died during his abfence 
 upon that expedition, they voted likewife a ftacue 
 to that excellent youth : a very unufual honour 
 
 for 
 
 * A people of Germany, fuppofed to have inhabited the 
 country about Rees and Emerick, in the dutchy of Cleves.
 
 So THE LETTERS Book II. 
 
 for a perfon of his early years j but the fervices of 
 the father well deferved that the pain of fo fevere 
 a wound Ihould be foothed by no common balm. 
 Indeed Cottius himfelf gave fo remarkable a fpe- 
 cimen or* the nobleft qualities, that it is but rea- 
 ibnable his life, which had fo ihort a period, Tiould 
 be extended, as it were, by this kind of immorta- 
 lity. The purity of his manners, and the dignity 
 of his behaviour created him fuch general refpect 
 that he has a juft claim to equal thofe venerable 
 perfons in honour, whom he rivaled in virtue ; an ho- 
 nour, if I miftake not, conferred not only to perpe- 
 tuate the memory of the deceafed youth, andincon- 
 folation to the furviving father, but for the fake of 
 public example. The young men of this age will 
 be hence encouraged to cultivate every worthy 
 principle, when they fee fuch diftinguiming re* 
 wards beflowed upon one of their own years : at 
 the fame time that men of quality will rejoice in 
 having a numerous ifiue, while they may expedr. 
 the fatisfaclion of leaving a worthy race, if their 
 children mould iurvive them j or fo glorious a con- 
 folation, if they mould furvive their children. For 
 the fake of the public, therefore, I am glad that a 
 ftatue is decreed to Cottius : and fo indeed I am 
 for my own j for I loved this accomplifhed youth 
 as ardently, as I now tenderly regiet him. It 
 will be a great fatisfaction to me to fee this 
 
 figure
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. 81 
 
 figure as I may ocafionally pafs by, and to flop 
 fometimes to contemplate it. If there is a pleafure 
 in looking upon the pictures of departed friends in 
 our own houfe, how much more upon thofe public 
 reprefentations of them, which are not only memo- 
 rials of their air and countenance, but of their 
 glory and honour ? Farewel. 
 
 LETTER VIII. To CANINIUS, 
 
 HOW is my friend employed ? Is it in the 
 pleafures of ftudy, or in thofe of the field ? 
 Or does he unite * both, as he well may, on the 
 banks of our favourite b Larius ? The fifh in that 
 noble lake will fupply you with fport of that kind j 
 as the furrounding woods will afford you game 5 
 while the folemnity of that fequeftered fcene will at 
 the fame time difpofe your mind to contemplation. 
 Whether you are engaged with fome only, or with 
 each of thefe agreeable amufements, far be it that 
 I fhould fay I envy you ; but I muft confefs, I 
 greatly regret that I alfo cannot partake of them : 
 a happinefs I long for as earneftly as a man in a 
 fever for drink to allay his thirft, or for baths 
 and fountains to afluage his heat. But if it be 
 VOL. I. F not 
 
 * B. i. Let. 6. in not. 
 
 b Now called Lago di Como, in the Milaneze. Comnm, 
 the place where Pliny was born, and near to which Caninius 
 had a country houfe, was fuuated upon the border of this lake.
 
 82 THE LETTERS Book II. 
 
 not given me to fee a conclufion of thefe unpleafant 
 occupations j mall I never at leaft break loofe from 
 them ? Never, indeed, I much fear; for new affairs 
 are daily rifing, while the former flill remain unfi- 
 nilhed: iuch an endlefs train of bufinefs is conti- 
 nually preffing upon me, and riveting my chains 
 ftill fafter ! Farewel. 
 
 LETTER IX. To APOLLJNARIS. 
 
 1A M extremely anxious for the fuccefs of 
 the petition, which Euritius has prefented to 
 the fenatej and I feel for my friend, what I never 
 felt for myfelf. My credit and character are, in- 
 deed, in fome meafure at flake. I obtained for 
 him of Caefar the honour of wearing the a Laticlave, 
 and alfo the office of Quasflorj as it is by my in- 
 tereft too that he is indulged with the privilege of 
 petitioning for the Tribunate: which if the fenate 
 fhould refufe him, I am afraid it will be thought 
 I impofed upon the emperor. I muft therefore, in 
 fupport of my own character, endeavour that the 
 judgment of the public may confirm the opinion 
 which Casfar has conceived of him. by my re- 
 
 prefentation. 
 
 * The Laticlave was forr.e honourable dift'm&ion peculiar, in 
 the times of the republic, to the fenatorsj but wheihcr a par- 
 ticular fort of garment, or only an ornament upon it, the 
 critics are not agreed. Tho' the more general opinion is, 
 that it was a broad ftripe of purple, fcwed upon the fore part 
 of their tunic, and ran round the n.iddle of the breaft.
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. *j 
 
 presentation. But if I were no: for thefe reafons 
 obliged to intereft myfelf in the fuccefs of Euritius, 
 yet his probity, good fenfe, and learning, would 
 incline me to aflift him with my utmoft power; 
 as, indeed, he and his whole family are deferv- 
 ing of the higheft commendation. His father, Eurii 
 tius Clarus, is a man of ftrict honour and antient 
 fimplicity of manners; and not only an able, elo- 
 quent, and experienced advocate, but defends every 
 caufe he undertakes, with a courage and integrity no 
 lefs to his honour than his fingular modefty. Sep- 
 titius, his uncle, is one of the moft plain, open, fin- 
 cere, and candid men I ever knew. There is a 
 friendly contention amongft them who mall fhew 
 me moft affeftionj which I am perfuaded they 
 all equally feel for me. I have now an opportunity 
 of obliging the whole family, in the fmgle perfon of 
 Euritius: accordingly I folicit all my friends with 
 the utmofl sarneftnefs, apply to them at their 
 own houfes, and every place of public reforr, in a 
 word, exert my whole power and credit to ferve 
 Kim. I muft beg of you likewife to take fome 
 (hare of this trouble with me: I will return 
 you the fame good office whenever you mail 
 require it, and even without your requeft. As 
 you have many friends, admirers, and depen- 
 dents; it is but {hewing yourfelf a well-wifher to 
 Euritius in this affair, and numbers will be ready 
 to fecond your inclinations. Farewel. 
 
 F z LET-
 
 THE LETTERS Book II. 
 
 LETTER X. 
 
 YO U are certainly a moft obftinate, I had al- 
 moft faid a moft cruel man, thus to with- 
 hold from the world fuch excellent compofitions! 
 How long do you intend to deny your friends the 
 pleafure, and yourfelf the glory, of your poetical 
 performances ? Suffer them, I entreat you, to 
 come abroad, and to be admired; as admired they 
 undoubtedly will be where-ever the Roman lan- 
 guage is underftood. The public has for fome 
 time earneftly expected them j and you ought not 
 to difappomt or mortify its impatience any longer. 
 Some few poems of yours have already, contrary 
 to your inclinations indeed, broke their pri- 
 fon and efcaped to light: thefe if you do not 
 collect together, fome perfon or other will claim 
 the agreeable wanderers as their own. Re- 
 member, my friend, the mortality of human 
 nature, and that tl.ere is nothing fo likely to 
 preferve your name, as a monument of this kindj 
 all others are as frail and perilhable as the men 
 whofe memory they pretend to perpetuate. You 
 will fay, I fuppofe, as ufual, Let my friends fee to that. 
 May you find many whofe care, fidelity, and erudi- 
 tion render them able and willing to undertake fo 
 confiderable a charge ! But furely it is not alto- 
 gether prudent in any man to expect from others, 
 
 what
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. 85 
 
 what he will not do for himfclf. However, as 
 to the publication, I will prefs you no farther ; 
 be that when you fhall think proper. But let me, 
 at lead, prevail with you to recite them, that you 
 may be the more difpoied to fend them abroad, 
 from the very flattering reception which I may- 
 venture to afTure you they will receive from the 
 afiembly. I pleafe myfelf with imagining the 
 crowd, the admiration, the applaufe, and even the 
 filence that will attend your recital : for the filence 
 of an audience, when it proceeds from an earned 
 defire of hearing, is as agreeable to me as the 
 loudeft approbation. Do not then, by this un- 
 reafonable delicacy, deny yourfelf any longer the 
 very defirable and certain fruit of your ftudies : if 
 you mould, the world, I fear, will be apt to charge 
 you with idlenefs and indolence, or, perhaps, 
 with timidity. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XI. ft ARRIANUS. 
 
 YO U take pleafure, I know, in a relation of 
 any thing that is tranfa&ed in the fenate, 
 worthy of that auguft afTembly : for tho' love of 
 eafe has led you into retirement, your heart ftill 
 retains its zeal for the majeftyof the commonwealth. 
 Accept then the following account of what lately 
 paffed in that venerable body: a tranfaftion for ever 
 F 3 memorable
 
 86 THE LETTERS Book It 
 
 memorable by its importance, and not only remark- 
 able by the quality of the perfon concerned, but 
 ufeful by the feverity of the example. Marius 
 Prifcus, formerly Proconful of Africa, being im- 
 peached by that province, inftead of entering upon 
 his defence, petitioned that a commiffion of felec"fc 
 judges might be appointed for his tryal. Cor- 
 nelius Tacitus and myfelf, being afligned by the 
 fenate counfel for that province, thought it cur 
 duty to inform the houfe, that the crimes alledged 
 againft Prifcus, were of too atrocious a nature 
 to fall within the cognizance of an inferior 
 court : for he was charged with venality in the 
 adminiftration of juftice, and even of taking mo- 
 ney to pafs fentence of death upon perfons per- 
 fectly innocent. Fronto Catius rofe in his be- 
 half, and moved that the whole enquiry might be 
 confined. to the fingle article of bribery j difplay- 
 ing upon this occafion all the force of that pa- 
 thetic eloquence he is matter of, in order to raife 
 the companion of the fenate. The debates grew 
 warm, and the members were much divided in 
 their fentiments. Some were of opinion, that it was 
 a matter which did not legally come under the dif- 
 cuflion of the fenate : others, that the houfe was at 
 liberty to proceed upon it, or not, as it mould fee 
 proper; and that none of his different crimes ought 
 to efcape the hand of juftice. At laft Julius Ferox, 
 the
 
 Book II. O F P L I N Y. 87 
 
 the conful cleft, a man of great worth and in- 
 tegrity, propofed that judges fhould be granted 
 him provifionally, and in the mean while, that 
 thofe perfons fhould be proceeded againft, to 
 whom it was alledged he had fold innocent blood. 
 Not only the majority of the fenate gave into this 
 opinion; but, after all the contention that had 
 been raifed, it was generally adopted. I could 
 not but obferve, upon this occafion, that fenti- 
 ments of compafiion, tho' they at firft operate 
 with great force, give way at laft to the cool 
 dilates of reafon and reflection; and that numbers 
 will fnpport an opinion by joining in the general 
 voice, which they would never fingly and delibe- 
 rately defend. The fact is, there is no difcerning 
 the right fide of a queftion amidft the confufed 
 clamours of a crowd; one muft confider it apart, 
 if one would view it in its true light. Vitellius 
 Honoratus, and Flavius Martianus, the perfons 
 who were ordered to be fummoned, were brought 
 before the houfe. Honoratus was charged with 
 having given three hundred thoufand b fefterces 
 to procure a fentence of banilhment againft a Ro- 
 man knight, as alia the capital conviction of feven 
 of his friends. Againft Martianus it was alledged, 
 that he gave feven hundred thoufand c , in order to 
 F 4 procure 
 
 * About 2400.1* of our money. 
 4 About 5600!, of cur money.
 
 88 THE LETTERS Book II. 
 
 procure another perfon to be condemned to fuffer 
 various tortures-, which were accordingly inflicted, 
 and the unhappy man was firft whipped, afterwards 
 fent to work in the mines, and at laft ftrangled in 
 prifon. But the death of Honoratus prevented the 
 juftice ofthefenate upon him. Martianus however 
 appeared, but without Prifcus. Tullius Cerealis, 
 therefore, who had been formerly conful, thought 
 proper to move, agreeably to his privilege as a fena- 
 tor, that Prifcus might have notice of the bufinefs 
 then before the houfe : whether it was becaufe he 
 thought his being prefent would raife more com- 
 pafiion, or more refentment towards him ; or be- 
 caufe, as I am inclined to believe, he thought it moft 
 equitable, that as the charge was againft them both, 
 fo they mould both join in the defence, and be ac- 
 quitted or condemned together. The affair was ad- 
 journed to the next meeting of the fenate, which 
 proved the moft auguft and folemn I was ever prefent 
 at. The emperor himfelf (for he was conful) pi eli- 
 ded. It happened likewife to be the month of Ja- 
 nuary * : a feafon remarkable upon many accounts, 
 and particularly for the great number of fenators 
 it always brings together. Not only the impor- 
 tance of the caufe, the noife it had made in the 
 world, the expectation that had been raifed by 
 
 the 
 
 * In this month the feveral magiftrates entered upon their 
 refpcdire offices.
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. * 9 
 
 the feveral adjournments, but that innate curio- 
 fity in mankind to acquaint themfclves with 
 every thing remarkable and uncommon, drew 
 the people from all parts. Figure to yourfelf the 
 concern and anxiety which we who were to fpeak 
 before fuch an awful affembly, and in the prefence 
 of the prince, muft have felt ! I have often pleaded 
 in the fenate j and indeed there is no place where 
 I am more favourably heard j yet, as if the fcene 
 had been entirely new to me, I found myfelf 
 under an unufual diftrefs upon this occafion. Be- 
 fides, there was fomething in the circumftances 
 of the perfon accufed, which added confiderably 
 to the difficulties I laboured under: a man, once 
 of confular dignity, and a member of the facred 
 college, now ftood before me ftripped of all his 
 honours. It was a painful office I thought, to ac- 
 cufe one who appeared already condemned ; and 
 for whom therefore, tho' his crimes were enor- 
 mous, companion tcok its turn, and feemed to 
 plead in his behalf. However, I collected myfelf 
 enough to begin my fpeech j and the applaufe I 
 received, was equal to the fears I had fuffered. I 
 fpoke almoft five hours fuccefiively, (for they in- 
 dulged me above an hour beyond the time at firft 
 allotted to me) and what at my firft fetting out 
 had moft contributed to raife my apprehenfions, 
 proved in the event greatly to my advantage. The 
 goodnefs, the care (I dare not fay the folicitude) of 
 
 the
 
 9 o THE LETTERS Book II. 
 
 the emperor, were fo great towards me, that he fre- 
 quently Ipoke to one of my attendants, who flood 
 behind me, to defire me to fpare myfelf j imagin- 
 ing I ihould exert my ftrength beyond what the 
 weaknefs of my conftitution would admit. Clau- 
 dius Marceliinus replied in behalf of Martianus. 
 After which the aflfembly broke up till the next 
 day } for the c evening coming on, there was not 
 time to proceed farther. The next day, Salvius Li- 
 beralis, a very clear, acute and fpirited orator, fpoke 
 in defence of Prilcus : an4 he exerted all his talents 
 upon this occafion. C. Tacitus replied to him in, 
 a ilrain of the moft powerful eloquence, and with a 
 certain dignity which diftinguimes all his fpeeches. 
 Fronto Catius arofe up a fecond time in favour of 
 Prifcus, and in a very impreftive fpeech endeavour- 
 ed, as indeed the cafe required, rather to foften the 
 judges, than defend his client. The evening com- 
 ing on, the fenate proceeded no farther that day, 
 but met the next, and entered upon the proofs. It 
 was much to the honour of the fenate, and worthy 
 of ancient Rome, thus to be adjourned only by 
 the night, and then re-affemble for three days 
 
 fucceffively, 
 
 e It was not lawful, fays one of the commentators, for the 
 fenate to aflemble before fun-rife, nor to continue after fun-fet, 
 and quotes Qellius in fupport.of this opinion. But either this 
 cuflom was not received in Pliny's time, or Gellius muft be 
 utiderftood to mean what Mr. Kennet cxprefsly fays, tlyit no^ 
 decree of the fenate could pa/s after fun-fet. For that the 
 houfe actually fat after that time, appears from B. 4. Let. 9T 
 Qixit in r.oSsm, atque ctiam nctle, iliniis lucerqir,
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. 91 
 
 fucce {lively. The excellent Cornutus Tertullus* 
 conful elect, ever firm in the caufe of truth, 
 moved that Marius fhouki pay into the trea- 
 fuiy the f 700,000 fefterces he had received, and 
 be banifbed Italy. Tertullus was for extending 
 the fentence ftiil farther with refpeft to Martianus, 
 and propofes that he mould be baniflied even from 
 Africa. Pie concluded with adding, that Tacitus 
 and I having faithfully and diligently difcharged the 
 parts aligned to us, the fenate mould declare, we 
 had executed our truft to their farisfaction. The 
 confuls elect, and thofe who had already enjoyed that 
 office, agreed with Tertullus, except Pompeii^: he 
 moved that Prifcus would pay the feven hundred 
 thoufand fefterces into the treafury, but fuffer no 
 other punifhment than what had been already in- 
 flicted upon him for * extortion: as for Martianus, 
 he was for having him banifhed during five years 
 only. There was a large party for both opinions, 
 2nd perhaps the majority fecredy inclined to the 
 milder fentence; for many of thofe who appeared 
 at firffc to agree with Tertullus, feemed afterwards 
 inclined to join with. Porapeius. But upon a divi- 
 fion of the houfe, all thofe who flood near the 
 confuisj, went over to the fide of Tertullus. This 
 
 being 
 
 * Honoratns being- deacf, that part of the charge againft 
 ?-iarius which related u his taking three hundred thoufa&d 
 iefterces of him, could not, it feems, be proved. 
 
 f A forfeiture of four times the lam received.
 
 92 THE LETTERS Book II. 
 
 being obferved by the party of Pompeius, they 
 alfo deferted him in the fame manner; fo that 
 he was extremely exafperated againft thofe who 
 had urged him to this vote, particularly a- 
 gainft Regulus, whom he upbraided for aban- 
 doning him in a ftep which he himfeif had 
 advifed. There is, indeed, fuch an inconfiftency 
 in the general character of Regulus, that he is at 
 once both bold and timorous. Thus ended this 
 important tryal; but there remains a confiderable 
 part of the bufmefs ftill behind. It is concerning 
 Hoftilius Firminus, lieutenant to Marius Prifcus, 
 who is ftrongly charged with being an accom- 
 plice ; as it appears by the account books of Mar- 
 tianus, and by a fpeech which he made in an ai > 
 lembly of the people at Leptis h , that he had exal- 
 ed fifty thoufand ' denarii ofMartianus; that he 
 was alfo acceffary to the wicked adminiftration 
 of Prifcus; and that he received ten thoufand k 
 fefterces under the title of his perfumer: an office 
 perfectly well adapted to this effeminate fop, who 
 is all over eflence and perfume. It was agreed, on 
 the motion of Tertullus, to proceed againit him the 
 
 next 
 
 * In Africa. 
 
 * About 1458!. of our money. The Denarius was the chief 
 iilver coin among the Romans. Mr Greaves (who, as Dr. 
 Arbuthnoc obferves, may be juftly reckoned a claflical author 
 upon this fubjeci) has valued it at fevcn pence three farthings, 
 [Tab. Coins, j.] iJut to avoid fri&ions, it is here confidered 
 as only equival nt to feven pence Englilh. 
 
 * A.b ul 80 1. of our money,
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. 93 
 
 next meeting of the fenate: for, either by accident 
 cr defign, he was at this time abfent. 
 
 Thus have I given you an account of what is 
 doing in town. Let me know, in return, the 
 news of the country: how your fiirubs and your 
 vineyards, your com and your delicate flocks of 
 fheep flourifh? In a word, if you fhould not fend 
 me a long letter, you muft expect for the future to 
 be punifhed in your own way, and to receive none 
 but fhort ones from me. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XII. fotbejam;. 
 
 TH E remaining part of the enquiry which 
 I mentioned to you in my former letter, 
 concerning the affair of Prifcus, is at laft, I will 
 not fay terminated as it ought, however it is finifh- 
 ed. Firminus being brought before the fenate, 
 made fuch a fort of defence as a man generally 
 does who is confcious of detected guilt. The con- 
 fuls elect were much divided what fentence to 
 pafs. Cornutus Tertullus moved he fhould be 
 expelled the fenate ; but Nerva, with more 
 artifice, propofed, that he fhould be only de- 
 clared for ever incapable of holding the office 
 of Proconful : and this, as it had the appearance of 
 a milder fentence, prevailed; tho' in truth it is 
 of all others the mod fevere. For can any fitua- 
 tion be more wretched, than to be obliged to un- 
 dergo
 
 54 THE LETTERS Book IL 
 
 dergo the fatigue of a member of the fenate, at - 
 the fame time that one is cut off from all hopes 
 of enjoying thofe honours, to which a fenator is 
 entitled ? And after having received fuch an igno- 
 miny, were it not better to be for ever buried in 
 retirement, than to be marked out by fo confpi- 
 cuous a flation, to the view and fcorn of the world ? 
 Befides, to confider this with refpeft to the public ; 
 what can be more unbecoming the dignity of the 
 fenate, than to fuffer a perfon to retain his feat irt 
 the houfe, after having been publickly cenfured by 
 that auguft afTembly ? What can be more indecent 
 than for the criminal to be ranked with his judges ? 
 for a man excluded the Proconfulfhip, becaufe he 
 behaved infamoufly as a a lieutenant, to ft in 
 judgment upon Proconfuls ? for one proved guilty 
 of extortion, to condemn or acquit others of fimi- 
 lar crimes ? Yet thefe reflections, it feems, made 
 no imprefiion upon the majority. Votes go by 
 number, not weight; nor can it be otherwife 
 in aflcmblies of this kind, where nothing is more 
 unequal than that equality which prevails in them; 
 for tho' every member has the fame right of fuf- 
 frage, every member has not the fame flrength of 
 judgment to direct it. 
 
 I have 
 
 * The lieutenant accompanied the Proconful ef governour, 
 for the judging of inferior cauies, and the management of all 
 fmaller concerns, every thing of moment being referred ta 
 tke immediate care of the governour.
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. 95 
 
 I have thus difcharged the promife I gave you 
 in my lafl letter, which by this time, I imagine, 
 (unlefs any accident fhould have befallen the mef- 
 fenger) has reached your hands j for I trufted the 
 conveyance to one, of whofe diligence and fide- 
 lity I am well aflured. I hope you will now, on 
 your part, make me as full a return for this and 
 ray former, as the fcene you are in will afford, 
 Fafewel. 
 
 LETTER XIII. 
 
 AS I know you gladly embrace every oppor- 
 tunity of obliging me, fo there is no man 
 to whom I had rather be obliged. I apply to 
 you, therefore, preferably to any other perfon, for 
 a favour which I am extremely defirous of obtain- 
 ing. You who are commander in chief of a very 
 confiderable army, have many opportunities of ex- 
 ercifmgyour generofity; and the length of time you 
 have enjoyed that poft, mud have enabled you to 
 provide for all your own friends. I hope you will 
 now turn your .eyes upon fome of mine : they are 
 but a few indeed, for whom I (hall folicit you; tho' 
 your generous difpofition, I know, would be better 
 plcafed if the number were greater. But it would 
 ill become me to trouble you with recommending 
 
 more
 
 96 THE LETTERS Book II. 
 
 more than one or two : at prefent, I will only 
 mention Voconius Romanus. His fati^r was of 
 great diftinction among the Roman knights i and 
 his father-in-law, or, as I might more properly call 
 him, his fecond father, (for his affectionate treat- 
 ment of Vcconius entitles him to that appellation) 
 was ftill more confpicuous. His mother was one 
 of the mod confiderable ladies of Upper Spain : 
 you know what character the people of that pro- 
 vince bear, and how remarkable they are for the 
 ftrictnefs of their manners. As for himfelf, he has 
 been lately admitted into the facred order of Prieft- 
 hood. Our fricndfhip began with our ftudies, and 
 we were early united in the clofeft intimacy. We 
 lived together under the fame roof, both in 
 town and country ; and he was a party in my 
 inoft ferious and my gayeft hours : where, indeed, 
 could I have found a more faithful friend, or 
 more agreeable companion ? In his converfation, 
 and even in his very voice and ^p^wtenance, 
 there is the moft amiable fweetnefs ; as at the 
 bar he difcovers an elevated genius, an eafy and 
 harmonious elocution, a clear and penetrating ap- 
 prehenfion. He has fo happy a turn for * epiflo- 
 
 lary 
 
 * It appears from this, and fome other paflages in thefe 
 letters, that the art of epiftolary writing was efteemed by the 
 Romans, in the number of liberal and polite accomplilhments ; 
 
 and
 
 Book II. O F P L I N Y. 97 
 
 lary writing:, that were you to read his letters, you 
 would imagine they had been dictated by the 
 Mufes rhemfelves. I love him with a more than 
 common affedlion \ and I know he returns it with 
 
 equal 
 
 and we find Cicero mentioning with great pleafure, in fome 
 of his letters to Atticus, the elegant fpecimen he had received 
 from his fon, of his genius in this way. [ad Att. 1 xv 16, 17.] 
 It feems indeed to have formed par: of their education ; as in 
 the opinion of Mr. Locke, it well deferves to have a (hare in 
 ours. " The writing of letters (as that judicious author ob- 
 " ferves) enters fo much into all the occafionsof life, that no 
 " gentleman can avoid mewing hitnfelr in compofitions ojf 
 " this kind. Occurrences will daily force him to make this 
 ufe of his pen, which lays open his breeding, his fenfe, 
 " and his abilities, to a feverer examination than any oral 
 " difcourfe." [Treat, on Educ. 86-] Pliny was of the fame 
 opinion ; for in a fubfequent f letter, wherein he lays down a 
 method of ftudy to one who delired his fentiments upon thac 
 head, he particularly recommends to him performances of this 
 kind. It is to be wondered we have io lew writers in our own 
 language, who deferve to be pointed out as models upon fuch 
 an occafion. After having named Sir William Temple, it 
 would be difficult, perhaps, to add a fecond. The elegant 
 writer of Mr. Cowley's life, mentions him as excelling in this 
 uncommon talent; but as that author declares himlelf of opi- 
 nion, " that letters which pafs between familiar friends, if they 
 " are written as they Ihould be, can fcarce ever be fit to fee 
 " tne light," the world is unluckily deprived of what, no 
 doubt, would have been well worth its infpeclicn. A late dif- 
 tinguifhed genius treats the very attempt as ridiculous, ' and 
 " profelles himfeif a mortal enemy to what they call a fine 
 " letter." His averfion however was not fo ftrong but he 
 knew how to conquer it when he thought proper, and the 
 letter which doles uis correlponder.ee with Bifhop Atterbury, 
 is, perhaps, the molt genteel and manly addrefs that ever was 
 penn'd to a friend in dilgrace. The truth is, a fine letteridoes 
 not co -:fi!t in faying fine things, but expreJBng ordinary ones 
 in an uncommon manner. It is the profrie communia dicot, 
 
 VOL. I. G 'ho 
 
 J- B. 7. Let. 9.
 
 8 THE LETTERS Book II. . 
 
 equal ardour. Even in the earlier part of our 
 lives, I warmly embraced every opportunity of 
 doing him all the good offices which then lay in 
 my power j as I have lately obtained for him of 
 the k emperor, the 'privilege granted to thofe who 
 have three children : a privilege which tho* Caefar 
 very rarely beftows, and always witli great caution, 
 yet he conferred, at my requeft, in fuch a manner, 
 as to give it the air and grace of being his own 
 choice. The beft way of fhewing that I think 
 he deferves the obligations he has already received 
 from me, is, by encreafing to them, efpecially 
 as he always accepts my fervices with fo much 
 gratitude as to merit farther. 
 
 Thus I have given you a faithful account 
 of Romanus, and informed you how thorough- 
 ly I have experienced his worth, and how 
 
 much 
 
 the art of giving grace and elegance to familiar occurrences, 
 that conftitiites the merit, of this kind of writing. Mr. Gay's 
 letter concerning the two lovers who were (truck dead with the 
 fame flafh of lightning, is a mafter-piece of the fort; and the 
 fpecimen he has chere given of his talents for this fpecies of 
 competition, makes it much to be regretted we have r,ot more 
 from the fame hand : we might then have equalled, if not ex- 
 celled our neighbours the French in this, as we have in every 
 other branch of polite literature, and have found a name among 
 Our own countrymen to mention with the eafy Voiture. 
 
 k Trajan. 
 
 6 By a law pafled A. U. 762, it was enaed> that ever/- 
 citizen of Rome who had three children, fhould be excufed 
 from all troublefome offices where he lived. This privilege 
 the emperors fometimes extended to thofe who were not le- 
 gally entitled to it. See Book 7. Let. 16. in not. & Book 10. 
 Let, 95. in not.
 
 . OF PLINY. 99 
 
 much I love him. Let me-intreat you to ho- 
 nour him with your patronage in a way fuit- 
 able to the generofity of your heart, and the 
 eminence of your ftation. But above all, admit 
 him into a (hare of your affection $ for, tho' you 
 were to confer upon him the utmoft you have in 
 your power to beftow, you can give him nothing fo 
 valuable as your friendship : and that you may be 
 affured he is worthy of it, even to the higheft 
 degree of intimacy, I fend you this fhort fketch of 
 his character. I fhould continue my intercefllons 
 in his behalf, but that I am perfuaded you do not 
 require to be importuned, and I have already re- 
 peated -them in every line of this letter: for, to mew 
 a juft rcafon for what one afks, is to intercede in 
 the ftrongeft manner. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XIV. To MAXIMUS. 
 
 "\7 OU gueiTed right; I am much engaged 
 * in pleading before the Centumviri : but 
 the bufmefs there, has more of fatigue than plea- 
 fure. The caufes are generally of fmall mo- 
 ment, and it is very fckbm that any thing con- 
 fiderable, either from the importance of the 
 queftion, or the rank of the perfons concerned, 
 comes before them. There is another difagree- 
 able circumftance atten Ung it j there are very 
 few lawyers who frequent this Court, with whom I 
 G 2 can
 
 TOO THE LETTERS Book II. 
 
 can take any fort of fatisfaction in being joined. 
 The greater part is compofed of a parcel of impu- 
 dent, obfcure young men, who come hither from 
 declaiming in the fchools ; and behave with fo 
 much irreverence and impropriety, that my friend 
 Attilius well obferved, " our youth fet out at the 
 " bar with Centumviral caufes, as they do at the 
 " academies with Homer;" intimating, that in both 
 places they begin where they ftiould end. But in 
 former times (to ufe an old man's phrafe) it was net 
 cuftomary for the youth, even of the beft families, to 
 appear in this court, unlefs introduced by fome per- 
 fon of Confular dignity : fuch was the refpect which 
 our anceftors entertained for this noble profeffion ! 
 But now, fince every fence of modefty and decorum 
 is broken down, and all diftinftions levelled and 
 confounded, the youth of our days are fo far from 
 waiting to be introduced, that they rudely rufii in 
 uninvited. The audience that follow them are fit 
 attendants upon fuch orators ; a low rout of hired 
 mercenaries, arTembling themfelves in the middle of 
 the court, where the dole is dealt round to them as 
 openly, as if they were in a private dining room : and 
 at this noble price they run from court to court! 
 The Greeks have a name in their language for this 
 fort of people, importing that they are applauders, 
 by profeffion ; and we ftigmatize them with the op- 
 probrious title of table-flatterers: yet the meannefs 
 alluded to in both languages increafes every day. 
 
 It
 
 Book II. O F P L I N Y. 101 
 
 It was but yefterday two of my domeftic officers', 
 mere ftriplings, were hired for this goodly purpoie 
 at the price of three b denarii: fuch is the eafy pur- 
 chafe of Eloquence ! Upon thefe honourable terms, 
 we fill our benches, and gather a circle; and thus it 
 is thofe vociferous fhouts are raifed, when a man 
 who ftands in the middle of the ring gives the 
 word. For you muft know, thefe honeft fellows, 
 who underftand nothing of what is faid, or, if they 
 did, could not hear it, would be at a lofs, without a 
 fignal, how to time their applaufe : for thofe that do 
 not hear a fyllable are as clamorous in their praifes 
 as any of the reft. If at any time you fhould happen 
 to pafs by while the court is fitting, and would know 
 the merit of any of our advocates, you have no 
 occafion to give yourfelf the trouble of liftening 
 to them: take it for a rule, he that has the 
 loudeft commendations, deferves them the lead. 
 Largius Licinius was the firft who gave rife to 
 this cuftom; but then he went no farther than to 
 folicit an audience. I remember to have heard 
 my tutor Quinftilian fay, that Domitius Afer, as 
 he was pleading before the Centumviri in his 
 G 3 ufual 
 
 * In the original it is nomenclatores, a kind of mafter of 
 the ceremonies, whofe bufinefs it was to announce the names of 
 the clients and dependants as he feverally introduced them to 
 the patron. 
 
 k About one {hilling and eleven pence farthing of our 
 money.
 
 102 THE LETTERS Book II. 
 
 ufual grave and folemn manner, heard on a fud- 
 den a moft immoderate and unufual noife; 
 being a good deal fiirprifed he left off: the cla- 
 mour ceafed, and he began again: he was inter- 
 rupted a fecond time, and a third. At laft he en- 
 quired who it was that was fpeaking ? He was told, 
 Licinius. Alas ! faid he, Eloquence in this Court 
 is no more! The truth is, it then only began to 
 decline, when, in Afer's opinion, it no longer ex- 
 ifted j whereas now it is only almoft extinct. I 
 am afhamed to fay with what an unmanly tone 
 the orators deliver themfelves, and with what a 
 fqueaking applaufe they are received; nothing 
 feems wanting to compleat this fing-fong oratory, 
 but the claps, or rather the mufic of the flage. 
 The applaufe of the audience is exprefled by 
 a kind of howling (for I can call it by no other 
 term) which would be indecent even in the theatre. 
 Hitherto the intereft of my friends, and the confi- 
 deration of my early time of life, have retained me 
 in this court j as it would be thought, I fear, ra- 
 ther to proceed from indolence than a juft indig- 
 nation at thefe indecencies, were I yet to leave it: 
 however, I go there lefs < frequently than ufual, 
 and am thus making a gradual retreat. Farewel. 
 
 LET-
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. 103 
 
 LETTER XV. To VALERIANUS. 
 
 HO W goes on your old eftate at * Marfi ? 
 and how do you approve of your new pur- 
 chafe ? Has it as many beauties in your eye now, 
 as before you bought it ? That would be extraor- 
 dinary indeed ! for an object in pofiefiion feldom 
 appears with the fame charms it had in purfuit. 
 As for myfelf, the eftate left me by my mother 
 ufes me but ill ; however, I value it for her fake, 
 and am, befides, grown callous by long fuffering. 
 Frequent occafions of complaint render one a- 
 fhamed of complaining any more. 
 
 LETTER XVI. To ANNIANUS. 
 
 YOU aft agreeably to your ufual concern 
 for my intereft, when you advife me to con- 
 fider the b codicil of Acilianus (who has appoint- 
 ed me one of his co-heirs) as void, be^aufe it 
 G 4 is 
 
 a One of the ancient divifions of Italy, comprehending part 
 of what is now called the farther Abruzzo. 
 
 b A codicil, by the ancient civil law, was a lefs folemn kind 
 of will ; wherein it was not neceffary to obferve fo ftri&ly the 
 ceremonies preftribed by the law for a will. But no legacy 
 given by a codicil was valid, unlefs confirmed by the will, 
 which was efteemed its bafis. This, however, by later empe- 
 rors, was altered. Vid. Juft. Inft. T. 25. 1. 2.
 
 104 THE LETTERS Book II. 
 
 is not confirmed by his will. That the law in 
 this cafe deems it invalid, I well know ; and it is 
 a point of jurifprudence to which even thofe who 
 are ignorant of every other are ufually no ft rangers. 
 But I have a law of my own, which 1 fhall always 
 religioufly obferve ; and that is, punctually to per- 
 form the will of the dead, tho' it may want the 
 effential forms. This codicil^ beyond all manner 
 of doubt, is of Aciiianus's own hand-writing: 
 therefore, tho' it is not confirmed by his will, I 
 fhall be guided by it as ftricUy as if it were ; efpe- 
 cially as there is no danger that any villainous in- 
 former can take advantage of this miftake. If in- 
 deed there were any hazard, that what 1 give to the 
 legatees in the codicil would be feized as forfeited 
 to the ufe of the public, I fhould perhaps act with 
 more deliberation : but as the forfeiture in this 
 cafe is merely for the benefit of the heir, and he 
 may difpofe of what accrues to him as fuch, in the 
 manner he thinks proper ; nothing hinders, fince 
 the law does not, my obferving that rule which I 
 have laid down to myfelf. Farewel, 
 
 LET-
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. 105 
 
 LETTER XVII. ft CALLUS. 
 
 X^ O U are furprifed, it feems, that I am fo fond 
 of my a Laurentinum, or (if you like the ap- 
 pellation better) my Laurens: but you will ceafe to 
 wonder, when I acquaint you with the beauty of 
 the villa, the advantages of its fituation, and the 
 extenfive profpeft of the fea-coaft. It is but feven- 
 teen miles diflant from Rome; fo that having 
 finiflied my affairs in town, I can pafs my evenings 
 
 here 
 
 * Pliny had no eftate round this feat, his whole pofleffions 
 here being included (as he informs us in B. 4, Let. 6.) in this 
 houfe and gardens. It was merely a winter villa, in which he 
 ufed to fpend fome of the cold months, whenever his bufi- 
 refs admitted of his abfence from Rome; and for this reafon 
 jt is, that we find warmth is fo much confidered in thedifpofi- 
 ton cf the fcveral apartments, &c. And indeed he feems 
 to have a principal view to its advantages as a winter houfe 
 throughout the whole defcriptic n of it. See Cartel's villas of 
 the ancients. 
 
 Scirnozxi, in hi? Arcbiteft. univerf. I. 3. 12. has given a 
 plan and elevation of this villa. Monf. Felihien ha alfo annex- 
 ed a plan to his tranflation of this letter ; as our own coun- 
 tryman the ingenious Mr. Caltel has done in his 'villas of the 
 ancients illuftrated. But they differ extremely among themfelves 
 as to the difpofition of thefeveral parts of this building, and per- 
 haps have rather purfued the idea of modern architecture, tnan 
 that which is traced out in their original; at leaft, if t .e fuppo- 
 fuion advanced by one of the commentators upon this epiftle be 
 true ; who contends, that the villas of the ancients were not one 
 utiiform pile of building contained under the fame roof, but 
 that each apartment formed adiftinftand feparate mc-mber from, 
 the reft. The ruins of this villa are faid to have been difcover'd 
 fome time about the year 1714, but whether any plan was ever 
 taken of fo valuable a remain of antiquity, or the reality of it 
 ^fcertained, the translator has not been able to learn.
 
 ic6 THELETTERS Book II. 
 
 here without breaking in upon the bufinefs of the 
 day, There are two different roads to it; if you 
 go by that of Laurentum, you muft turn off at 
 the fourteenth mile-ftone; if by Oftia, at the 
 1 1 th. Both of them are in fome parts fandy, which 
 makes it fome what *heavy and tedious if you tra- 
 vel in a carriage, but eafy and pleafant to thofe who 
 ride on horfe-back. The landfkip on all fides is ex- 
 tremely diverfified, the profpeft in fome places 
 being confined by woods, in others extending over 
 large and beautiful meadows, where numberlefs 
 flocks of fheep and herds of cattle, which the feverity 
 of the vvinter has driven from the mountains, fat- 
 ten in the vernal warmth of this rich pafturage. 
 My villa is large enough to afford all defirable ac- 
 commodations, without beingextenfive. The porch 
 before it is plain, but not mean, thro' which you 
 enter into a portico in the form of the letter E)* 
 which includes a fmall but agreeable area. This af- 
 fords a very commodious retreat in bad weather, 
 not only as it is inclofed with windows, but par- 
 ticularly as it is flickered by an extraordinary 
 projection of the roof. From the middle of this 
 portico you pafs into an inward court extremely 
 pleaiant, and from thence into a handfome halj 
 which runs out towards the fea; fo that when 
 there is a fouth- weft wind it is gently wailied 
 with the waves, which fpend thcmfelves at the 
 
 foot
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. 107 
 
 foot of it. On every fide of this hall there are 
 either folding- doors, or windows equally large, by 
 which means you have a view from the front 
 and the two fides, as it were of three different 
 feas : from the back part you fee the middle 
 court, the portico, and the area j and by another 
 view you look thro' the portico into the porch, 
 from whence the profped is terminated by the 
 woods and mountains which are feen at a diftance. 
 On the left-hand of this hall, fomewhat farther 
 from the fea, lies a large drawing-room, and 
 beyond that, a fecond of a fmaller fize, which 
 has one window to the rifing and another to the 
 fetting fun : this has likewife a profpeft of the 
 fea, but being at a greater diftance, is lefs in- 
 commoded by it. The angle which the projection 
 of the hall forms with .this drawing room b retains 
 and increafes the warmth of the fun ; and hither 
 my family retreat in winter to perform their exer- 
 cifes : it is flickered from all winds except thofe 
 which are generally attended with clouds, fo that 
 nothing can render this place ufelefs, but what at 
 the fame time deflroys the fair weather. Conti- 
 guous to this, is a room forming the fegment of a 
 circle, the windows of which are fo placed as to 
 receive the fun the whole day : in the walls are 
 contrived a fort of cafes, which contain a collec- 
 tion of fuch authors whofe wcrks can never be 
 read too often. From hence you pafs into a bed- 
 5 chamber
 
 io8 THE LETTERS Bock II. 
 
 chamber through a paflage, which being boarded 
 and fufpended as it were over a ftove which runs 
 underneath, tempers the heat which it receives 
 and conveys to all parts of this room. The re- 
 mainder of this fide of the houfe is appropriated 
 to the ufe of my flaves and freedmen ; but moft 
 of the apartments, however, are neat enough to 
 receive any of my friends. In the oppofite wing, 
 is a room ornamented in a very elegant tafte j next 
 to which lies another room, which, tho' large for 
 a parlour, makes but a moderate dining-room ; it 
 is exceedingly warmed and enlightened, not only 
 by the direct rays of the fun, but by their reflection 
 from the fea. Beyond, is a bed- chamber, toge- 
 ther with its ante-chamber, the height of which 
 renders it cool in fummer j as its being flickered 
 on all fides from the winds makes it warm in win- 
 ter. To this apartment another of the fame fort is 
 joined by one common wall. From thence you 
 enter into the grand and fpacious cooling-room b be- 
 longing to the bath c , from the oppofite walls of 
 which two round bafons project, fufficiently large to 
 
 fwim 
 
 b " The principal ufe of this room feems to have been 
 " defigned to prepare the bodies of thole that had been in 
 " the former room, for their going into the warmer air." 
 Caftel's villas, p. 33. 
 
 c " The cuftom of bathing in hot water, was become fo 
 " habitual to the Romans in Pliny's time, that they every 
 *' day praclifed it before they lay down to eat ; for which rea- 
 * fon, in the city the public baths were extremely numerous ; 
 
 " in
 
 Book II. O F P L I N Y. 109 
 
 fwim in. Contiguous to this is the perfuming- 
 room, then the fweating-room, and next to that 
 the furnace which conveys the heat to the baths: 
 adjoining are two other little bathing - rooms, 
 fitted up in an elegant rather than coflly man- 
 ner : annexed to this, is a warm bath of extra- 
 ordinary wdrkmanlhip, wherein one may fwim, 
 and have a profpett at the fame time of the fea. 
 Not far from hence ftands the tennis-court, which 
 
 lies 
 
 " in which Vitruvius gives us to underrtand there were for 
 " each fex three rooms fcr baching, one of cold \vater, one of 
 " warm, and one ftill warmer; and there were cells of three- 
 " degre-s of heat for Treating: to the forementioned mem- 
 ' bers were added others for anointing and bodily exercifes. 
 " The lait thing they did before they entered into the dining- 
 " room was to bathe ; what preceded their warning was their 
 " exercife in the fpherifterium, prior to which ic was their 
 " cuitom to anoint themfelves. As for their fweating- rooms, 
 " tho' they were doubtlefs in all their baths, we do not find 
 " them to have been ufed but upon particular occafions." 
 Cartel's villas of the ancients, p. 31. 
 
 The Roman magnificence feems to have particularly dif- 
 playcd itielf in the article of their baths. Seneca dating one 
 of his epiftles from a villa which once belonged to bcipio 
 Africaous, takes occalion from thence to draw a parallel be- 
 tween the fimplicity of the earlier ages, and the luxury of his 
 own times in that inftance. By the idea he gives of the latter, 
 they were works of the higheft fplendour and expence. Tne 
 walls were com pofed of Alexandrine marble, the veins where- 
 of were fo artfully managed, as to have the appearance of a 
 regular picture : the edges of the bafons were let round with a 
 rooft valuable kind of ilone, found in Thafius, one of the 
 Greek iflands, variegated with veins of different colours, in- 
 terfoerfed with ftreaks of gold ; the water was conveyed thro* 
 fiher pipes, and fell, by feveral defcents, in beautiful cafcides. 
 The floors were inlaid with precious gems, and an intermix- 
 ture of ftatues and colonades contributed to ;j.cw an air of 
 elegance and grandeur upon the whole. Vide Sen. Ep. 86.
 
 i io THE LETTERS Book II. 
 
 lies open to the warmth of the afternoon fun. 
 From thence you afcend a fort of turret, con- 
 taining two entire apartments below; as there 
 are the fame number above, befides a dining room 
 which commands a very extenfive profpeft of the 
 fea, together with the beautiful villas that fond 
 interfperfed upon the coafb. At the ether end is a 
 fecond turret, in which is a room that receives the 
 rifing and fetting fun. Behind this, is a large re- 
 pofitory, near to which is a gallery of curiofities, 
 and underneath a fpacious dining-room, where the 
 roaring of the fea, even in a ftorm, is heard but 
 faintly : it looks upon the garden and the d geftatio^ 
 which furrounds the garden. The geftatio rs en- 
 compafled with a box-tree hedge, and where that 
 is decayed, with rofemary : for the box in thofe 
 parts which are flickered by the buildings, pre- 
 ferves its verdure perfectly well ; but where by an 
 open fituation it lies expofed to the fpray of the 
 fea, tho' at a great diftance, it entirely withers. 
 Between the garden and this geftatio runs a mady 
 plantation of vines, the alley of which is fo foft, 
 that you may walk bare foot upon it without any 
 injury. The garden is chiefly planted with fig and 
 mulberry trees, to which this foil is as favourable, 
 as it is averfe from all others. In this place is a 
 
 banqueting- 
 
 * See p. 4. note c .
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. ^ in 
 
 banqueting-room, which tho' it ftands remote from 
 the fea, enjoys a profpect nothing inferior to 
 that view: two apartments run round the back 
 part of it, the windows whereof look upon the 
 entrance of the villa, and into a very pleafant 
 kitchen-garden. From hence an inclofed e portico 
 extends, which by its great length you might fup- 
 pofe erected for the ufe of the public. It has a 
 range of windows on each fide, but on that which 
 looks towards the fea they are double the number of 
 thofe next the garden. When the weather' is fair and 
 ferene, thefe are all thrown open ; but if it blows, thofe 
 on the fide the wind fcts are mut, while the others 
 remain unclofed without any inconvenience. Before 
 this portico lies a terrace perfumed with violets, 
 and warmed by the reflection of the fun from the 
 portico, which as it retains the rays, fo it keeps off 
 the north-earl wind; and it is as warm on this 
 fide, as it is cool on the oppofite : in the fame man- 
 ner it proves a defence againft the fouth-wefl; and 
 thus, in fhort, by means of its feveral fides, breaks 
 the force of the winds from what point foeverthey 
 blow. Thefe are fome of its winter advantages: 
 they are (till more confiderable in fummer -, for at 
 
 that 
 
 e tf Thefe inclofed porticos differed no otherwise from our 
 " prefent galleries, than that they had pillars in them : the 
 " ufe of this room was for walking." Caftell's villas, p. 44.
 
 ii2 THE LETTERS Book II. 
 
 that feafon it throws a fhade upon the terrace dur- 
 ing all the forenoon, as it defends the geftatio, 
 and that part of the garden which lies contiguous 
 to it, from the afternoon fun, and cads a greater 
 or lefs fhade as the day either increafes or de- 
 creafes; but the portico itfelf is then cooleft when 
 the fun is mod fcorching, that is, when its rays 
 fall directly upon the roof. To thefe its benefits 
 I muft not forget to add, that by fetting open the 
 windows, the weftern breezes have a free draught, 
 and by that means the enclofed air is pre- 
 vented from ftagnating. On the upper end 
 of the terrace and portico (lands a detached 
 building in the garden, which I call my fa- 
 vorite ; and indeed it is particularly fo, having 
 erected it myfelf. It contains a very warm winter- 
 room, one fide of which looks upon the ter- 
 race, the other has a view of the fca, and both 
 lie expofed to the fun. Through the folding- 
 doors you fee the oppofite chamber, and from 
 the window is a profpett of the enclofed portico. 
 On that fide next the fea, and oppofite to the mid- 
 dle wall, ftands a little elegant recefs, which by 
 means of glafs doors and a curtain, is either 
 laid into the adjoining room, or feparated from it. 
 It contains a couch and two chairs: As you lie 
 upon this couch, from the feet you have a profpect 
 of the feaj if you look behind, you fee the neigh- 
 bouring
 
 Book II. OF PLIN.Y. 113 
 
 bouring villas j and from the head you have a 
 view of the woods : thefe three views may be feert 
 cither diftinctly e from fo many different windows 
 in the room, or blended together in one confufed 
 profpeft. Adjoining to this, is a bed-chamber, 
 which neither the voice of the fervants, the mur- 
 muring of the fea, nor even the roaring of a tem- 
 ped can reach; not lightening nor the day icfelf can 
 penetrate it, unlefs you open the windows. This 
 profound tranquillity is occafioned by a paffage, 
 which feparates the wall of this chamber from that 
 of the garden ; and thus by means of that inter- 
 vening fpace, every noife is precluded. Annexed 
 to this, is a fmall ftove-room, which by opening 
 a little window, warms the bed-chamber to the 
 degree of heat required. Beyond this, lies a 
 chamber and ante- chamber, which enjoys the fun, 
 tho* obliquely indeed, from the time it rifes till the 
 afternoon. When I retire to this garden- apartment, 
 I fancy myfelf a hundred miles from my own houfe, 
 and take particular pleafure in it at the feaft of 
 the f Saturnalia, when, by the licence of that 
 VOL. I. H feafon 
 
 " It muft have been from the middle of the room that he 
 " could fee all thefe profpefts feparate and diftincl, which 
 " upon a nearer approach to any particular window muft have 
 " appeared intermingled." Cartel's Villas, p. 48. 
 
 f A feait held in honour of the god Saturn, which began 
 on the 19111 of December, and continued, as fome fay, for 
 feven days. It was a time of general rejoicing; particularly 
 among the flaves, who had at this feafon the privilege of taking 
 great liberties with their mailers.
 
 THE LETTERS Book If. 
 
 feafon of feftivity, every other part of my villa 
 refounds with the mirth of my domeftics: thus I 
 neither interrupt their diverfions, nor they my ftu- 
 dies. Among the pleafures and conveniences of 
 this fituation, there is one difadvantage, and that 
 is, the want of a running ftream ; but this defefr. is in 
 3 great meafure fupplied by wells, or rather I mould 
 call them fountains, for they rife very near the 
 furface. And indeed the quality of this coaft is 
 remarkable ; for in what part foever you dig, you 
 meet, upon the firft turning up of the ground, with 
 a fpring of pure water, not in the leaft fait, tho' fo 
 near the fea. The neighbouring forefts afford an 
 abundant fupply of fuel; as every other accommo- 
 dation of life may be had from Oftia: to a mode- 
 rate man, indeed, even the next village (between 
 which and my houfe there is only one villa) 
 would furnifli all common neceflaries. In that 
 little place there are no lefs than three public 
 baths ; which is a great conveniency if it hap- 
 pen that my friends come "m unexpectedly, or 
 make too fhort a flay to allow time for pre- 
 paring my own. The whole coaft is beauti- 
 fully diverfified by the contiguous or detached 
 villas that are fpread upon it, which whether you 
 view them from the fea or the more, have the 
 appearance of fo many different cities. The 
 ftrand is fometimes, after a long calm, perfedly 
 fmooth,.
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. 115 
 
 fmooth, tho' in general, by the ftorms driving the 
 waves upon ir, it is rough and uneven. I cannot 
 boaft that our fea produces any very extraordinary 
 fifh j however it fupplies us with exceeding fine 
 foals and prawns : but as to provifions of other 
 kinds, my villa pretends to excel even inland 
 countries, particularly in milk; for hither the 
 cattle come from the meadows in great numbers, 
 in purfuit of fhade and water. 
 
 Tell me now, have I not juft caufe to beftow 
 my time and my affection upon this delightful re- 
 treat ? Surely you are too fondly attached to the 
 pleafures of the town, if you do not feel an in- 
 clination to take a view of this my favourite villa s . 
 I much wiili at lead you were fo difpofed, that 
 to the many charms with which it abounds, it 
 might have the very confiderable addition of your 
 company to recommend it. Farewel. 
 
 K Mr. Cartel obferves, that tho* Pliny here calls his houfe 
 Villula; it appears that after having defcribed but part of it, 
 yet, if every Di<eta or intire apartment may be fu.ppofed to contain 
 three rooms, hs has taken notice of no lej's than forty -fix, b fide; 
 all which there remains near half the houfe undelcnbsd, <vjhick 
 fuias, as he fa/s, allotted to the u/e cf the fervan'.s ; and it it 
 'very probable this pa/t was made uniform nuith that he has al- 
 ready defcribtd. But it muft be remembered, thatdiminudves 
 in Latin do not always imply fmallnefs of fize, but are fre- 
 quently ufed as words of endearment and approbation ; and in 
 this fenfe ic ieems moft probable tuat Pliny here ufes the word
 
 u6 THE LETTERS Book It. 
 
 LETTER XVIIT. 5fo MAURICUS. 
 
 WHAT can be more agreeable to me thart 
 the office you have enjoined me, of 
 choofing a proper tutor for your nephews ? It 
 gives me an opportunity of revifiting the fcene of 
 my education, and of turning back again to the 
 moft pleafing part of my life. I refume my feat, as 
 formerly, among the young fcholars j and have the 
 pleafure to obferve the refpecl they pay me from the 
 reputation I have acquired by the fame ftudies. Ac- 
 cordingly, when I lately camfe in upon them, while 
 they were warmly declaiming before a very full 
 audience of the feme rank with myfelf j the mo- 
 ment I appeared, they were filent. I mention this 
 for their honour, rather than my own j and to let 
 you fee the juft hopes you may conceive of plac- 
 ing your nephews to their advantage in this femi- 
 nary. I purpofe to hear all the feveral profeflbrs; 
 and then to write you fuch an account of them as 
 will enable you (as far as a letter can) to judge of 
 their refpe&ive abilities. The faithful execution 
 of this important commiffion, is what I owe to tho 
 friendfhip that fubfifts between us, and to the me- 
 mory of your brother. Nothing, certainly, is more 
 your concern, than that his children (I would have 
 faid yours, but that I know you now look upon 
 
 them
 
 Book II. OF PLINY, 117 
 
 them even with more tendernefs than your own) may 
 be found worthy of fuch a father, and fuch an uncle : 
 and I fhould have claimed a part in that care, tho* 
 you had not required it of me. I am fenfible, in thus 
 felecting a preceptor, I fha.U draw upon me the dif- 
 plcafure of all the reft of thatprofeflron.: but when 
 the intereft of thefe youths is concerned, I efteem 
 it my duty to hazard the difpleafure, or even enmi- 
 ty of any man, with as much unconcern as a paren,C 
 would for his own children. Fare, weU 
 
 LETTER XIX. fo CEREALIS. 
 
 advife me to read my late fpeech be-. 
 fore an aflembly of my friends. I will, 
 (ince it is agreeable to your opinion j tho' I 
 have many fcruples. Compofitions of this kind 
 lofe, I well know, all their fire and force, and 
 almoft even their very name, by a mere recital. 
 It is the folemnity of the tribunal, the concourfe 
 of one's friends, the fufpence o/ the event, thq: 
 emulation between the feveral orators concerned^ 
 the zeal of the different parties formed amongft 
 the audience, in a word, it is the air, the a ac- 
 tion, the attitude of the fpeaker, together wi.th all 
 H 4 the. 
 
 Some of the Roman orators were as much too vehe- 
 ment in their aclion, as thofe of our country are too calm, 
 and fpiritfefs . In the violence of their elocution they not only 
 
 uted
 
 H& T H E L E T T E R S Book II. 
 
 the correfponding geftures of his body, that con- 
 fpire to give a fpirit and grace to what he delivers. 
 Hence thofe who fit when they plead, tho' they have 
 moft of the other advantages I juft now men- 
 tioned, yet, from that fingle circumftance, weaken 
 the whole force of their eloquence. The eyes 
 and hands of a reader, thofe important inflru- 
 ments of graceful elocution, being engaged, it is 
 no wonder the attention of the hearer grows 
 languid, while he has none of thofe awakening 
 and alluring cincumftances to excite it. To thefe 
 general confederations, I muft add this parti- 
 cular difadvantage, which attends the fpeech in 
 queftion, that it is chiefly of the argumentative 
 kind; and it is natural for an author to fufpec"t 
 that what he wrote with labour will not be read 
 with pleafbre. For who is there fo unprejudiced, 
 as not to prefer the flowing and florid to the 
 clofe and unornamented flile? It is very unrea- 
 fonable there fhould be any diftinction, how- 
 ever it is certain the judges generally expect one 
 manner of pleading, and the audience another j 
 
 whereas 
 
 ufed all the warmth of gefture, but actually walked back- 
 wards and forwards. Tully and Quin<5h!ian have laid down 
 rules now far, and in what inilance this liberty was allowable, 
 and both agree, it ocght to be ufed with great caution and 
 judgment. The latter of thofe excellent critics mentions upon 
 this occaficn a yvitdcifm of Flavius Virginias, who afked ens 
 of thefe walking orators, Quot millia pajfuum declumaffei? 
 '? How many miles he had declaimed r" Quinft. Inft. ed. 
 Oxon. p. 587.
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. 
 
 whereas an auditor ought to be affected only with 
 thofe articles which would ftrike him, were he 
 in the place of the judge. Neverthelefs, it is 
 poflible, the objections which lie againft this piece 
 may be furmounted, in confideration of the novelty 
 it has to recommend it : the novelty I mean with 
 refpect to us 3 for the Greek orators have a method 
 of reafoning, tho* upon a different occafion, not 
 altogether unlike that which I employed. They, 
 when they would throw out a law, as contrary to 
 ibme former one unrepealed, argue by comparing 
 thofe laws together ; fo I, on the contrary, endea- 
 voured to prove, that the crime b , which I was ia- 
 fifling upon as falling within the intent and mean- 
 ing of the law relating to public extortions, was 
 agreeable, not only to that law, but likewife to 
 other laws of the fame nature. Thofe who are 
 ignorant of the jurifprudence of their country, can 
 have no tafte for reafonings of this kinds but thofe 
 who are not, ought to be fo much the more favour- 
 able in the judgment they pafs upon them. I ihall 
 endeavour therefore, if you perfrit in my reciting 
 it, to collect a learned audience. But before you 
 determine this point, I intreat you thoroughly to 
 H 4 weigh 
 
 * Some of the commentators are of opinion, (and it is not 
 improbable,) that the fpeech mentioned in this letter, is the 
 fame which Pliny delivered in the fenate againll M. i' 
 See letter xi. of this book.
 
 120 THE LETTERS Book II. 
 
 weigh the difficulties I have laid before you, and 
 then decide as reafon fhall direct: for it is reafon 
 that muft juftify you j obedience to your commands 
 will be a fufficient apology for me. Farewel, 
 
 LETTER XX. fo CALVISIUS. 
 
 I V E me a penny, and I will tell you a 
 ftory worth gold;" or rather, you mall 
 hear two or three; for one brings to my mind an- 
 other. 'Tis no matter which 1 begin with, fo take 
 tnem as follows. Verania, the widow of Pifo who 
 was adopted by Galba, lay extremely ill: upon this 
 occafion Regulus made her a vifit. By the way, 
 ma.k the affurance of the man, to vifita lady to 
 whom he was fo extremely odious, and to whofe 
 hufband he was a declared enemy! Even barely to 
 enter her houfe would have been impudent enough j 
 but he had the confidence to go much farther, and 
 very familiarly placed himfelf by her bed-fide. 
 He began very gravely with enquiring what day 
 and hour fhe was born ? Being informed of thefe 
 
 important 
 
 a Alluding to the phrafe of certain Charlatans who gained 
 their livelihood by gathering a circle round them in the public 
 places of Romej and amufing the gaping multitude by popu- 
 lar traditionary tales, or wonderful Itories of their own inven-
 
 Book II. OF PLINY, 121 
 
 important particulars, he compofes his countenance, 
 
 fixes his eyes, mutters fomething to himfelf, counts 
 
 his fingers, and all this merely to keep the poor 
 
 lick lady in fufpenfe. When he had finifhed this 
 
 ridiculous mummery, Tou are, fays he, in one of 
 
 your climacterics j however you will get over it. 
 
 But for your greater fatisfattion, I will con- 
 
 Jult a certain diviner, wbofe Jkill I have frequently 
 
 experienced. Accordingly away he goes, performs 
 
 a facrifice, and returns with the ftrongeft afTu ranees 
 
 that the omens confirmed what he had promifed 
 
 on the part of the (tars. Upon this the credulous 
 
 good woman calls for her will, and gives Regulus 
 
 a handfomc legacy. Some time afterwards her 
 
 diflemper increafed; and in her laft moments fhe 
 
 exclaim'd againft this infamous wretch who had 
 
 thus bafely deceived her, tho' he wifh'd every 
 
 curfe might befall his b fon, if what he promifed her 
 
 were not true. But fuch fort of imprecations are 
 
 as common with Regulus, as they are impious; and 
 
 he continually devotes that unhappy youth to the 
 
 curfes 
 
 fc It was cuftomary among the ancients to fwear by what 
 they held moft dear. To this cuftom (as a late critic juftly 
 obferves) Martial alludes: 
 
 Ecce negas jurafque mi hi per templa tenant is } 
 Non credo : jura, verpe, per Anchialum, 
 
 Swear tho' thpu doft by Jove, thou wilt deceire ; 
 Swear by Anchialus; I'll then believe. 
 
 fwear by your pathic, your boy Anchialus,
 
 fa* THE LETTERS Book I L 
 
 curfes of thofe gods, whofe vengeance his own 
 frauds every day provoke. 
 
 Velleius Blasfus, a perfbn of confular dignity 
 and remarkable for his irnmenfe wealth, had an in- 
 clination in his lafl ficknefs to make fome altera- 
 tions in his will. Regulus, who had lately endeavour- 
 ed to infinuate himfelf into his friendihip, hoped to 
 receive fome advantage by the intended change * and 
 accordingly applied hirnfelf to the patient's phyfi- 
 .cians, and conjured them to exert all their fkill to 
 prolong the poor man's life. But the moment the 
 will was fign'd, his ftile was changed: How long, 
 fays he to thefe very phyficians, do you dejign to 
 keep this man in mifery ? Since you cannot preferve 
 his life, wfry will you frolong his death ? Blasfus 
 is fmce dead; and. as if he had over-heard every 
 word that Regulus had faid, he has not left him 
 one farthing.- And now have you had enough ? 
 or like a truant fchool-boy are you for liftening 
 ftill to another tale ? if fo, Regulus will fupply 
 you. You mu ft know then, that Aurelia, a 
 lady of diftinguifhed accomplifhments, defigning 
 to b execute her will, had dreffed herfelf for that 
 
 purpofe 
 
 fc This was an aft of great ceremony ; an4 if Amelia's 
 habit was of the kind which fome of the Roman ladies ufed, 
 the legacy muft have been confiderahle which Regulus had the 
 impudence to afk. " The wjltt Byflinee (as tiie ingenious 
 ' Dr. Arbuthnot obferves) which we are told fome of the 
 *' ladies wore, rauft have been of fuch an extravagant price, 
 
 that
 
 Book II. OF PLINY. 123 
 
 purpofe in a mod fplendid manner. Regulus, who 
 was prefent as a witnefs, turned to the lady, 
 and, Pray, fays he; leave me tbeje fine ckatbs. 
 Aurelia at firft thought him in jeft : but he infifted 
 upon it very ferioufly, and compelled her to open 
 her will, and infert this legacy ; and tho' he faw 
 her write it, yet he would not be fatisfied till he read 
 the claufe himfelf. However Aurelia is ftill alive : 
 tho' Regulus, no doubt, when he folicitcd this be- 
 queft, expected foon to enjoy it. Thus are legacies 
 and eftates conferr'd upon this abandoned man, 
 as if he really deferved them ! But why fhould I 
 wonder at this in a city where impudence and ini- 
 quity receive the fame, do I fay, even greater en- 
 couragement than modefty and virtue? Regulus is 
 a glaring inftance of this truth, who, from a ftate 
 
 of 
 
 " that there is no fluff in our age comes up to it. The very 
 " materials of which would be worth 49!. izs. the pound 
 " averdupois weight, and confequently a garment weighing 
 " 20 pounds would coft 992!. exclufive of the manufacture.'* 
 Arb. of ancient coins, Sec. p. 146. Now I am upon this head, 
 I cannot forbear mentioning the prodigious extravagance of 
 thele ladies in the article of jewels. Piiny the elderffays, he 
 faw Lollia Paulina with an equipage of this kind, amount- 
 ing (according to the above-cited author's calculation) to 
 322,916!. 135. 4d. of our money. Inoneinftanceofexper.ee 
 however, the modern ladies feem to exceed the ancient, and tho' 
 there appears an infinite variety of head-dreffes upon bufts, 
 flatues, and medals, yet it is learnedly debated among the 
 antiquaries, whether the Roman ladies were fo coltly in that 
 point as the Englim. For the credit of the Fete, I beg leave 
 to add, that it is of a very ancient original, and is known to 
 have made its appearance among Confuls and Dictators. 
 fLib. 9.35.
 
 i2 4 THE LETTERS, &c. Book 1 1. 
 
 of indigence, has, by a train of the moft villain- 
 ous actions, arrived to fuch immenfe riches, that 
 he once told me, upon confulting the omens to 
 know how foon he Ihould be worth lixty millions 
 of fefterces c , he found them fo favourable as 
 to portend he mould poflefs double that ftim. 
 And pofiibly he may, if he continue thus to dic- 
 tate wills for other people: a fort of fraud, in 
 my cftimation, of all others the moft infamous^ 
 Farewel. 
 
 About 430,000!. of our money. 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 LETTERS 
 
 O F 
 
 FLINT. 
 
 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 L E T T E R I. $0 CALVISIUS. 
 
 I Never fpent my time more agreeably, I 
 think, than lately with Spurinna. I am fo 
 much pleafed with the uninterrupted regularity of 
 his way of life, that if ever I fhould arrive at old 
 age, there is no man whom I would fooner choofe 
 for my model. I look upon an orderly arrangement 
 of the affairs of life, efpccially at that advanced pe- 
 riod, with the fame fort of pleafure as I behold the 
 fettled courfe of the heavenly bodies. In youth, 
 indeed, there is a certain deviation from precife 
 
 rule
 
 126 THE LETTERS Book III. 
 
 rule by no means unbecoming; but in age, 
 when bufinefs is unfeafonable, and ambition in- 
 decent, all fhould be compofed and uniform. This 
 maxim Spurinna religiouOy purfues throughout his 
 whole conduct. Even in thofetranfaftions which 
 one might call minute and inctinfiderable, did 
 they not occur every day, he obferves a certain 
 periodical feafcn and method. The firft part of 
 the morning he devotes to ftudy; at eight he 
 drefles, and walks about three miles, in which he 
 enjoys at once contemplation and exercife. At 
 his return, if he has any friends with him in his 
 houfe, he enters upon fome entertaining and 
 interefting topic of converfation ; if he is alone, 
 fome book is read to him; and fometimes too, even 
 when he has vifitors, if agreeable to the company. 
 He then repofes himfeif; and after this either 
 takes up a book, or falls into fome difcourfe even 
 more entertaining and inftructive. He afterwards 
 takes the air in his chariot either with his wife 
 (who is a lady of uncommon merit) or with fome 
 friend: a happinefs which lately was mine. How 
 agreeable, how delightful is the enjoyment of him in 
 that hour of privacy ! You would fancy you were 
 hearing fome worthy of ancient times, inflaming 
 your breaft with the moft heroic examples, and in- 
 ftrufting your mind with the moft exalted pre- 
 cepts, which yet he delivers with fo modeft an air, 
 that it has not the leaft appearance, of dictat- 
 ing.
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. 127 
 
 rng. When he has thus taken a tour of about fc- 
 ven miles, he gets out of his chariot and walks a 
 mile more, after which he returns home, and either 
 repofes himfelf, or retires to his ftudy. He has 
 an excellent tafie for poetry, and compofes lyric 
 odes, both in Greek and Latin, with great elegance. 
 It is furprifing what a fweet flow of numbers, and 
 what a fpirh: of gayety runs thro' his verfes, which 
 the venerable character of the author renders ftill 
 more pleafing. When the baths are ready, which 
 in winter is about three o'clock, and in fum- 
 mer about two, he undrefies himfelf; and if there 
 happen to be no wind, he walks for fome time 
 in the fun a . After this he plays a confiderable 
 time at tennis: for by this fort of exercife too, he 
 combats the effects of old age. When he has 
 bathed, he throws himfelf upon his couch till 
 fupper b trme, and in the mean while fome agreea- 
 ble and entertaining author is read to him. In 
 this, as in all the reft, his friends are at full liber- 
 ty to partake, or to employ themfelves in any 
 other manner more fuitable to their inclination. 
 
 You 
 
 * See B. 6. Let. 16. note b . 
 
 b This was the principal meal among the Romans, at 
 which all their feafts and invitations were made; they ufuaHy 
 began it about their gth hour, anf.vering pretty nearly to our 
 3. o'clock in the afternoon. But as Spurinna, we find did not 
 enter upon the excrcifes which always preceded this meal till 
 the 8th or pri^'hour, if we allow about 3 hours for that pur- 
 pofe, he could not fit down to table, till toward 6 or 7 o'clock : 
 See Let. 5. of this B. in not. p. 137.
 
 128 THE LETTERS Bookllt, 
 
 You fit down to an elegant, yet frugal repaft, 
 which is ferved up in antique plate of pure filver. 
 He has likewife a complete fervice in Corinthian c 
 metal, which tho' he admires as a curiofity, is 
 far from being his paflion. At his table he is fre- 
 quently entertained with the recital of iome dra- 
 matic piece, fo that even his very meals are a feaft 
 to the underftanding ; and tho' he continues at 
 fupper, even in fummer, till the night is fomewhat 
 advanced, yet he prolongs the repaft with fo much 
 affability and politenefs, that none of his guefts 
 ever think it tedious. By this method of living 
 he has preferved all his fenfes entire, and his body 
 active and vigorous to his 7 8th year, without dif- 
 covering any fymptoms of old age, but the wifdom. 
 This is the fort of life which I ardently afpire after; 
 and I purpofe to enjoy it, when I mail arrive at thofe 
 years which will juftify a retreat from active occu- 
 pations. In the mean while, 1 am embarrafied with 
 a thoufand affairs, in which Spurinna is at once my 
 fupport and my example : for he likewife as long 
 as it became him, entered into all the duties of pub- 
 lic life. It was by paffing through the various offi- 
 ces of the ftate, by governing provinces, and by in- 
 defatigable 
 
 This fnetal, whatever it was compofed of, (for that point 
 is by no means clear) was fo highly efteemed among the an- 
 cients, that ihy preferred it even to gold: 
 
 . jErqque ab Iftbmiacis aura potiorafdvillis. 
 
 Stat. Sylv. z, 
 
 Corinthian brafs more precious far than gold.
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. 129 
 
 defatigable labours, that he merited the repofe he 
 now enjoys. I propofe to myfelf the fame courfe 
 and the fame limits : and I here give it to you un- 
 der my hand, that 1 do fo. If an ill-timed am- 
 bition fhould carry me beyond thofe bounds, pro- 
 duce this letter againft me ; and condemn me to 
 repofe, whenever I may enjoy it without being re- 
 proached with indolence. Farewel. 
 
 L E T T E R II. To MAXIMUS. 
 
 T Think I may claim a right to afk the fame 
 fervices of you for my friends, as I would 
 offer to yours if I had the fa-ne opportunity. Ar- 
 rianus Maturius is a prfon of great eminence 
 among the a Altinates. When 1 fay this, it is not 
 with refpecl: to his fortunes; (whi'K however are 
 very confiderable;) it is in allufioa to tne yudty, 
 the integrity, rhc prudence, and the fanftity of 
 his manners. His counfel guides rre in my 
 affairs, and his judgment in my (Indies ; for 
 trutn, honour and knowledge, are the diftinguim- 
 ing qualities w.,ich ;nark liL, character He loves' 
 me (and I cannot exprefs his affection in Ilrongcr 
 terms) with a tendernefs equal to yours. As he 
 is a ftranger to the paffion of ambition, he is 
 contented wLh remaining in the Equeftrian order, 
 v.'hen he might eafily have advanced himfelf into a 
 VOL. I. 1 higher 
 
 * Aluno in the Venetiaa territories, now deflro)';*U
 
 ! jo THE LETTERS Book III. 
 
 higher rank. It behoves, me however to endeavour 
 that his merit be rewarded as it deferves j and I 
 would fain, without his knowledge or expectation, 
 and probably too contrary to his inclination, con- 
 tribute to his honours. The poft I wiftr to obtain for 
 him is fome ftation of great dignity, and yet attend- 
 ed with no trouble. I beg, when any thing of that 
 nature offers, you would think of him : it will be 
 an obligation which both he and I fhall ever re- 
 member with the greateft gratitude. For tho* he 
 has no afpiring views to gratify, he will be as fea- 
 fible of the favour, as if he had received it in con.- 
 iequence of his own defires. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER III. To HISPULIA. 
 
 IT is not eafy to determine whether my love 
 or efteem were greater, for that wife and 
 excellent man your father ; but this is mofl cer- 
 tain, that from the refpect I bear to bis memory 
 and your virtues, you are dear to me by the 
 flrongeft fentiments of affection. Can I fail then 
 to wifh (as I mall by every means in my power 
 endeavour) that your fon may copy the virtues of 
 both his grandfathers, particularly his maternal ? 
 as indeed his father and his uncle w.ill furnifh him 
 alfo with very illuftrious examples. The fureft 
 method to train him up in the fteps of theie re- 
 fpectable men, is early to feafon his mind with polite 
 a learning
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. 131 
 
 learning and ufeful knowledge: and it is of the 
 lad confequence from whom he receives thefe in- 
 flructions. Hitherto he has had his education 
 under your eye, and in your houfe, where he is 
 cxpofed to few, I fhould rather fay to no wrong 
 imprefllons. But he is now of an age to be fent 
 from home, and it is time to place him with fome 
 profeffor of Rhetoric; of whofe difcipline and 
 method, but above all of whofe morals you may 
 be well fatisfied. Amongft the many advantages 
 for which this amiable youth is indebted to na- 
 ture and fortune, he has that of a mod beautiful 
 perfon: it is neceffary therefore, in this loofe 
 and fiippery age, to find out one who will not 
 only be his tutor, but the guardian and protector of 
 his virtue. I will venture to recommend Julius 
 Genitor to you under that character. I love him, I 
 confefs, extremely: but my affection does by no 
 means prejudice my judgment; on the contrary it is, 
 in truth the effecT of it. His behaviour is grave, and 
 his morals irreproachable; perhaps fomewhat 
 too fevere and rigid for the libertine manners of 
 thefe times. His profeinonal qualifications you 
 may learn from many others; for, the powers of 
 eloquence, as they are open to all the world, are 
 foon difcovered; but the qualities of the heart lie 
 more concealed, and out of the reach of com- 
 inon obfervation: it is on that fide therefore I un- 
 dertake to be anfwerable for my friend. Your 
 I 2 foa
 
 332 THE LETTERS Book III. 
 
 fon will hear nothing from this worthy man, bat 
 what will be for his advantage to know, nor 
 learn any thing of which it would be happier 
 he mould be ignorant. He will reprefent to 
 him as often, and with as much zeal as you or 
 I mould, the virtues of his anceftors, and what a 
 glorious weight of illuftrious characters he has to 
 fupport. You will not hefitate then to place him 
 with a tutor, whofe firfl care will be to form his 
 manners, and afterwards to inftruct him in elo- 
 quence ; an attainment ill-acquired if with the 
 neglect of moral improvements. Farewel. 
 
 L E T T E R IV. ?o MACRINUS. 
 
 TH O' rny friends here, as well as the town 
 in general, feem to approve of my con- 
 duct in the affair I am going to mention, yet I 
 cannot fatisfy myfelf without knowing your fcn- 
 timents: and as I wifhed for your advice before 
 I engaged in it, fo I am extremely defirous of 
 your judgment now it is finifhed. Having obtain- 
 ed leave to be abfent from my office as 
 head of the treafury, I went into Tufcany to 
 look after fome works which I am carrying oft 
 there for the benefit of that province, at my 
 own expence. In the interval, deputies on the 
 part of the Bsetici arrived with complaints of 
 fome grievances they had fuffered under the go- 
 vernment
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. 133 
 
 vernment of Cecil'us Clafficus ; and applied to 
 the fenate that I might be appointed counfei for 
 them. My very worthy and obliging colleagues 
 reprefented on my behalf, the neceffary engage- 
 ments of our office, and endeavoured to get me 
 excufed. Upon this the fenate palled a decree 
 greatly to my honour : they ordered that I fhould 
 be counfei for the province, provided the deputies 
 could obtain my content.- At my return they 
 were again introduced into the fenate, and there 
 renewed their petition in my pretence. They 
 conjured me by that generous affiftance I had given 
 them in their caufe againft Baebius, and by all the 
 obligations I lay under of fupporting my avow- 
 ed clients, that I would not now defert them. I 
 perceived the fenate was inclined to grant this 
 petition, by that general affent which is the ufual 
 forerunner of all their decrees. Whereupon I rofe 
 and told the houfe, that I no longer infifted 
 upon the reafonablenefs of the excufe I had al- 
 ledged : and they feemed pleafed with the refpect- 
 ful modefty of my anfwer. I was determined in 
 this refolution, not only becaufe I found it agreea- 
 ble to the inclinations of the fenate (which indeed 
 had great weight with me), but for many other, 
 tho' lefs important confiderations. I reflected, 
 that our anceftors thought themfelves obliged 
 to engage voluntarily in defence of thofe par- 
 ticular peffons, with whom they were united 
 I 3 ^
 
 Tj4 THE LETTERS Book III. 
 
 .by the laws a of hofpitality, and that therefore it 
 would be highly ungenerous* to abandon a collec- 
 tive body, to whom I flood in the fame relation. 
 Befides, I confidered the danger as well as the fa- 
 tigue I went thro' in the lad caufe I undertook 
 for this province -, and I was unwilling to lofe the 
 merit of my former fervices, by denying their re- 
 qucft in the prefent inflance. For fuch is the dif- 
 pofition of mankind, that the favour you refufe, can- 
 cels all you haveconfer'd; and tho* you oblige them 
 everfo often, they will forget a thoufand compliances 
 and yet remember a fingle denial. I confidered like- 
 wife, that Claflicus being dead, the great objection 
 of expofing a fenator, was removed -, and that in un- 
 dertaking this caufe, I mould merit the fame thanks 
 from my clients, as if he were alive, without the 
 hazard of giving offence to any particular perfon. 
 In a word, I thought if I complied with their defires 
 en this occafion, I could with a better grace deny 
 my affiftance to them in any future, where I might 
 
 have 
 
 * The cbfervaticn of Euftathius upon the interview of Glau- 
 cus and Diomed in the 6th Iliad, as tranflated by Mr. Pope in 
 his notes upon that place, will throw a light upon this paflage, 
 which rru) be of fervice to the Englifli Reader. " The laws 
 of hcfpitality, (iays he) were anciently held in great vene- 
 ration. The friendftiip contracted thereby was fo facred, 
 that they preferred it to all the b nds of canfangujnity and 
 alliance, and accounted it obligatory to the jd and 410 ge- 
 neraiun. We ice Diomed and Glaucus agreeing nor to be 
 enemies during the whole courle ota v\ar, only pecaufe their 
 grandrathiJs iiad been mutual guefts. They preserved in 
 their f^miiies the prefents which had oeen made on thefe 
 occafions; as obliged to tranfmit to their children the me- 
 morials of their right of hoipitality."
 
 Book III, OF PLINY. 135 
 
 have reafons for declining to be their advocate. For 
 all ^r.r offices have their limits; and the beft way 
 of referring to ourfelves the liberty ofrefufing 
 where we would, is to comply where we can. 
 Thus you have heard the motives which influenced 
 me in this tranfaction : it now remains that 
 you give me your opinion, which I (hall receive 
 with equnl fatisfaction either as an inftance of your 
 fmcerity, ci a function to my conduct. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER V. To MACER. 
 
 T Have the pleafure to find you are fo great an ad- 
 * mirer of my uncle's works, as to wilh to have 
 3 complete collection of them; and for that pur- 
 pofe defire me to fend you an account of all the 
 treatifes he wrote. I will point them out to you 
 in the order in which they were compofed : for 
 however immaterial tbat may feem, it is a fort of 
 information not at all unacceptable to men of let- 
 ters. The firft book he publifhed, was a treatife 
 concerning the art of ' ufmg the javelin on horfeback : 
 this he wrote when he commanded a troop of 
 horfej and it is drawn up with great accuracy and 
 judgment. The Kfe of Pomfomus Secundus> in two 
 volumes : Pomponius had a very great affection for 
 him, and he thought he owed this tribute- to his me- 
 mory. The hi/lory of the war 5 in Germany* conjifting 
 cf twenty bosks, in which he gave an^iccount of 
 I 4 dl
 
 136 THE LETTERS Book II. 
 
 ail the battles we were engaged in againft that 
 nation. A dream which he had when he 
 ferved in the army in Germany, firft fug- 
 gefted to him the defign of this work. He 
 imagined that Drufus Nero (who extended his 
 conquefts very far into that country, and there 
 loft his life) appeared to him in his flcep, and 
 conjured him not to fuffer his memory to be 
 buried in oblivion. He has left us likewjfe a 
 treatlfe upon eloquence, divided into fix volumes. 
 in this work he ;akes the orator from his cradle, 
 and leads him on till he has carried him np to the 
 higheft point of perfection in this art. In the 
 latter part of Nero's reign, when the tyranny of 
 the times made it dangerous to engage in itudies 
 of a more free and elevated fpirit, he publifhed 
 a piece of criticifm in eight books, concerning 
 ambiguity in exprejfion. He has completed the 
 hiftory which Aufidious Bafius left unfiniihed, and 
 has added to it thirty books. And laftly, he has 
 left thirty-feven books upon the fubjecl of na- 
 tural hiftory: this is a work of great compafs and 
 learning, and almoft as full of variety as nature 
 herfelf. You will wonder how a man fo engaged 
 as he was, could, find time to compofe fuch a 
 number of books; and ibme of them too upon 
 abftrufe fubj.efts. But your furprife will rife dill 
 higher, when you hear, that for fome time he en- 
 gaged
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. 137 
 
 gaged in the profeffion of an advocate ; that he 
 died in his fifty-fixth year j that from the time of 
 his quitting the bar ro his death, he was employed 
 partly in the execution of the higheft pods, and 
 partly in a perfonal attendance on thofe Emperors 
 who honoured him with their friendfhip. But he 
 had a quick apprehenfion, joined to unwearied 
 application. In fummer, he always began his 
 ftudies as foon as it was a night ; in winter, general- 
 ly at one in the morning, but never later than two, 
 and often at midnight. No man ever fpent lefs time 
 in bed j infomuch that he would fometimes, with- 
 out retiring from his book, take a fhort fleep, and 
 then purfue his ftudies. Before day-break, he uled 
 to wait upon Vefpafian ; who likewife chofe that 
 feafon to tranfact bufinefs. When he had fmifhed 
 the affairs which that emperor committed to his 
 charge, he returned home again to his ftudies. 
 
 After 
 
 a The diftribution of time among the Romans, was ex- 
 tremely different from the method in ufe amongft us. They 
 yneafured the night into four equal parts, which they called 
 nuatckes, each containing the fpace of three hours; and part 
 of thefe they devoted either to the pleafuresof the table, or to 
 itudy. The natural day they divided into twelve hours, the 
 firft beginning with fun-rife, and the laft ending with fun-fct ; 
 by which means their hours were of unequal length, varying 
 according to the different feafons of the year. The time for 
 bufinefs began with fun-rife, and continued to the fifth hour, 
 being that of dinner, which with them was only a flight re- 
 paft. From thence to the feventh hour was a time of repofe; 
 a cuftom which Hill prevails in Italy. The eighth hour was 
 employed in bodily exercifes; after which they conftantly 
 bathed, and from thence went to fupper.
 
 13* THE LETTERS Book lit. 
 
 After a fhort and light repaft at noon (agreeably 
 to the good old cuftom of our anceftors,) he 
 would frequently in the fummer, if diftngaged 
 from bufmefs, repofe himfelf in the fun j during 
 which time fome author was read to him, from 
 whence he made extracts and obfervations; as in- 
 deed this was his conftant method whatever book 
 he read : for it was a maxim of his, that " no 
 <c book was fo bad, but fomething might be 
 ec learned from it." When this was over, he ge- 
 nerally went into the cold bath, and as foon as he 
 came out of it, juft took a flight refrefhment, and 
 then repofed himfelf for a little while. Thus, as if 
 it had been a new day, he immediately re fumed 
 his ftudies till fupper-time, when a book was again 
 read to him, upon which he would make fome 
 hafly remarks. I remember once his Reader having 
 pronounced a word wrong, fomebody at the table 
 made him repeat it again ; upon which my uncle 
 afked his friend if he underftood it? Who ac- 
 knowledging that he did j isby tben y faid he, would 
 yozi make him go back again ? We have loft by this in- 
 terrufticn above ten lines : fo covetous was this great 
 man of time ! In fummer, he always rofe from 
 fupper by day-light; and in winter, as foon as it 
 was dark : ,and he obferved this rule as flrictly as 
 if it had been a law of the (late. Such was 
 his manner of life amidft the noife and hurry 
 of the town: -but in the country his whole time 
 
 was
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. i 3f 
 
 was devoted to ftudy without intermiffion ex- 
 cepting only when he bathed. In this exception 
 I include no more than the time he was adlual- 
 ly in the bath ; for while he was rubbed and wiped, 
 he was employed either in hearing forne book 
 read to him, or in dictating. In his journics 
 he loft no time from his ftudies, but his mind 
 at thofe feafons being difengaged from all other 
 bufmefs, applied itfelf wholly to that fingle pur- 
 fuit. A fecretary b ccmftantly attended him in his 
 chariot, who, in the winter, wore a particular fort 
 of warm gloves, that the fharpnefs of the weather 
 might not occafion any interruption to my uncle's 
 itudies: and for the fame reafon when in Rome he 
 was always carried in a chair. I remember he once 
 reproved me for walking: " You might, faid he, 
 <c employ thofe hours to more advantage:" for he 
 thought every hour loft, that was not given to 
 ftudy. By this extraordinary application he found 
 time to compofe the feveral treatifes I have men- 
 tioned, be fides one hundred and fixty volumes which 
 
 he 
 
 b The word in the original, implies a perfon who wrote 
 ftort hand; an art which the Romans carried to its higheft 
 perfection, as appears from the following epigram: 
 
 Currant verb a licet, manus ejt vcUcius illis ; 
 Nondum lingua fuum, dextra peregit cpus. 
 
 Mart. 14. 208. 
 
 Swift tho* the words, (the pen ftill fwifter fped) 
 The hand has finiftx'd, ere the tongue has faid.
 
 i 4 o THE LETTERS Book IIL 
 
 he left me by his will, confiding of a kind of 
 common-place, written on both fides, in a very 
 frr. "1 character; fo that one might fairly reckon 
 the number considerably more. I have heard him 
 fay,' that when he was comptroller of the revenue in 
 Spain, Largius Licinius offered him four rumored 
 thoufind e feflerces for thefe manufcripts: and 
 yet they were not then quite fo numerous. When 
 you reflect upon the books he has read, and the 
 volumes he has written, are you not inclined to fuf- 
 peft that he never was ehgaged in the affairs of 
 the public, or the fervice of his prince? On the 
 other hand, when you are informed how indefa- 
 tigable he was in his fludies, are you not difpofed 
 to wonder that he read and wrote no more ? For, 
 on one fide, what obftacles would not the bufi- 
 nefs of a court throw in his way ? And on the other, 
 what is it that fuch intenfe application might not 
 perform ? I cannot but fmile therefore when I hear 
 myfelf called a ftudious man, who in comparifon 
 to. him am an arrant loiterer. But why do I men- 
 tion myfelf, who am diverted from thefe purfuits, t 
 by numberlefs affairs both public and private ? 
 Even they whofe whole lives are devoted to ftudy, 
 mufl blufh to appear as mere idlers when compared 
 with him. I have run out my letter, I per- 
 ceive, beyond the extent I at firft defigned, which 
 
 was 
 K About 3,200!, of our money,
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. 141 
 
 was only to inform you, as you defired, what 
 treaties he "has left behind him. But I truft 
 this will not be lefs acceptable to you than the 
 books themselves, as it may poffibly, not only raiie 
 your curiofity to read his works, but your emula- 
 tion to copy his 'example, by fome attempts of the 
 fame nature. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER VI. fo SEVERUS. 
 
 I Have lately purchafed with a legacy that was 
 left me, a ftatue of Corinthian -brafs. It is 
 fmall indeed, but well executed, at leaft if I have 
 any judgment j which mod certainly in matters of 
 this fort, as perhaps in all others, is extremely de- 
 fective. However, I think I have a tafte to dif- 
 cover the beauties of this figure : as it is naked, the 
 faults, if there be any, as well a$ the perfections, are 
 more obfervable. It reprefents an old maa in an 
 erect attitude. The bones, the mufcles, the veins, 
 and wrinkles, are fo flrorigly exprefled, that you 
 would imagine the figure to be animated. The 
 character is well preferved throughout every part 
 of the body : the hair is thin, the forehead broad, 
 the face ihriveled, the throat lank, the arms lan- 
 guid, the breaft fallen, and the belly funk j as 
 the whole turn and air of the figure behind, is 
 expreflive of old age. It appears to be antique 
 
 from
 
 i 4 2 T H E L E T T E R S Book III, 
 
 from the colour of the brafs. In fhort, it is a 
 performance fo highly finiflied, as to merit the 
 attention of the mail curious, and to afford at 
 the fame time pleafure to the moft common ob- 
 ferver: and this induced me, who am an ab- 
 folute novice in this art, to buy it. But I did fo, 
 not with any intent of placing it in my own houfe, 
 (for 1 have nothing of that kind there) but with- 
 a defign of fixing it in fome confpicuous place in 
 my native province, perhaps in the temple of Ju- 
 piter : for it is a prefent well worthy of a temple 
 and a god. I defire therefore you would, with that 
 care with which you always execute my requefts, 
 give immediate orders for a pedeftal to be made for 
 it. I leave the choice of the marble to you, but 
 let my name be engraven upon it, and, if you 
 think proper, my titles. I will fend the ftatue by 
 the firfl opportunity ; or poffibly (which I am 
 lure you will like better) I may bring it myfelf : 
 for I intend, if I can find leifure, to make an ex- 
 Giirfion to you. This is a piece of news which I 
 know you will rejoice to hear; but you will foon 
 change your countenance, when I tell you jny vifit 
 will be only for a few days : for the fame bufmefs 
 that now detains me here, will prevent my making 
 a longer flay, Farewel, 
 
 LET-
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. 143 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 
 I AM juft now informed, that Silius Italicua 
 has ftarved himfelf to death, at his villa near 
 Naples. Having been afflicted with a cancerous 
 humour, which was deemed incurable, he grew 
 weary of life under fuch painful circumftances, and 
 therefore put an end to it, with the mod determin- 
 ed courage. He had been extremely fortunate 
 thro' the whole courfe of his days, excepting only the 
 death of his youngeft fon j however, That lofs was 
 made up to him in the fatisfaction of feeing his 
 eldeft, who is of a more amiable character, attain 
 the confular dignity, and of leaving him in a very 
 flourifhing fituation. He fuffered in his character 
 during the time of Nero, having been fufpected of 
 being willingly concerned in fome of the informations 
 which were carried on in the reign of that prince j 
 but he made ufe o/his intereft with Viteliius, with 
 great difcretion and humanity. He acquired much 
 honour by his adminiftration of the government of 
 Afia j and by his approved conduct, after his re- 
 tirement from public bufmefs, cleared his character 
 from that itain which his former intrigues had 
 thrown upon it. He lived as a private nobleman, 
 without power, and confequently without envy. 
 Tho' he was frequently confined to his bed, and 
 always to his chamber, yet he was highly re- 
 
 fpected,
 
 144 THE LETTERS Book I IX, 
 
 fpe&ed, and much vifited ; not with an interefted 
 view, but merely on account of his merit. He 
 employed his time between converfing with men 
 of letters* and compofing verfes > which he Ibme- 
 times recited, in order to try the opinion of 
 the public : but he difcovered in them .more 
 induftry than genius. In the decline of his years 1 , 
 he entirely quitted Rome, and lived altogether 
 in Campania, from whence even the acceflion of 
 the new a emperor could not draw him: a cir- 
 cumftance which I mention as well to the ho- 
 nour of the prince, who was not difpleafed with 
 his taking that liberty, as of Italicus, who was not 
 afraid to make ufe of it. He was reproached with 
 indulging his tafte for the fine arts at an immode- 
 rate expence. He had feveral villas in the fame 
 province, and the lad purchafe was always the 
 chief favourite, to the neglecl: of all the reft. They 
 were furnifned with large collections of books, 
 ftatues and piclur^s, which he more than enjoyed^ 
 he even adored ; particularly the flame of Virgil, of 
 whom he was fo pafTionate an admirer, t'ru.t he ce- 
 lebrated the anniveifary of that poet's birth day 
 with more folemni.y than his own; efpecially s at 
 Naples, where he ufed to approach b his tomb with 
 
 as 
 
 a Trajan. 
 
 b Travellers are flill ftiewn a monument near Naples, uhich 
 is called Virgil's tomb. Bi.t Mr. Addifon ' t'links it is aLmoft 
 ' cerum, t at this tomb Hood on the other i: c of tae town, 
 " which looks towards mount Veluvio." Aduiion's Travels, 
 
 p, 164.
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. 145 
 
 as much veneration as if it had been a temple. In 
 this ftate of tranquillity he lived to the feventy-fifth. 
 year of his age, with a delicate, rather than an 
 infirm conftitution. As he was the laft perfon upon 
 whom Nero conferred the confular office (that 
 prince being killed during his confulfhip) fo he was 
 the laft alfo that furvived of allthofe who had been 
 raifed by him to that dignity. When I confider 
 this circumftance, I cannot forbear lamenting the 
 tranfitory condition of mankind. Is there any thing 
 in nature fo Ihort and limited as human life, 
 even in its moft extended period ? Does it not 
 feem to you but yefterday that Nero exifted? 
 and yet not one of all thofe who were con- 
 fuls in his reign now remains! But why Ihould 
 J wonder at an event fo common? Lucius Pifo 
 (the father of that Pifo who was infamoufly affaffi- 
 nated by Valerius Feflus in Africa) ufed to fay, he 
 did not fee one perfon in the d fenate who fat in 
 thaf houfe when he was conful: fuch multitudes 
 are fwept away in fo Ihort a fpace ! I am therefore 
 fo far from thinking thofe remarkable tears of 
 VOL. I. K Xerxes 
 
 p, 164. Mabillon, in his Muf. Ital. p. 1 J2, fays, the follow- 
 ing epitaph was dug up there: 
 
 Siftite viatores queefo, pauca leglte I 
 Hicjtfus eji Mara ! 
 
 ^tay travellers, I beg, and read this fhort Infcripdon: 
 
 Here lies Maro I 
 * The number of fenators, as regulated by Augustus, was 600.
 
 146 THE LETTERS Book III. 
 
 Xerxes need any apology, that in my judgment 
 hiftory does honour to his character, -which in- 
 forms us, that when this prince had attentively 
 furveyed his immenfe army, he could not forbear 
 weeping, from the reflection that fo many thou- 
 fand lives would fo foon be extinct. The more 
 ardent therefore fhould our endeavours be to 
 lengthen out this fhort portion of exiftence, if not 
 by atchievements of glory (for occafions of that 
 kind are not in our own power) yet however, by 
 thofe of literary honour; and fince it is not 
 granted us to live long, let us tranfmit to pofterity 
 fome memorial that we have at leaft LIVED. I 
 well know, you want not any excitement; but the 
 warmth of my affection inclines me to inftigate 
 you in the courfe you are actually purfuing; as I 
 have often been encouraged to proceed in mine by 
 your exhortations. Happy contention, when two 
 friends thus ftrive who fhall animate each other 
 moft in their mutual purfuits of immortal fame! 
 Farewel. 
 
 LETTER VIII. <To TRANQUILLUS. 
 
 TH E obliging manner in which you defire me 
 to confer the * military tribunate upon your 
 relation, which I had obtained of the b moft illu- 
 
 ftrious 
 * See Bi 4. Lett. 4. note 8 , p- 191. 
 
 b This was a title given to all fenators, in the times of the 
 latter emperors.
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. 147 
 
 ftrious Neratius Marcellus for yourfelf, is agree- 
 able to that refpect with which you always treat 
 me. As it would have given me great pleafure to 
 have feen you in that poft, fo it will not be lefs 
 acceptable to me to have it beftowed upon the per- 
 fon you recommend : for hardly, I think, would 
 it be confifteift to wifh the advancement of a 
 friend's honours, and yet envy him the nobleft of 
 all diftinctions, that of a generous and an affection- 
 ate relation. To deferve preferment, and to be- 
 ftow it, is a glorious character; and it will be 
 yours, if you refign to your friend, what is due to 
 your own merit. Of this glory I too mall par- 
 take, when the world mail know, by the prefent 
 inftance, that my friends are not only raifed to 
 the tribunemip, but have the power alfo to confer 
 of it. I readily therefore comply with your gene- 
 rous requeft ; and as your name is not yet enter- 
 ed upon the ion, I can without difficulty infer; 
 that of Silvanus in its ftead. May he accept this 
 good office at your hands with the fame grate- 
 ful difpofition, as I am fure you will receive i; 
 from mine ! Farewel. 
 
 K
 
 i 4 8 THE LETTERS Book III. 
 
 LETTER IX. $0 MINUTIANUS. 
 
 I AM now at leifure to inform you of the great 
 fatigue I underwent in defence of the province 
 of Bastica : a caufe which turned upon a variety of 
 queftions, and took up feveral days in hearing. 
 Cscilius Clafiicus was governour of Bastica, the 
 year that Marius Prifcus adminiftered the fame 
 office in Africa. Cascilius was a man of a 
 bafe, abandoned character, and had exercifed his 
 authority with great violence and opprefiion. , He 
 was a native of Africa, as Prifcus was of Baetica ; 
 in allufion to which the latter people ufed archly 
 to fay, (for a ftrong fenfe of injuries often gives 
 a certain poignancy to the exprefiion of one's 
 feelings) we are -paid in our own coin *. The 
 only difference between them was, that Marius 
 was profecuted on the part of a fmgle city, 
 
 as 
 
 a This feems to be one of thofe paflages to which it is im- 
 poffible not only for a tranflator to do jultice, but, perhaps, 
 .even for the moil fkilful in the original language to enter into 
 its true fpirit. The expreffion, in its primary fenfe, implies no 
 more than this : " I have received a wound and returned 
 " it." (Dedi malum & accept \) in which there does not ap- 
 pear even the fainteft fhadovv of wit or raillery. An inftance 
 of the fame kind occurs in B. 4. Let. 11. where our author 
 commends a farcafm of Valerius Licinianus, as the moft fevere 
 and fpirited imaginable, tho' there feems to be little in it 
 to deferve that character, Jn both cafes it is highly probable, 
 that the force of the raillery confifted either in feme allufion, 
 vvhich we cannot difcover at this diltance ; or the words them- ' 
 felves, perhaps, might, by fame double meaning, carry a fenfe 
 when they were fpoken, vvhich is now loft. Nor is it ;o be won- 
 dered.
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. 149 
 
 as alfo by feveral private perfons; whereas the 
 charge againft Clafficus was brought in the name 
 of the whole united province of Baetica. /He 
 cfcaped, however, the confequencesofthis impeach- 
 ment, either by an accidental or voluntary death, 
 I know not which. It is certain, at leaft, the world 
 imputed to him the difgrace of the latter; tho' I 
 muft confefs that point is to me extremely doubt- 
 ful. For as on the one hand, it is reafonable to fup- 
 pofe, that any man would rather choofe to die 
 than be arraigned on a charge from which he 
 could not clear himfelf ; fo on the other, it is fur- 
 prifmg, that he who was not alhamed to commit 
 the crimes of which he was accufed, fhould yet 
 prefer death to the difgrace of a public conviction. 
 Neverthelefs, the Bsetici perfifted in going on with 
 the profecution againft him. This privilege, which 
 the laws admit, was now, after longdifufe, revived. 
 They went farther, and infifted that his accomplices 
 fhould likewife be proceeded againft at the fame 
 time. I was counfel for the province together 
 with Lucceius Albinus. He is a copious and 
 K 3 elegant 
 
 dered we fhould be under a difficulty of this kind, when the 
 Romans themfelves, as Quinftilian informs us, were, even in 
 his time, at a lofs to diicover the true humour of feveral of 
 Cicero's occafional Bos Mots, in that collection of them which 
 were then extant; and that penetrating critic affures us that tho* 
 many had endeavoured to clear up and explain the force and- 
 propriety of them, the attempt had always proved unftcceU. 
 ful. Quinft. 1. 6. c. 3.
 
 THE LETTE&S Booklll. 
 
 elegant fpeaker; and tho' I always loved the man, 
 yet the being joined with him in this caufe, has 
 conliderably heightened my affection. There is 
 fomething in the purfuit of fame, efpecially of the 
 oratorical kind, that is felfifh, unfociable, and jea- 
 lous of participation ; but there was no rivalfhip be- 
 tween us, and we united our common efforts in this 
 trial, without being mutually excited by any envious 
 contention to difplay fuperiouf talents. We thought 
 the point in queftion was of too much importance, 
 and of too complicated a nature, for each of us to be 
 limited to a fmgle fpeech , being apprehenfive we 
 fhould neither have ftrength, nor time, to make 
 good our charge againft fo many parties, if we com- 
 prized them all under one general accufation. Such 
 a variety of perfons and facts would be apt to con- 
 found, as well as weary, the attention of the judges. 
 Befides, in that collective way of proceeding, 
 either the intereft offome might prove a protection 
 to all the reftj or, the moft inconfiderable of the 
 party might be facrificed to the juftice of their 
 country, in order to favour the efcape of thofe of 
 a more confpicuous rank : for partiality never exerts 
 itfelf with more fuccefs, than when it is concealed 
 under the fpecious appearance of feverity. We re- 
 membered the advice ofSertorius, who directed the 
 ftrongeft ibldier to tear offthehorfe's tail at once, and 
 
 the
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. 151 
 
 the weakefl to pull it off hair by hair. But you 
 know the a ftory. In the fame manner we thought 
 we had no other way to cope with fuch a numerous 
 body of criminals, but by attacking them fingly. 
 Our firft and principal point was to prove Clafficus 
 guilty, which would prepare the way to his ac- 
 complices ; for till that was done, it would not 
 be poffible to fix any charge upon the latter. 
 Amongft thefe we fmgled out Basbius Probus, 
 and Fabius Hifpanus, whom we thought it ad- 
 vifable to arraign immediately after Claflicus ; 
 thefe perfons being confiderable by their intereil, 
 and Hilpanus in particular by his eloquence. 
 There was no difficulty in proving the allega- 
 tions againft Clafficus j for there was found among 
 his memorandums an account under his own hand, 
 of the feveral fums he had taken, and upon what 
 occafions. A letter was alfo produced which he 
 K 4 fent 
 
 a The ftory, as related by Valerius Maximus, is to this pur- 
 pofe : Sertorius being profcribed by Sylla, put himfelf at the 
 head of the Lufitlni. Thefe people, upon a certain occafion, 
 were for attacking at once the whole Roman army, greatly fu- 
 perior to them in numbers. Sertorius endeavoured to diflfuade 
 them by all the arguments in his power, from fo rafii a purpoie; 
 but finding his oratory prevailed nothing, h-j ordered two 
 horfes to be brought before him, and calling a young lufty 
 foldier, and a worn out veteran, he directed the former to pull 
 off the horfe's tail at once, and the other by degrees. The 
 confequence was, the young man exerted all his flrength in 
 vain, while the old fellow performed his tafk. Thus, fays tha: 
 author, thefe rude ungovernable people, who were running 
 headlong to their deftrudYion, were convinced by this vifibie 
 reprefentation, of the juilnefs of that advice, which had no 
 influence upon them in the way of rsafoning. Val. Max. 
 L 7. c. 6.
 
 i$a . THELEfTERS Book III. 
 
 fent to a certain favourite miftrefsof his at Rome, 
 wherein he expreiTes himfelf in thefe words : 
 Rejoice with me, for I am preparing to return to 
 you ; and in Juch a manner, as to have nothing 
 to fear from my creditors, having ratfsd four mil- 
 lions b of fefterces upon the Batici. But it cott 
 us much time and pains to make good the 
 articles againft Hifpanus and Probus. Before 
 I entered upon the particular accufations againft 
 thefe, I thought it necefiary to prove, that 
 to be the agents and minifters of a governour, 
 in matters manifeftly unjuft, was in itfelf cri- 
 minal. For, they did not attempt to deny the 
 faclr, but pleaded in excufe, that they were 
 officers under Clafficus, and therefore obliged to 
 obey his orders. Claudius Reftitutus, who was 
 counfel on their fide, has often afiured me, he 
 never was more perplexed and difconcerted than 
 when he perceived I had feized this poft, in 
 which he had placed all his ftrength and confi- 
 dence; tho* no man is more expert and vigi- 
 lant in his profefiion, or more prepared againft 
 a furprize. The fenate decreed, that an ac- 
 count fhould be taken of the effefts Claflicus 
 pofTefled before he went to his government j that 
 thefe fhould be given to his daughter; and di- 
 rected the overplus to be divided among the un- 
 happy fufferers. The decree added, that his 
 
 creditors 
 b About 32,060!. of our money.
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. 153 
 
 creditors mould refund whatever monies they 
 had received fmce his return. Hifpanus and Pro- ' 
 bus were fentenced to be baniihed for five years: 
 fo very atrocious did that conduit now appear* 
 which feemed at firft to be doubted whether it 
 was criminal or not. A few days afterwards we 
 proceeded againft Clavius Fufcus, who married the 
 daughter of Clafficus, and Scillonius Prifcus, who 
 commanded a regiment under him j but the re- 
 fpe&ive ev ents were very different: for the for- 
 mer was acquitted, and the latter baniflied Italy for 
 two years. At the third hearing, we thought it 
 expedient to join feveral accomplices in one gene- 
 ral charge, left by protracting this affair any 
 longer, the patience of even the judges themfelves 
 would be quite worn out and exhaufted by fatigue. 
 We had indeed defignedly referved the moft in- 
 confiderable of the perfons concerned, to this day; 
 the wife of Clafficus only excepted, againft whom, 
 tho' there was ftrong fufpicion, the proofs were 
 by no means thought clear : as to his daughter, 
 who was likewife in the number of the accufed, 
 there was not the lead ground for any charge 
 againft her. When therefore, in the clofe 
 of the pleadings I was to take notice of the 
 latter, 1 thought it would ill become me to 
 bear hard upon one who appeared to be innocent; 
 and therefore I fpoke very fully and freely in her 
 vindication. Indeed, as this impeachment was now 
 
 drawing
 
 154 THE LETTERS Book III. 
 
 drawing to a conclufion, there was no danger that 
 this laft circumftance would take off from the 
 weight of the accufation againft her father, as 
 it might if t had defended her in the out-fet of 
 the caufe. I addrefied myfelf to the deputies, and 
 defired they would tell me if they had any thing 
 to alledge againft her, which they thought they 
 could prove; and appealed to the fenate, whe- 
 ther I ought to employ my talents, if in truth I 
 had any, to the deftruftion of an innocent perfon : 
 and I concluded with faying, But perhaps I Jh&ll 
 be ajked t if I fake upon myjelf to aft as a judge? By 
 no means: I confider myjelf however as an advocate 
 chojen from amldfl that "venerable body. 
 
 Thus ended this profecution, in which fo many 
 parties were involved ; fome of whom were 
 acquitted, but the greater number condemned, 
 cither to perpetual banifhment, or for a limited 
 time. The fenate were pleafed in the fame de- 
 cree to honour us with a moft ample teftimony 
 of our diligence, fidelity, and refolute perfever- 
 ance in the conduct of this important bufinefs: 
 the only reward we could have received equal to 
 the very laborious office we had fuftained. You 
 xvill eafily conceive the fatigue we underwent in 
 fpeaking and debating fo long and fo often, and 
 in interrogating, affifting, or confuting fuch a 
 number of witneffes; as well as what a difficult 
 and diftgrecable talk we had, to withftand the 
 
 private
 
 Booklft. OF PLINY. 155 
 
 private felicitations, and public oppofition of the 
 friends of the feveral perfons accufed. To give 
 you an inftance : one of the judges themfelves, who 
 thought J prefled too hard upon a defendant whom 
 he favoured, could not forbear interrupting me ; 
 Give me leave, faid I, to go on-, for when I Jhall 
 have Jaid all I meant to fay, he will ftill be as 
 innocent^ as he was before. From hence you will 
 colled what a fcene of contention I went through* 
 and what enemies I brought upon myfelf. How- 
 ever, it was but for a feafon. For tho' an honeft dif- 
 charge of one's duty may, for the time, offend thole 
 it oppofesj yet it will at laft be juftified and admir- 
 ed, even by the very men who fuffer from it. 
 
 Thus I have laid before you, in the cleared 
 manner I am able, this whole tranfaction. You 
 will regret, perhaps, the reading of fo long a letter, 
 and tell me it was fcarce worth the trouble. Afk 
 me then no more what is doing at Rome ; and re- 
 member, in my excufe, that confidering the time 
 this trial took tip, the great number of perfons 
 concerned, and the feveral proceedings againft 
 them, my letter is of no unreafonable length : and 
 I really think I have related the whole with as 
 much brevity as exactnefs. But upon recollection 
 I muft recall that laft word: for I perceive, a 
 little too late indeed, that 1 have omitted a ma- 
 terial circumftance. However, I will mention 
 it here, tho' fomewhat out of its place. In this I 
 9 have
 
 156 THE LETTERS Book III. 
 
 have the example of Homer, and feveral other 
 great names, to keep me in countenance; and-the 
 critics will tell you this inverted manner of relat- 
 ing facts has its beauties : but upon my word, it is 
 a beauty I had not at all in view. One of the 
 witnefles, whether in refentment that he was fum- 
 moned contrary to his inclination, or that he was 
 fuborned by fome of the parties accufed to weaken 
 the credit of the charge, defired leave to exhibit ar- 
 ticles againft Norbanus Licinianus, one of the depu- 
 ties, and a commiffioner appointed to carry on the 
 prefentprofecutionj alledging, that he had prevari- 
 cated in his charge againftCafta, the wife of Clafiicus. 
 The law directs that the party accufed lhall be firfl 
 proceeded againft, before any information lhall be 
 received to the prejudice of the perfon who brings 
 the charge j becaufe, how far the information is to 
 be credited, will beft appear from the manner in 
 which the original caufe is conducted. But fo 
 extremely odious was Norbanus, that neither the 
 authority of the laws, nor a regard to his public 
 function, could protect him. He was a man of 
 an infamous character, who, like many others, had 
 ufed his intereft with Domitian to very flagitious 
 purpofes. He was appointed one of the commif- 
 fioners by the province to manage this trial, not 
 becaufe they had any opinion of his integrity, but as 
 
 being 
 
 * A prevaricator is defined by the Civilians, to be one that 
 betrays that caufe to the adverfary, and turns on the criminal's 
 fide whom he ought to profecute.
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. 157 
 
 being a declared enemy to Clafficus,by whom he had 
 been banifhed. Norbanus defined he might have time 
 allowed him for his defence, and a copy of the ar- 
 ticles of his accufation. Both which were refufed 
 him, and he was ordered to anfwer immediately 
 to the charge. He did fo j and when I confider 
 the genius and character of the man, I know not 
 whether I fliould fay, with great confidence, or great 
 fpirit, but undoubtedly without the lead embaraff- 
 ment. There were many articles alledged againft 
 him, much more to his difadvantage than the crime 
 with which he was particularly charged. Among 
 the reft, Pomponius Rufus, and Libo Frugi, per- 
 fons of confular dignity, depofed, that he was coun- 
 fel, in the reign of Domitian, for thofe infamous 
 wretches who had informed againft Salvius Libe- 
 ralis. In fhort, Norbanus was condemned and ba- 
 nifhed. When therefore I entered upon the charge 
 againft Cafta, I infifted fingly upon this fentence 
 againft Norbanus. But I urged this to little pur- 
 pofe ; for, by a very unprecedented and indeed 
 a contradictory way of proceeding, the perfon 
 accufed was acquitted, while he who had enter^ 
 ed into this combination in her favour, was con^ 
 demned. You will be curious to be informed 
 how we, who were counfel againft her, acted in 
 this extraordinary conjuncture. We acquainted 
 the fenate, that as we had received all our 
 information from Norbanus, we cguld not, if he 
 
 ihould
 
 158 THE LETTERS Booklll. 
 
 fhould be convicted of collufion with this woman, 
 proceed without new inftructions : having faid 
 this, we fat down during his whole trial, with- 
 out interpofmg. Norbanus, after his conviction, 
 continued prefent every day throughout the remain- 
 der of the proceedings, and preferved the fame firm- 
 nefs, or unembarrafTed countenance to the laft. 
 And here, upon reviewing my letter, I find I have 
 been guilty of another omiffion. I fhould have 
 told you, that Salvius Liberalls inveighed ftrong- 
 ly againft the reft of the deputies, infifting, that 
 they had betrayed the trufl repofed in them by the 
 province, and had not brought to juftice all the 
 parties they were directed to profecute. As he is 
 a man of great warmth of temper and much elo- 
 quence, they were really in fome danger. But I 
 took thofe worthy perfons under my protection, 
 and they are fo grateful as to acknowledge I faved 
 them from the ftorm with which they were 
 threatened. And now, my friend, I will put an 
 end to my letter in good earned j nor detain you 
 with adding a fyllable more, even tho' I fhould 
 find that fome circumftances have ftill efcaped, 
 me. Farewel. 
 
 LET.
 
 Book III., OF PLINY. 159 
 
 LETTER X. To SPURINNA and COCCIA'. 
 
 I Did not, it is true, acquaint you, at my laft 
 vifit, that I had compofed fomething in praife 
 of ypur fon ; becaufe it was not written in order to 
 he mentioned, but merely as a private tribute of 
 affection to his memory, and as a confolation to 
 me in my concern for the lofs of him. Befides, 
 my dear Spurinna, as you told me you heard i 
 had read fome piece to certain friends, I imagined 
 you were informed at the fame time of the fub- 
 je<5t ; and I was unwilling to caft a gloom upon 
 your chearfulnefs in that feafon of gayety in which 
 I found you, by recalling to your remembrance 
 fo fevere a misfortune. I have even ilill fome 
 doubt, whether I mould only fend you what I then 
 recited, as you defire, or join with it what I de- 
 fign for another eflay: for a fmall tract was not 
 only inefficient to give due fcope to the fentiments 
 of my heart, and to comprize the full offerings I 
 would pay to one whofe memory I fo infinitely 
 love and honour j but it feemed alfo more for the 
 intereft of his fame, to have it thus difleminated by 
 feparate pieces. But the confideration, that it will 
 be treating you with a more friendly confidence to 
 tranfmit to you the whole now, rather than referve 
 part of it to another time, has determined me to 
 
 do 
 
 s Spurinna's wife.
 
 i6o THE LETTERS Booklll. 
 
 do fo ; efpecially as you have allured me you will 
 not part with it out of your hands, till I fhall 
 think proper to publiflh it. I beg you to give me 
 a proof of the lame unreferve, by pointing out to 
 me what you mall judge would be beft altered, 
 omitted, or added. It is difficult (and I know it 
 by what I feel myfelf) for a mind in affliction to 
 attend tp fuch little cares. However, as you would 
 direct a painter or ftatuary, who was reprefenting 
 the figure of your fon, what parts he fhould retouch 
 or exprefs j fo I hope you will guide and inform my 
 hand in this more durable, or (as you are pleafed 
 to think it) this immortal picture of his mind, 
 which I am endeavouring to draw : for the nearer 
 it (hall referable the original, and the more finimed 
 it mall be, fo much the more lafting it is likely 
 to prove. Farewel, 
 
 LETTER XI. fa JULIUS GENITOR. 
 
 IT is the generous difpofition of Artemidorus to 
 heighten the good offices of his friends $ and 
 in that -light you muft look upon thofe ftrong pro- 
 feflions he makes of his obligations to me. It is 
 true, indeed, when the philofophers were a expelled 
 
 Rome, 
 
 Domitian banifhed the philofophers not only from Rome 
 but Italy, as Suetonius and A. Geliius inform us; among 
 Oiete was the celebrated Epidetus.
 
 Book III. OF PLINY, 161 
 
 Rome, I vifited him at his houfe near the city ; 
 and I ran the greater hazard in paying him that 
 civility, as I was at that time Prastor. I likewife 
 fupplied him with a confiderable fum to difcharge 
 fome debts he had contracted upon very honourable 
 occafions, tho' I was obliged to borrow the money 
 myfelf ; while his other friends, who both in power 
 and fortune were capable of aflifting him, flood 
 coldly at a diftance without contributing any re- 
 lief to his diftrefs. This I did under the difcou- 
 raging inftances before my eyes of the fufferings of 
 feven of my friends; Senecio, Rufticus, and Helvi- 
 dius, being juft then put to death, at the fame time 
 that Mauricus, Gratilla, Arria, andFennia, were fent 
 into exile : and fcorched as I was with the lighten- 
 ing of the flate, which thus flafhed round me, I had 
 great reafon to expect it would not be long before 
 it deftroyed me too. But I do not deem myfelf 
 upon that account, as meriting the high encomiums 
 my friend beftows upon me: all I pretend to is, 
 that I was not guilty of the infamous meannefs 
 of abandoning him in his misfortunes. I had, as 
 far as the difference of our ages would admit, a 
 friendfhip for his father-in-law Mufonius, whom I 
 both loved and efteemed. Artemidorus himfelf I 
 made acquaintance with when I was military tribune 
 in Syria, where I entered into the ftri&eft intimacy 
 with him. And I confider it as a proof that there 
 VOL. 1. L was
 
 162 THE LETTERS Book III. 
 
 was fbmething right: in my difpofition, by having 
 fo early difcovered the merit of this amiable man, 
 who if he is not a philofopher, exceedingly refem- 
 bles one; I am fare at leaft y of all tholb who take 
 upon themfelves that title, I know none of a more 
 fmcere and unaffected integrity. I forbear to 
 mention how he indures the extremities of heat 
 and cold, haw indefatigable in labour, how abfte- 
 mious in the pleasures of the table, and how abfo- 
 lutely he reftrains all his appetites; for thefe 
 qualities, remarkable as they would certainly be 
 in any other character, are rendered lefs confpicu- 
 ous in him, by the fuperiour luftre of thofe more 
 extraordinary virtues which recommended him 
 to Mufonius for a fon-in-law, in preference to 
 fo many others of all ranks who paid their ad- 
 drefles to his daughter. I cannot therefore but 
 be highly fenfible of the advantageous terms in 
 which he fpeaks of me to every body, and par- 
 ticularly to you. But I am apprehcnfive (to re- 
 turn to the obfervation with which I fet out) that 
 the warmth of his benevolence may carry him 
 beyond the bounds I deferve : for he, who is fo 
 free from all other errors, is extremely apt to 
 fall into the good-natured one, of over-rating 
 the merit of his friends. Farewel. 
 
 LET-
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. 163 
 
 LETTER XII. 70 CATILIUS. 
 
 T Accept of your invitation to fupperj but I 
 * muft make this agreement before- hand, that 
 you difmifs me foon, and treat me frugally. Let 
 our entertainment abound only in philofophical 
 converfation, and even that too with modera* 
 tion. There are certain offices which bring 
 pafiengers into the ftreets at midnight, and which 
 Cato himfelf could not fafely fall in with; tho* I 
 muft confefs at the fame time, that J. Csefar % 
 when he reproaches him with that circumftance, ex- 
 alts the character he meant to expofe : for he de- 
 fcribes thofe perfons who met this reeling pa- 
 triot, as blulhing when they diicovered who he 
 wasj and adds, you would have thought that Cato 
 had deteEfed Them, and not 'They Cato. Could he 
 place the dignity of Cato in a ftronger light 
 than by reprefenting him thus venerable even in 
 his cups ? As for ourfelves, neverthelefs, let tem- 
 perance not only fpread our table, but regulate 
 our hours : for we are not arrived at fo exalted a 
 reputation, that our enemies cannot cenfure our 
 conduct without applauding it at the fame time. 
 Farewel. 
 
 L 2 LET- 
 
 * Julius Csfar wrote an inveftive againft Cato of Utica, 
 to which, it is probable, Pliny here alludes,
 
 164 THE LETTERS Book III. 
 
 LETTER XIII. ?o ROM ANUS. 
 
 I Have fait you, as yotf defired, the panegyric I 
 delivered in my late confulfhip in honour of our 
 moft excellent a emperor; and I intended to have 
 fent it rho' you had not made the requeft. I could 
 wifh, when you perufe this performance, you would 
 reflect upon the difficulty, as well as the dignity 
 of the fubjedt. In other co'mpofitions, where the 
 reader is not acquainted with the circumftances 
 upon which they turn, the novelty of them engage 
 his chief attention ; but in a topic fo known and ex- 
 haufted as the prefent, he has nothing to divert him 
 from confidering the ftile and manner of his author; 
 and the writer has a hard tafk to pleafe his read- 
 ers, when the whole force of their criticifm is folely 
 directed to thofe fingle points. But I mould be glad 
 that the arrangement, the metaphors, and connec- 
 tions, which I have employed in this difcourfe, might 
 be particularly obferved. A ftrong imagination, 
 and pompous expreffion will fometimes break out in 
 the moft unpolimed writer; but regularity in the 
 plan of a work, and propriety in the figures, are 
 the diftinguifhing characteriftics of an improved 
 and correct genius. The mining and the elevated 
 are not always to be affected. As fhades in a pic- 
 ture Ihew the luminous parts to more advan- 
 tage, 
 * Trajan.
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. 165 
 
 cage, fo the plain and fimple in writing recom- 
 mend and heighten the fublime. But I forget 
 that I am calking to one who is fo complete a 
 judge of thefe matters. I fhould rather beg of 
 you to point out to me what you fhall think re- 
 quires correction : for if I fhould find that you dif- 
 like Pome parts, I fliall be more inclined to believe 
 you approve of the reft. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XIV. fo ACILIUS. 
 
 TH E atrocious treatment which Largius 
 Macedo, a peyibn of Praetorian rank, lately 
 received from his flaves, is fo extremely tragical, 
 that it deferves to be the fubject of a more con- 
 fiderable narrative than a private letter; tho* at 
 the fame time it muft be acknowledged, there was 
 a haughtinefs and feverity in his behaviour towards 
 them, which mewed him little mindful that his 
 own father was once in the fame fervile (tare. They 
 furrounded him as he was bathing at his villa 
 near Formic, and fome beat him about the face 
 and head, whilft others trampled upon his bread, 
 his belly, and his privy parts: wher*. they ima- 
 gined they had thus compleated their intentions, 
 they threw him upon the burning pavement of the 
 hot bath, to try if there was any remaining life 
 L 3 lefc
 
 166 THE LETTERS Book III, 
 
 left in him. He lay there ftretched out, and mo- 
 tionlefs, either as being really fenfelefs, or only 
 counterfeiting j upon which they concluded him 
 actually dead. In this condkion they brought him 
 out, pretending that he was fuffocated by the heat 
 of the bath. Some of his more trufty fervants 
 received him, and the alarm bdng fpread thro' the 
 family, his concubines ran to him with the mod vio- 
 lent Ihrieks. The noife of their cries, together with 
 the frefh air, brought him a little to himfelf, and he 
 gave figns (as he now fafely might) that he was 
 not quite dead. The murderers immediately made 
 their efcape; but the greater part of them are 
 taken, and they are in purfuit of the reft. By pro- 
 per application, he was, with great difficulty, kept 
 alive for a few days, and then expired ; having 
 however the fatisfaction before he died of knowing 
 that juft vengeance would be inflicted on his affaf- 
 fins. Thus you fee to what indignities, outrages, 
 and dangers, we are expofed. Lenity and good 
 treatment is no fecurity from the villainies of ones 
 fervants j for it is malice, and not re flection j 
 that arms fuch ruffians againft their matters. 
 So much for this piece of news : and now, I think, 
 I am exhaufted. But you will be apt, I ima- 
 gine, to afk, " Is this all ? " In truth it is j other-. 
 wife, you fhouid have it j for' my paper and my time 
 too, (as it is a holy-day with me,) will allow me to 
 add more. Upon recolle&ion, however, I can td\ 
 
 you
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. 167 
 
 you one farther circumflance relating to Macedo, 
 which juft now occurs to me. As he was once in 
 a public bath at Rome, a fingular, and (as it 
 ifliould feem by the manner of his death) an omi- 
 nous accident happened to him. A flave of Mace- 
 do's, in order to make way for his mailer, laid 
 his hand gently upon a Roman knight, who fud- 
 denly turning round, by miftake gave Macedo fo 
 violent a blow, that he almoft knocked him down. 
 Thus the bath feems to have been fatal to him by a 
 kind of gradation; for firfl he received an indig- 
 nity in one bath, and was afterwards aiTaflinated in 
 another. JFarewel. 
 
 LETTER XV. r<?PROcuLus. 
 
 "V^O U defire me to read your poems during my 
 * recefs, and to examine whether they are 
 fit for public view ; and after requefting me to turn 
 fome of my leifure hours from my own fhidies to 
 yours, you remind me that Tully was remarka- 
 jble for his generous encouragement and patronage 
 of poetical geniufes. But you did not do rne juf- 
 tice, if you fuppofed I wanted either intreaty or 
 example upon this occafion, who not only worfhip 
 the mufes with the moil religious veneration, but 
 have alfo the warmeil friendfhip for yourfelf: I mall 
 therefore do what you require, with equal pleafure 
 and attention. I believe I may venture to declare 
 L 4 before-
 
 i68 THE LETTERS Book III. 
 
 before-hand, that your performance has great 
 merit, and ought by no means to be fuppreffed ; 
 at leaft that was my opinion when I heard you re- 
 cite it: if indeed your fkilful manner of reading 
 and fweetnefs of elocution did not impofe upon 
 my judgment. I truft, however, the charming 
 cadence did not entirely overcome the force of 
 my criticifm; it might poflibly a little foften its 
 fe verity, but could not totally turn its edge. I 
 think therefore I may fafely pronounce this my 
 opinion of your poems in general : what they are 
 in their feveral parts, I (hall judge when I read 
 them. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XVI. ft NEPOS. 
 
 I Have frequently obferved, that amongft the 
 noble actions and remarkable fayings of dif- 
 tinguifhed perfons in either fex, thofe which have 
 been moil celebrated have not always been the moft 
 worthy of admiration; and I am confirmed in this 
 opinion, by a converfation I had yefterday with Fan- 
 nia. This lady is grand-daughter to that famous 
 Arria, who animated her hufband to meet death, by 
 her own glorious example. She informed me of fe- 
 veral particulars relating to Arria, not lefs heroical 
 than this applauded action of hers, tho' lefs the fub- 
 ject of general renown; and which I am perfuaded 
 
 will
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. 169 
 
 will raife her as much In your admiration as they 
 did in mine. Her hufband Csecinna Psetus, and 
 her fon, were each attacked at the fame time with 
 a dangerous illnefs, of which the fon died. This 
 youth, who had a moft beautiful perfon and ami- 
 able behaviour, was not lefs endeared to his pa- 
 rents by his virtues than by the ties of affection. 
 His mother managed his funeral fo privately, that 
 Psetus did not know of his death. Whenever fhe 
 came into his bed-chamber, fhe pretended her fon 
 was better : and as often as he enquired concerning 
 his health, fhe anfwered he had refled well, or had 
 eaten with an appetite. When fhe found fhe could 
 no longer reftrain her grief, but her tears were gufh- 
 ing out, fhe would leave the room, and having 
 given vent to her paffion, return again with dry 
 eyes and a ferene countenance, as if fhe had dif- 
 miffed every fentiment of forrow ac her entrance. 
 Her * refolution, no doubt, was truly noble, when 
 
 drawing 
 
 * The ftory, as mentioned by feveral of the ancient hifto- 
 jians, is to this purpofe : Pxtus having joined Scribonianus, 
 who was in arms in lllyria againft Claudius, was taken after 
 the death of the latter, and condemned to death. Arria, 
 having in vain folicued his life, perfuaded him to deftroy 
 himfelf, rather than fuifer the ignommy of falling by the exe- 
 cutioner's hands ; and in order to encourage him to an acl, to 
 which it feem; he was not much inclined, me fet him the 
 example in the manner Pliny relates. 
 
 " In a pleafure-houfe belonging to the Villa Ludo--vifa at 
 *' Rome there is a fine ftatue representing this aftion: Paetus 
 ** is {tabbing himfelf with one hand, and holds up the dying 
 V Arria with the other. Her finking bod/ hangs fo loofe, as 
 
 " if
 
 170 THE LETTERS Booklll. 
 
 drawing the dagger fhe plunged it in her breaft, 
 and then prefented it to her hufband with that ever 
 memorable, I had almoft faid that divine expreflion, 
 Ptftus, it is not painful It muft however be confi- 
 dered, when fhe fpoke and acted thus, fhe was en- 
 couraged and fupported by the profpect of immor- 
 tal glory. But was it not fomething much greater 
 without the aid of fuch animating motives, to hide 
 her tears, to conceal her grief, and chearfully acl: 
 the mother when fhe was a mother no more ? 
 
 Scribonianus had taken up arms in Iljyria, 
 againft Claudius, where having loft his life, Paetus, 
 who was of his party, was brought prifoner to 
 Rome. When they were going to put hirrt on 
 board a fhip, Arria befought the foldiers that flic 
 might be permitted to attend him : Certainly, faid 
 ihe, you cannot refufe a man ofconjular dignity, as 
 he is y a few Jlaves to wait upon him-, but if you 
 will take me, I alone will perform their office. Her 
 requeft was refufedj upon which fhe hired a 
 
 fmall 
 
 * if every joint were relaxed." Wright's Travels, p. 334. 
 Martial alio has celebrated this heroic aftion in a famous 
 epigram: 
 
 Caftafuo gladium cum traderet Arria Pato, 
 
 Quern de <uifceribus traxerat ipfafuis ; 
 Si quafdes, <vulnus quod fed non dolct, inqult, 
 
 &ed quod tufacies, hoc mihi, Pa:te, dolet. L. I. 14. 
 
 When from her breaft, chafle Arria fnatch'd the fwcrd, 
 And gave the deathful weapon to her lord, 
 My wound, fhe faid, believe me, does not fmart; 
 'Tis thine alone, my Pxtus, pains my heart.
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. 171 
 
 fmall fifhing-vefTel, and boldly ventured to follow 
 the fhip. At her return to Rome, fhe met the 
 wife of Scribonianus in the emperor's palace, who 
 prefling her to difcover all me knew of that infur- 
 rection, What I faid me, Jhall I regard thy advice, 
 who Jaw ft thy hit/band murdered even in thy very 
 arms, and yet furviveft him? An expreffion which 
 evinces, that the glorious manner in which fhe 
 put an end to her life, was no unpremeditated 
 effect of fudden paffion. When Thrafea, who 
 married her daughter, was difluading her from her 
 purpofe of deftroying herfelf, and among other 
 arguments, faid to her, Would you then advije your 
 daughter to die with me, if my life were to be 
 taken from me? Mofl certainly I would, fhe replied, 
 if /he had 'lived as long and in as much harmony 
 with you, as I have with my Pxtus. This anfwer 
 greatly heightened the alarm of her family, and 
 made them obferve her for the future more nar- 
 rowly j which, when fhe perceived, fhe aflured 
 them, all their caution would be to no purpofe. 
 Tpu may oblige me, faid fhe, to execute my refolu- 
 tion in a way that will give me more "pain, but it 
 is impojfible you Jhould prevent it. She had fcarce 
 faid this, when fhe fprang from her chair, and 
 running her head with the utmoft violence a- 
 gainft the wall, fell down in appearance dead. 
 But being brought to herfelf, / told you, faid fhe, 
 
 if
 
 172 THE LETTERS Book I If. 
 
 if you would nctjuffer me to take an eajypath to death, 
 IJhould make my way to it thro' Jome more difficult 
 faffage. Now, is there not, my friend, fomething 
 much greater in all this, than in the To- much-talk- 
 ed-of, Patusy it is not painful? to which, indeed, it 
 feems to have led the way : and yet this laft is the 
 favourite topic of fame, while all the former are 
 pafied over in profound filence. Whence I can- 
 not but infer, what I obferved in the beginning of 
 my letter, that the nobleft aclions are not always 
 the moft celebrated. FareweL 
 
 LETTER XVII. ?o SERVIANS. 
 
 TO what fhall I attribute your long filence ? 
 Is it want of health, or want of leifure, that 
 prevents your writing ? Or is it, perhaps, that 
 you have no opportunity of conveying your let- 
 ters ? Free me, I intreat you, from the perplexity 
 of thefe doubts $ for they are more, be afiured, 
 than I am able to fupport; and do fo, even tho' it 
 be at the expence of an exprefs meffenger : I will 
 gladly bear his charges, and even reward him too, 
 fhould he bring me the news I wiih. As for my- 
 felf, I am well, if to be well, can with any propriety, 
 be faid of a man, who lives in the utmcft fufpenfe 
 and anxiety, under the apprehenfion of all the ac- 
 cidents
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. iyj 
 
 cidents which can pofilbly befal the friend he moft 
 affectionately loves. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XVIII. <To SEVERUS. 
 
 I Was obliged, by my confular office, to compli- 
 ment the emperor * in the name of the re- 
 public : but after I had performed that ceremony 
 in the fenate in the ufual manner, and as fully as 
 the time and place would allow, I thought it agree- 
 able to the affection of a good fubject, to en- 
 large thofe general heads, and extend them into a 
 complete difcourfe. My principal view in doing 
 fo, was, to confirm the emperor in his virtues, by 
 paying that tribute of applaufe to them which they 
 fo juftly deferve ; and at the fame time to direct 
 future princes, not in the formal way of lecture, 
 but by his more engaging example, to thofe paths 
 they muft purfue, if they would attain the fame 
 heights of glory. To inftruct fovereigns how to 
 form their conduct, is a noble, but difficult taflc, 
 and may, perhaps, be deemed prefumption : but 
 to applaud the character of an accomplimed 
 Prince, and to hold him out to pofterity, as a 
 light to guide fucceeding monarchs, is a method 
 equally ufeful, and much more modefl. It afford- 
 ed me a very fingular pleafure, when I recited this 
 
 pane- 
 
 Trajan.
 
 174 THE LETTERS Book til, 
 
 panegyric in a private aflembly, that my friends 
 gave me their company, tho' I did not folicit them 
 in the ufual form of circular billets, but only re- 
 quired their attendance, if it would be agreeable to 
 them, and they fhould happen to be at leiiure. You 
 know the excufes which are generally made at Rome 
 to avoid invitations of this kind, and prior engage- 
 ments are ufually alledged ; yet tho' the weather 
 proved extremely bad at that rime, they attended the 
 recital for two days together : and when I thought 
 it would be unreafonable to detain them any long- 
 er, they infifted upon my going through with it 
 the next day. Shall I confider this as an honour 
 done to myfelf, or to literature ? Rather let me 
 fuppofe to the latter, which, tho* well-nigh extinct, 
 feems to be now again reviving amongft us. Yet 
 what was the fubjcft which raifed this uncom- 
 mon attention ? No other than what formerly, 
 even in the fenate, where we were obliged to fub- 
 mit to it, we could not endure to hear, tho' but for 
 a few moments. But now, you fee, we have pa- 
 tience to recite and iiften to a topic of the fame na- 
 ture for three days together : and the reafon of the 
 difference is, not that we have more eloquence, but 
 more liberty than formerly, and confequently write 
 with a more unconftrained fpirit. It is an additional 
 glory therefore to our prefent emperor, that this 
 fort of harangues, which were once as difgufting as 
 they were falfe, are now as pleafing as they are 
 3 fmcere.
 
 Book III. OF PI. I NY. 175 
 
 fincerc. But it was not only the earned attention 
 of my audience which afforded me pleafure ; I 
 was greatly delighted too with the juftnefs o 
 their tafte : for I obfervcd, that the more rigid 
 fentiments of my difcourfe gave them peculiar fa- 
 tisfaclion. It is true, indeed, this work, which 
 was written for the perufal of the world in ge- 
 neral, was read only to a few; however, I would 
 willingly confider their particular judgment as an 
 carneft of that of the public, and rejoice at their 
 manly tafte as if it were univerfally fpread. It 
 was in eloquence as in mufic, the vitiated ears 
 of the audience introduced a depraved ftile $ but 
 now I am inclined to hope, as a more correct 
 judgment prevails in the public, our compofi- 
 tions of both kinds will improve too 3 for thofe 
 authors, whofe only view is to pleafe, will form 
 their works upon the popular tafte. I truft, 
 however, in fubjedls of this nature, the florid 
 ftile is moft proper j and am fo far from think- 
 ing, that the vivid colouring I have ufed, will be 
 efteemed foreign and unnatural, that I am moftap- 
 prehenfive cenfure will fall upon thofe parts where 
 die diftion is moft fimple and unornamented. 
 Neverthelefs, I fmcerely with the time may come, 
 and that it now were, when the fmooth and 
 lufcious manner, which has infecled our ftile, 
 mail give piace> as it ought, to fevere and chafte 
 compofition. 
 
 Thus
 
 176 THE LETTERS Book ill* 
 
 Thus, I have given you an account how I have 
 been employed thefe laft three days, that your ab- 
 fence might not entirely deprive you of a pleafurej 
 which, from your friehdfhip to me, and the part 
 you take in every thing that concerns the intereft 
 of literature, I know you would have received, if 
 you had been prefent. Fare w eh 
 
 i 
 
 L E T T E R XIX. To C ALVISIUS RUFUS* 
 Mutl have recourfe to you, as ufual, in an affaif 
 which concerns my finances. An eftate is of. 
 fered to be fold which lies contiguous to mine, and 
 indeed is intermixed with it. There are feveral 
 circumftances which flrongly incline me to this 
 purchafe, as there are others no lefs weighty which 
 deter me from it. The firft recommendation it has, 
 is, the beauty which will refult from uniting this 
 farm to my own lands j the next, the advantage as 
 well as the pleafure of being able to vifit it under 
 one trouble and expence ; to have it fuperintended 
 by the fame fteward; cultivated almoft by the fame 
 huflbandmen; and to have only a fmgle manfion to 
 fupport arid ernbellifh, as it will be fufficient to 
 keep up the other juft in common repair. I take 
 into this account furniture, houfe-keepers, garden- 
 ers, artificers, and all the apparatus that relates to 
 the game, as it faves a very confiderable expence 
 when you are not obliged to keep them at more 
 houfes than one. On the other hand, I don't know 
 
 whether
 
 Book III. OF PUNY, 177 
 
 whether it is prudent to venture fo much of one's 
 property expofed to the fame climate, and to the 
 fame cafualties ; it feems a more fure method of 
 guarding againft the caprices of fortune, to diftri* 
 bute our pofTeflions into different fituations : betides, 
 there is fomething extremely amufmg in mifting 
 the fcene, and travelling from one eftate to an* 
 other. But to mention the point of principal diffi* 
 culty: the lands are rich, fertile, and well- watered, 
 confiding chiefly of meadow grounds, vine/ards, 
 and woods j the produce of which laft, tho' it is not 
 very great, or very profitable, yet feldom fails : 
 ,but then, to balance the advantages of foil, the 
 prefent tenants have been extremely opprefled. 
 The perfon who was laft in poffeflion ufed frequent- 
 ly to feize and fell their ftock, by which means, tho' 
 he leflened the detjc for the prefent, yet in the event 
 he greatly impoverifhed the eftate, and the confe- 
 ^quence was, that the tenants were again in arrears. 
 I (hall be obliged therefore to furnifh thefe honeft 
 farmers with a new fupply of hands for tillage, 
 which I muft be at the expence of buying, as there 
 Are none left upon the eftate, neither have I any 
 jbond-flaves a of my own. And now it remains 
 /only to inform you of the price i which is three 
 
 qnil- 
 
 ? The Romans ufed to employ their criminals in the lowet 
 pffices of huibandry, fuchi as ploughing, &c. Piin. H, ^f 
 ^.'18. 3. 
 
 . I. M
 
 173 THE LETTERS Book III. 
 
 millions b of fefterces. It has been formerly fold 
 for five c millions j but, partly by the general cala- 
 mity of the times, and partly by its being thus 
 ftripped of labourers', the income of this eftate is 
 reduced, and confequently its value. You will be 
 inclined, perhaps, to enquire whether I can eafily 
 raife the purchafe-money ? It is true, my eftate 
 is chiefly in land, tho' I have alfo fome money 
 placed out at intereft; but I can without diffi- 
 culty borrow any furn I may want. I have 
 always a fure refource in the purfe of my wife's 
 pother, which I can ufe with the fame freedom 
 as my own; fo that you need not give yourfelf 
 any trouble as to that article, if you ihould have 
 no other objections, which I beg you would very 
 accurately confider: for as in every thing elfe, fo 
 rparticularly in matters of ceconomy, no man has 
 more judgment and experience than yourfelf. 
 Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XX. To MAXIMUS. 
 
 YO U remember, no doubt, to have read 
 what commotions were cccafioned by the 
 ' law, which ordains that the d elections of magi- 
 
 ftrates 
 
 fc About 24,000!. of our money. - 
 c About 40,000!. pf our money. 
 
 d The author of this law was one Gabinius, a tribune of 
 the people, A. U. 614. It gave a. very confiderable blow to 
 tfee influence of the nobility, as in this way of' balloting it 
 
 could
 
 Book III. O F P L I N Y. 179 
 
 ftrates fhall be by balloting, and how much the 
 author of it was both approved. and condemned. 
 Yet this very law the fenate lately unanimoufly re- 
 vived ; and upon the election day, with one con- 
 fent, called for the ballots. It muft be owned, the 
 method by open votes had introduced into the fe- 
 nate more riot and diforder than is feen even in the 
 aflemblies !of the people j all regularity in fpeak- 
 ing, all decency of filence, all dignity of character 
 was difregarded ; it was univerfal diflbnance and 
 clamour: here, the feveral candidates running from 
 fide to fide with their patrons; there, a troop 
 collected together in the middle of the fenate, 
 and, in fhort, the whole afiembly dividing 
 into feparate parties, created the moft indecent 
 confufion. Thus widely had we departed from 
 the manners of our anceftors, who conduded 
 thefe elections with a calmnefs and regularity 
 fuitable to the reverence which is due to the ma- 
 jefty of the place. I have been informed by fome, 
 who remembered thofe times, that the method ob- 
 ferved in their afiemblies was this : the name of 
 the perfon who offered himfelf for any office being 
 called over, a profound filence enfued, when im- 
 mediately the candidate appeared j who after he 
 had fpoken for himfelf, and given an account to 
 M 2 / ' the 
 
 could not be difcovered on which fide the people gave their 
 votes, and cor.iequently took oft" that relhaint they bcforp 
 Uy under, by the icar ol pff^ading cheir iuper;ours,
 
 j8o THE LETTERS Book III, 
 
 the fenate of his manner of life, called witncffes 
 in fupport of his character. Thefe were, either 
 the perfon under whom he had ferved in the army, 
 or to whom he had been Quasftor, or both, (if 
 the cafe admitted of it j) to whom he alfo joined 
 fome of thofe friends who efpoufed his intereft, 
 They delivered what they had to fay in his favour, 
 in few words, but with great dignity : and this had 
 far more influence than the modern method of 
 humble felicitation. Sometimes the candidate 
 would object either to the birth, or age, or cha- 
 racter of his competitor ; to which the fenate 
 would liften with a fevere and impartial atten- 
 tion : and thus was merit generally preferred to 
 intereft. But corruption having abufed this wife 
 inftitution of our anceftors, we were obliged to 
 have recourfe to the way of balloting, as the 
 moft probable remedy for the evil. The me- 
 thod being new, and immediately put in prac- 
 tice, it anfwered the prefent purpofe very well ; 
 but, I am afrajd, in procefs of time, it will intro- 
 duce new inconveniences j as this manner of bal* 
 loting fcems to afford a fort of fcreen to injufticp 
 and partiality. For how few are there who pre- 
 ferve the fame delicacy of conduct in fecret, as 
 when expofed to the view of the world ? The, 
 truth is, the generality of mankind revere Fame 
 more than Confcience, Bu: this, perhaps., may 
 
 be
 
 I. OF PLINY. 181 
 
 be pronouncing too haftily upon a future event: 
 be it therefore as it hereafter may, we have in the 
 mean while obtained by this method an election 
 of fuch magiftrates as beft deferved the honour. 
 For it was with us as with that fort of judges 
 who are named upon the fpot; we were taken 
 before we had time to be biafied, and therefore 
 we determined impartially. 
 
 I have given you this detail, not only as a piece 
 of news, but becaufe I am glad to feize every 
 opportunity of fpeaking of affairs concerning the 
 republic j a fubjecl, which as we have fewer oc- 
 cafions of mentioning than our anceftors, fo we 
 ought to be more careful not to let any of them flip* 
 In good earneft, I am tired with repeating over and 
 over the fame compliments, How d* ye do? and / 
 hope you are well. Why Ihould our letters for ever 
 turn upon trivial and domeflic concerns? It is 
 true, indeed, the direction of the public weal is 
 in the hands of a fingle perfon, who, for the 
 general good, takes upon himfelf to eafe us of the 
 whole care and weight of government; but ftill 
 that bountiful fource of power permits, by a very 
 generous difpenfation, fome dreams to flow down 
 to us : and of thefe we may not only partake our- 
 felves, but thus, as it were, adminifter them tq 
 our abfent friends. Farewel. 
 
 M 3
 
 s82 THE LETTERS Book III. 
 
 LETTER XXI. 2o PRISCUS. 
 
 I Have juft received an account of the death of 
 poor Martial, which much concerns me. He 
 Was a man of an acute and lively genius, and 
 his writings abound with much fatyrical wit, 
 conducted at the fame time by equal candor. 
 When he left Rome, I made him a prefent 
 to defray the charges of his journey ; and I gave 
 it to him, not only as a teftimony of my friend- 
 flhip, but in return for the verfes with which 
 he had complimented me. It was the cuftom of 
 the ancients to diftinguifh thofe poets with honour- 
 able and pecuniary rewards, who had celebrated 
 particular perfcns or cities in their verfes j but this 
 good cuftom, with every other that is generous and 
 noble, is now grown out of fafhion; and in con- 
 fequence of having ceafed to act laudably, we 
 confider praife as an impertinent and worthlefs 
 tribute. You will be defirous, perhaps, to fee the 
 verfes which merited this acknowledgment from 
 me; and I believe I can, from my memory, 
 partly fatisfy your curiofity, without referring you 
 to his works : but if you fhould be pleafed with 
 this fpecimen, you muft turn to his poems for 
 the reft. He addreffes himfelf to his mufe, whom 
 9 he
 
 Book III. OF PLINY. 183 
 
 he direds to go to my houfe upon the * E/quili*i 
 but to approach it with refpect : 
 
 Go, wanton mufe, but go with care> 
 Nor meet, ill-tim'd, my Pliny s ear : 
 He, by fage Minerva taught, 
 Gives the day to ftudious thought, 
 And plans that eloquence divine, 1 
 
 Which Jhall to future ages Jhine, > 
 And rival, wond'rous fully ! thine. J 
 Then, cautious, watch the f eft ive hour, 
 When Bacchus reigns in all his pow'r j 
 When crown' d with fragrant chaplets gay. 
 Cat os might read my frolic lay b . 
 
 Do you not think that the poet who addreffed thefe 
 lines to me, deferved fome friendly marks of my 
 bounty then, and of my forrow now f For he gave 
 me the beft he had to beftow, and it was want of 
 power only that his prefent was not more valuable. 
 But indeed, what can be conferred more valuable 
 than the honour of never-fading praife ? And 
 tho* it mould be granted, that his poems will not 
 long furvive their author, ft ill, no doubt, he flattered 
 himfelf they would prove immortal. Farewel. 
 
 a One of the feven famous hills upon which Rome was 
 fituated. 
 
 b Mart. 1. x, 19. 
 
 M4 THE
 
 THE 
 
 LETTERS 
 
 ;O F 
 
 P L I N T. 
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 LETTER I. SoFABATus. 
 
 YOU have longdefiredavifit from your grand- 
 daughter a accompanied by me. Nothing, 
 beafiured, could be more agreeable to us both; foi* 
 we equally wifh to fee you, and are determined 
 to delay that pleafure no longer. For this purpofc 
 our baggage is actually making ready, and we are 
 haftening to you with all the expedition the roads 
 will permit. We lhall flop only once, and 
 
 that 
 
 * Calphurnia, Pliny's wife.
 
 186 THE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 that for a fhort timej intending to turn a little out 
 of the way in order to go into Tufcany: not 
 for the fake of looking upon our eftate, and into 
 our family concerns; for that we could defer to 
 another opportunity; but to perform an indifpen- 
 fable duty. There is a town near my eftate, call- 
 ed b Tifernum-upon-the-Tiber, which put itfelf 
 under my patronage when I was yet a youth. 
 Thefe people enter warmly into my intereft, 
 celebrate my arrival among them with public re- 
 joicings, exprefs the greateft concern when I leave 
 them, and in fhort give every proof of an affection 
 towards me as ftrong as it is undeferved. That I 
 may return their good offices (for what generous 
 mind can bear to be excelled in acts of friendfhip ?) 
 I have erected a temple in this place, at my own 
 expence; and as it is finished, it would be a fore 
 of impiety to delay the dedication of it any longer. 
 We defign, therefore, to be prefent on the day that 
 ceremony is to be performed; and I have refolved 
 to celebrate it with a general feaft. We may 
 pofilbly continue there all the next day, but we ihall 
 make fo much the more expedition in our journey 
 afterwards. May we have the happinefs to find you 
 and your daughter in good health! in good fpirits 
 I am fure we fhall, if you fhould fee us fafely 
 
 arrived, Farewel. 
 
 LET- 
 
 " Now Cicta di Caftello.
 
 Book IV. OF PLINY. 187 
 
 LETTER II. ft CLEMENS. 
 
 REGULUS has loft his Con; and I fhould 
 call it a misfortune he well deferves, but 
 that I am perfuaded he^ does not think it one. 
 The boy was of a fprightly, but ambiguous 
 turn j however, he feemed capable of going 
 right, if he fhould efcapc the infection of 
 his father's example. Regulus gave him his * 
 freedom, in order to entitle him to the eftate 
 left him by his mother ; and when he got into 
 f>oflefiion of it, endeavoured (as the character of 
 the man made it generally reported) to wheedle 
 him out of it, by the moft fingular and difgrace- 
 ful indulgencies. This, perhaps, you will fcarce 
 think credible j but if you confider Regulus, you 
 will not be long of that opinion. However, he now 
 exprefles his concern for the lofs of this youth in 
 a moft extravagant manner. The boy had a great 
 number of little horfes for the different kind of vehi- 
 cles j dogs of various forts, together with parrots, 
 black-birds, and nightingales fc in abundance : thefe 
 
 Regulus 
 
 * The Romans had an abfolute power over tlieir children, 
 of which no age or flation of the latter deprived them. Sec 
 B. 8. Let. 1 8. note b . 
 
 b This bird was much efteemed amongd nice eaters, and 
 ivas fold at a high price. Horace mentions, as an initance of 
 
 great
 
 i88 THE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 Regu'^s Hew c round the funeral pile of his fon, in 
 all the oftentation of affe&ed grief. Heisvifited 
 upon this occafion by a furprizing number of people* 
 who tho' they fecretly deteft and abhor the man, 
 yet are as afliduous irt attentions, as if they were 
 aduated by a principle of real efteem and 
 affection; in fhort, they endeavour to recom- 
 mend themfelves to his favour, by following his 
 own hypocritical example. He is retired to his 
 villa ' crofs the Tiber; where he has covered a vaft 
 
 extent 
 
 great extravagance, two brothers who ufed to dine upon 
 tiicm: 
 
 Quinti progenies Arri> par nobiln fratrum > < 
 
 Lufcinias jil.ti impenfo prandere coemtas. L. 2. Sat. 3. 
 
 A noble pair of brothers- 
 
 On Nightingales of monftfous purchafe dined. 
 
 Mr. FRANCIS. 
 
 Frcm an unaccountable notion that prevailed among the 
 ancients, that ihe gh fts delighted in blood, it was cuftomary 
 to kill a great number of bealb, and throw them on the fu* 
 neral pile. In the more ignorant and barbarous ages, men 
 were the u: happy victims cf this horrid lite. Even the com- 
 paflionate ^Eneas is reprefentcd by Virgil as praclifing this 
 cruel ceremony, at the funeral honours which he performed to 
 t he memory of the unfortunate Pallas. 
 
 1 Suln:cn: creates 
 
 Quatuor hicjuvenes, itiidem quo; educat Ufins, 
 Vi'vcntes rapit ; jnferius quos immtlat umbrii, 
 
 rogi perfundat Janguine fiatnmas. JEtt. 1O. 517, 
 
 Four youihs by Sulmo, four by Ufens bred, 
 
 Unhappy vidtims ! deflin'd to the dead, 
 
 He fe^z'd alive, to ofier on the pyre, 
 
 And fprinkle with their blood the funeral fire. Mr.
 
 Book IV. OF PLINY. j$ 9 
 
 extent of ground with his porticos, and crowded 
 all the more with his ftatues : for he unites pro- 
 digality with avarice, and vain-glory with infamy. 
 By his continuing at this diftance from the city, he 
 endangers the health of thofe vifitors who go to 
 pay him their compliments of condolence at this 
 unwholefome feafon ; and he feems to confider the 
 hazard to which they are expofed, as an additional 
 circumftance of confolation. He gives out, with 
 his ufual abfurdity, that he defigns to marry. You 
 muft expec^ therefore, to hear fhortly of the wed- 
 ding of a man, oppreft with forrow and with years > 
 that is, of one who marries both too foon and too 
 late. Do you aflt my reafon for thinking fo ? Cer- 
 tainly, not becaufe he affirms it himfelf (for never 
 was there fo infamous a liar) but becaufe there is 
 no doubt that Regulus will do every thing he ought 
 nor. Farewel. 
 
 L E TT E R III. 21? ANTONINUS. 
 
 THAT you have twice enjoyed the dignity 
 of Conful, with a conduct equal to that of 
 our moft illuftrious anceftorsj that few (your 
 modefty will not fufFer me to fay none) ever have, 
 cr ever will come up to the integrity and wifdom 
 of your Afiatic adminiflradon -, that in virtue, in 
 authority, and even in years, you are the firfl of 
 Romans j thefe, moft certainly, are (hining and 
 poble parts of your character: neverthelefs, I
 
 190 THE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 own, it is in your retired hours that I molt admire 
 you. To feafon the feverity of bufmefs with the 
 fprightlinefs of wit, and to temper wifdom with po- 
 litenefs, is as difficult as it is great; yet thefe un- 
 common qualities you have moft happily united in 
 thofe wonderful charms which grace both your 
 converfation and your writings. Your lips, 
 like the venerable old man's in a Homer, drop 
 honey j and one would imagine the bee had dif- 
 fufed her fweetnefs over all you compofe. Thefe 
 were the fentiments imprefled upon me, when I 
 lately read your Greek epigrams and fatires. 
 What elegance, what beauties, mine in this col- 
 lection ! how fweetly the numbers flow, and how 
 exactly are they wrought up in the true fpirit of 
 the ancients! what a vein of wit runs thro' every 
 line, and how conformable is the whole to the rules 
 of juft criticifm! I fancied I had in -my hands Cal- 
 limachus or Herodes, or, if poffible, fome poet 
 even fuperior to thefe : tho' indeed, neither of thofe 
 authors excelled, as you have, in both thofe fpecies 
 of poetry. Is it poffible, that a Roman can write 
 Greek in fo much perfection ? I proteft I do not 
 believe Athens herfelf can be more Attic. In fhort, 
 I cannot but envy Greece the honour of your 
 
 pre- 
 
 TifotlFvf uvofuc-i, 7uyy Hvhtpv a-yopr/rr?, 
 Ta Kj V awo yAwo-o-ijf jLtfAT</5 y^vxtun psv avert. II. II 247. 
 Experienc^ Ncilor in perfqafion fkill'd ; 
 . Words fweet as honey from his lips diilill'd. POPE,
 
 Book IV. OF PLINY. 191 
 
 preference : and fince you can write thus elegantly 
 in a foreign language, it does not reft upon conjec- 
 ture what you could have performed in your own. 
 Farewel, 
 
 LETTER IV. r<?Sossius. 
 
 I Have a very fingular value for Calvifius Ne- 
 pos ; as indeed he is a man of indefatigable 
 induftry, great eloquence, and (what I prefer to 
 all the reft) of confummate integrity: he is ne- 
 phew to your friend and my gueft Calvifius. I 
 beg therefore you would do him and his uncle the 
 honour of making him one of the half-yearly tri- 
 bunes * of the army. It will be an obligation to both 
 of us, as well as to Nepos, whom, I am perfuad- 
 cd, you will think equally deierving your favour. 
 You have beftowed numberlefs good offices upon 
 many i but I will venture to fay you never confer- 
 red one that was better placed than in the prefent 
 inftance, and few, perhaps, fo well. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER V. S 
 
 IT is faid, when b ^Efchines, at the requeft of 
 the Rhodians, read to them one of his ora- 
 tions, and then that which Demofthenes deliver- 
 
 ed 
 
 8 Their bufincfs was to decide all controverfies in the army, 
 to take care of the works and camp, &c. Their command 
 Jafted but fix months, Kennel's Antiq, 
 
 * See B. 3. Let. 3.
 
 THE LETTERS BooklV. 
 
 ed upon the fame occafion, they were both re* 
 ctived with the loudeft applaufe. I am not fur- 
 prized that the harangues of fuch excellent ora 
 tors mould be thus warmly admired, when J 
 confider, that even a fpeech of mine, which I 
 lately recited before a very judicious audience, was 
 heard with equal earneftnefs and approbation, during 
 two days fuccefiively \ . yet there was not the plea- 
 fure which arifes from a contention between two 
 rival pieces, to awaken their attention. The 
 Rhodians, befides the particular merit of the 
 refpe&ive orations, had their curiofity excited 
 by comparing them together; but mine, tho- 
 deftitute of that recommendation, had the good 
 fortune to pleafe : whether defervedly or not, 
 you will judge, when you read the perfor- 
 mance} the extent of which will not permit me 
 to introduce it to you with a longer preface. \ 
 muft therefore morten my letter, jn order to re- 
 concile you the better to the length of the fpeech 
 that attends itj which, however, I have not en- 
 Jarged beyond the bounds my fubject required, 
 Farewel. 
 
 A 
 
 LETTER VI. *NASC. 
 
 Storm of hail, I am informed, has deftroyed 
 all the produce of my eftate in Tu'fcanyj 
 that which I have on the other fide the Po,
 
 Book IV. OF PLINY. 193 
 
 tho* it has proved extremely fruitful this (eafon, 
 yet, from the exceflive cheapnefs of every thing, 
 turns to fmall account. Laurentinum is the fmgle 
 pofieffion which yields me any advantage. I 
 have nothing there, indeed, but a houfe and gar- 
 dens; all the reft is barren fandsj ftill, however, 
 my beft productions rife at Laurentinum. It is 
 there I cultivate, if not my lands, at lead my 
 mind, and employ much of my time in writing. 
 As in other parts of my eftate I can fhew you fujl 
 barns 3 fo fyere I can entertain you with good ftorp 
 of the literary kind. Let me advife you then, if 
 you wifh for a fertile and never-failing pofieffion, 
 to purchafe fome fpot upon this ftudious and con- 
 templative coaft. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER VII. ^LEPIDUS. 
 
 I Have often told you that Regulus is a man of 
 fpirit: whatever he engages in, he is fure to 
 execute in a moft extraordinary manner. He chofe 
 lately to be extremely concerned for the lofs of 
 his fon.: accordingly he mourned for him in a way 
 which no man ever mourned before. He took 
 it into his head that he would have feveral ftatues 
 and reprefentations of his perfonj immediately 
 all the artizans in Rome are fet to work. Paint, 
 wax, brafs, filvcr, ivory, marble, all exhibit the 
 figure of young Regulus. Not long ago he read, 
 Voj,. J. N
 
 I 9 4 THE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 before a numerous audience, a long panegyric upon 
 the life of his fon: a large volume upon the life of 
 a boy! then a thoufand tranfcribers were employed 
 to copy this curious narrative, which he difperfed 
 all over the empire. He wrote likewife a fort of 
 circular letter to the feveral a Decurii, to defire 
 they would felecl: one of their order who had 
 a ftrong clear voice, to read this eulogy to the 
 people ; and I am informed it has been read ac- 
 cordingly. Had this fpirit (or whatever elfe you will 
 call vehemence in executing all one undertakes) 
 been rightly applied, what infinite good might it 
 have produced ! The misfortune is, this warmth 
 of temper is generally ftrongeft in men of vicious 
 characters : for as ignorance begets rafhnefs, and 
 knowledge infpires deliberation; fo modefty is apt 
 to check the exertions of genius, whilft confidence 
 animates and excites the activity of little minds. 
 Regulus is a fignal proof of the truth of this obfer- 
 vation : he has a weak voice, an aukward addrefs, 
 an ipdiftinct utterance, a flow imagination, an:] no 
 memory; in a word, he is nothing bur a compofi- 
 tion ofabfurdity : and yen by the affiftance ofa flighty 
 turn and much impudence, he pafles with many for 
 a finifhed orator. Hcrcnnius Senecio revcrfed "Ga- 
 te's definition of an orator, and applied it with great 
 
 juflnefs 
 
 * "See B. i. Let. 8. in not. 
 
 b Caio, as we Jearn from Nonius, compofed a treatife upon 
 rhetoric, for the ufe of his fon, wherein he dsfined an orator 
 
 to
 
 Book IV. OF PLINY. 195 
 
 juftnefs to Regulus : An orator, faid he, is a bad man 
 iinjkilled in tloe art of /peaking. And, in fad, Cato's 
 definition is not a more exa6t defcription of a true 
 orator, than Senecio's is of the chara&er of this 
 N 2 man. 
 
 to he, a good man jkilleA in the art of fpeaking. The judi- 
 cious Qainftilian has embraced this notion, and employs a 
 whole chapter to prove that, " None but a good rnan can b.e 
 " an orator," for, want of Virtue is, in this excellent critic's 
 eflimation, want of genius: noble fentiments, and unworthy 
 actions, can never, he maintains, refide in the fame bofom : /* 
 todttm peflore nullum eft hone/turn iitrpiumque- confortium. Inft. 
 Orat. 1. 12. c. i. Longinus eftablilhes the fame principle; as 
 it indeed prevails in general throughout the ancients, which 
 they extend not only to oratory, but poetry, and all the fine arts. 
 A modern author (whom future ages will mention with th^belt 
 of the ancients) has adopted this opinion, and illuftrated it ia 
 Several parts of his writings :" Knavery," fays that noble 
 writer, " is mere diffbpance and difprcportion ; and tho* 
 " villains may have llrong tones, and natural capacities of 
 *' action; 'tis impoffible that true judgment and ingenuity (Jvould 
 
 " refide, where -harmony and kgy&fly have no being. Thus 
 
 " the fenfe of inward numbers, the knowledge andpra&ce of 
 " focial virtues, and the familiarity and favour of the moral 
 " graces, are efiential to the character of a deferving artift, 
 " and jult favourite of '.he mufes. Thus are the arts and vir- 
 " tuts mutually friends; and the fcience of f'jrtwfos, and that 
 <{ of 'virtue itfelf, become, in a manner, one and the fame." 
 [Characterises, vol. I. p. 208, 338.] Virtue, no doubt, is 
 the higheii: good fenfe, and all deviations from moral rectitude 
 are fo many faife reafonirigs. Still it mail be owned and re- 
 gretted, that ?reat parts have too often been found united 
 with great deficiencies of the moral kind, to make the reality 
 of that character either improbable or uncommon. Experience 
 will force us to give credit to hjftory in this cafe, rather than to 
 philosophy, and oblige as to acknowledge there is nothing in- 
 confiftentin what the elegant Paterculus fays of Curio, whom 
 he reprefents as, ingenlofij/ime nequam & Jocund us malo publico ,' 
 " moit ingenioudy wicked, and eloquent to the deilruftion of 
 ' his country." Faterc. Hift. 1. 2. 4.?.
 
 196 THE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 man. Would you make a fuitable return to thia 
 letter ? let me know if you, or any of my friends 
 in your town, have with an air of pleafantry mouthed 
 (as Dcmofthenes calls it) this melancholy piece to 
 the people, like a droller in the market- place. For 
 fb abfurd a performance muft move rather laugh- 
 ter than compaflion ; and indeed the compofition 
 is as puerile as the fubje<5t, FareweJ. 
 
 LETTER VIII. 
 
 MY advancement to the dignity of Augur*, 
 is an honour that juftly indeed merits 
 your congratulations; not only as it is highly 
 glorious to receive, even in the flighted inftances, 
 a teftimony of the approbation of fo wife and 
 judicious a prince b j but as it is ajfo an ancient 
 and facred inftitution, which has this high and 
 peculiar privilege annexed to it, that it is for 
 c life. Other facerdotal offices, tho' they may, per- 
 haps, be equal to this in dignity, yet as they arc 
 given, fo they may be taken away : but fortune 
 has no farther power over this, than to beftow it. 
 
 What 
 
 a Their bufmefs was to interpret dreams, oracles, prodigies, 
 &c. and to foretel whether any aclion fhould be fortunate, or 
 prejudicial to particu ar perions, or to the whole common- 
 wealth. Upon this account, they very often occafioned the 
 difplacing of magiitrates, the deferring of public aflemblios, 
 &c. Kennel's Rom. Antiq. p. 67. 
 
 * Trajan. c See J3. 2. Let. i. in not,
 
 Book IV. OF PLINY. 197 
 
 What recommends this dignity to me ftill more, 
 is, that I have the honour to fucceed fo illuftrious 
 a perfon as Julius Frontinus. He for many years, 
 upon the nomination -day of proper perfons to be 
 received into the facred college, conftantly pro- 
 pofed me, as if he had a view to my being his 
 fucceflbur ; and fmce it has actually proved fo in 
 the event, I am willing to look upon it as fome- 
 thing more than accident. But the circumftance, 
 it feems, that mod pleafes you in this preferment, 
 is, that Tully enjoyed the fame pofti and you re- 
 joice (you tell me) to find that I follow his fteps 
 as clofely in the path of honours, as I endeavour to 
 do in that of eloquence. 1 wifh, indeed, as I 
 had the advantage to be elected earlier into the 
 facred college and confular office than Cicero, 
 fo I might, in my more advanced years, catch 
 fome fpark, at leaft, of his divine genius ! The 
 former, as it is in the difpofal of man, may be con- 
 ferred on me and on many others j but the latter is 
 an attainment much too arduous for my powers^ 
 and is the gift alone of heaven. Farewel. 
 
 LET-
 
 19* THE LETTERS Book IV, 
 
 LETTER IX. ftUnsus. 
 
 WE have been engaged for feveral days part 
 in the caufe of Julius Baffus j a man grown 
 familiar with misfortunes, and rendered confpi- 
 cuous by a feries of calamities. In the reign of Vef- 
 pafian, two private perfons informed againft him : 
 and the affair being referred to the fenate, it de- 
 pended there a considerable time, when at laft he 
 tvas honourably acquitted. D uring the time of Ti- 
 tu , he was under continual apprehenfions of his 
 difpleafure, as being known to favour the interefts 
 of Domitian: yet when the latter afcended the 
 throne, BafTus was exiled j but afterwards recalled 
 by Nerva. Having obtained the Proconfulftiip of 
 Bithynia, he was at his return from thence ac- 
 cufed , of bribery and extortion; and as he was 
 profecuted with great warmth, he was defended 
 with equal fpirit. The fentiments of the fenate 
 were much divided j however the majority were on 
 the moft favourable fide. Pomponius Rufus, a man 
 of acute parts, and vehement . in his manner of 
 elocution, was counfel againft him. He was fe- 
 conded by Theophanes, one of the deputies 
 from the province, and, indeed, the origine 
 and inftigator of this profecution. I began the 
 reply i for BafTus infilled that the foundation 
 of his defence Ihould be laid by me. He defired 
 
 me
 
 Book IV. OF PLINY. \ 99 
 
 me to reprefent the juft confideration that was due 
 to his illuftrious birth, to his own rank, and to the 
 perfecution he had formerly fuffered; that his ac- 
 cufers were informers by profeffion, who reaped con- 
 fiderable advantage by their a trade; and to difplay 
 the true reafons which rendered him odious to the 
 feditious, and particularly to Theopha!nesj but 
 above all, to confute the principal charge that: was 
 brought againft him : for in refpect to all the other- 
 heinous articles of the accufation, he not only de- 
 ferved to be acquitted, but highly commended. 
 The circumftance which prefled with the greateft 
 weight in the cafe was, that, in the fimplicity of 
 his heart, he had incautioufly received the gifts 
 which fome of his friends in the province (for he 
 had been among them before as Quzeftor) thought 
 proper to fend him. This, which his accufers' 
 called rapine and extortion, BafTus juftified under 
 the name ofprefents. But then the laws exprefLly 
 forbid perfons in his (ration, to receive any prefents 
 whatfoever. Now what mode of defence IhouJd I 
 adopt upon this occafion? If I denied the fac\ 
 I was afraid it would look like a tacit confeffion 
 that, fuppofing it true, it was actually extortion : 
 befides, to difown what was fo notorious, would be 
 to ftrengthen rather than to extenuate the charge. 
 N 4 And, 
 
 Informers had a fourth part of the effects of the perform 
 convidcd.
 
 6><3 TH LETT fins 
 
 And, indeed, he had put the denial out of the power 
 of his cbunfel, if they had thought it proper} for 
 he had acknowledged to feveral perfbns, and par- 
 ticularly to the emperor, that he had received and 
 returned a few flight prefents both upon his birth- 
 day, and at the feaft of the b Saturnalia. Should I 
 apply to the clemency of the fenate ? That would 
 be ruining my client at once, by confeff.ng the 
 nature of his offence was fuch, that there was nd 
 other way of faving him. Should I then juftify 
 the fact ? But in fb doing I fhould have injured 
 my own character, without rendering any fervice 
 to Baffus. Under thefe difficulties I thought it 
 would be beft to fleer a middle courfej and I flat- 
 ter myfelf I happily hit upon it. But night coming 
 oh, feparated, as ufual, the combatants. I hadfpoken 
 for three hours and a half, fo that I had ftill an 
 hbur and half remaining. For the law having al- 
 Idwed fix hours to the plaintiff, and nine to the 
 defendant, BafTus had fo divided this portion of 
 time between me and th advocate who was to 
 fpeak after me, that I had five hours, and the latter 
 the reft. But perceiving my fpeech had made a 
 favourable impreffion upon the fenate, I thought it 
 would be mod advisable to add nothing more 
 for it is not prudent, you know, to puih one's 
 
 fuccefs 
 
 * Celebrated in horioul- of Saturn ; at which time it was 
 fctiflomary for friends to fetid prefents to one ano;her.
 
 Book IV. OF PLINY. 201 
 
 fuccefs too far. Befides, I was apprehenfive I 
 fhould not have ftrength to renew the defence the 
 next day ; as it is much eafier to go on without in- 
 terruption, than to refume after a long inter- 
 inifiion. There was yet another confideradon which 
 had great weight with me : I was afraid, that as 
 the difcontinuance of my fpeech would abate my 
 own ardour j fo the refumption of it might prove 
 tirefome to my hearers. When an harangue is 
 carried on in one continued flow, the ipeaker 
 beft keeps up his own ardour, and the attention 
 of the audience j both which are apt to cool and 
 become languid by inter mifiion : juft as a continued 
 motion preferves the light of a torch, which, when 
 once it is extinct, is not eafily re-lumed. But 
 Baffus, almoft with tears in his eyes, earneftly 
 intreated me to proceed with his defence for the 
 remainder of the time : and I accordingly com- 
 plied; preferring his intereft to my own. The 
 event proved agreeable to our wimes; for I 
 found the attention of the fenate as frem and lively 
 as if it had been rather animated, than fatigued 
 by my preceding fpeech. I was feconded by 
 Luceius Albinus, who entered fo thoroughly into 
 the principles of my reafoning, that our arguments, 
 whilft they had the variety of different and diftinct 
 pleadings, had the connection and uniformity of one 
 continued harangue, Herennius Pollio replied to 
 
 us
 
 202 THE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 us with great fpirit and power: and after him 
 Theophanes fpoke again j in this, as in every thing 
 elfe, difcovering his uncommon afiurance, by pre- 
 fuming to take up the time of the fenate after two 
 fuch eloquent peribns,and of confular dignity, b had 
 immediately preceeded him. He continued haran- 
 guing till evening, and even beyond itj for l^hts 
 were brought in. The next day, Thius Homulus, 
 and Fronto, fpoke admirably in defence of Bafiiis. 
 The fourth day was employed in examining the 
 proofs. Basbius Macer, the conful elect, declared 
 Baffus guilty, within the exprefs words of the law 
 relating to bribery and extortion. Czepio Hifpo 
 was of opinion, that, without affecting his dig- 
 nity, the cafe Ihould be referred to the ordinary 
 judges : and both their fentiments were founded in 
 reafon. You will wonder how that can poflibly be 
 true, fince they were fo extremely different. But 
 you will obferve that Macer, who confidered the 
 mere letter of the law, might very reafonably con- 
 demn him, when it appeared he had taken prefents 
 contrary to its exprefs prohibition. On the other 
 ha. d, Csepio fuppofing that the fenate had a 
 power (as undoubtedly it has) to mitigate or 
 
 to 
 
 b The two perfons here meant are Herennius P. llio, and 
 Pompomus Rufus, mentioned above, who pleaded agairrre 
 Baflus, on the fame Tide wish Theophapes. Some critics, in^ 
 deed, fuppofe Pliny includes himfelf; bat the contrary feem.3 
 plain from the context. See Maffon. vit. Plin. 119. 
 
 9
 
 Book IV. OF PLINY. 
 
 to urge the rigour of the laws, might upon very 
 good grounds think this a cafe worthy of their 
 clemency, as being (tho' indeed contrary to the 
 exprefs letter of the law, yet) not unfrequently 
 practifed. The motion of Caspio prevailed, and 
 when he rofe up to give the reafons for his vote, 
 the fame acclamations attended him, as ufually 
 follow an approved decifion. You will eafily judge 
 therefore, how great the applaufe was after he had 
 delivered his opinion, when he received fuch a fin- 
 gular mark of approbation before he had uttered a 
 word. I find the fentiments of thofe without doors, 
 as well as in the fenate, are divided: they who ap- 
 prove of Caepio's vote, condemn Macer'sas fevere 
 and hard, on the contrary, the partizans of Macer's 
 opinion, treat the other as too mild and indeed in- 
 confiftent. They aflert, that it is highly abfurd to 
 fend a man to be tried before the ordinary judges, 
 and yet fuffer him to retain his feat in the fenate. I 
 fhould have told you that there was befides 
 thofe fentiments I have mentioned, a third opi- 
 nion. Valerius Paulinus, who joined with Caspio, 
 was for adding, that the fenate fhould proceed 
 againft Theophanes, after he fhould have dif- 
 charged his commiflion as deputy from the pro- 
 vince. For he infifted, that Theophanes had been 
 guilty of feveral of thofe mifdemeanours which 
 fell within the prohibition of this very law, 
 
 and
 
 204 THE LETTERS Bo6k !V< 
 
 and upon which he grounded his information 
 againft Baffus. But 'altho' this propofal was in 
 general highly approved by the fenate, yet the 
 confuls thought proper to drop it: Paulinus, 
 however, had the full credit of fo honeft and 
 bold a motion. At the breaking up of the fenatej 
 Bafius was received by great crowds of people 
 with the higheft demonftrations of joy, and the 
 loudeft acclamations. This new difficulcy which 
 he had fallen into, had recalled the remembrance 
 of his former troubles; and a name which had 
 never been mentioned but in conjunction with 
 fome misfortune, together with the appearance of 
 a fine perfon broken with forrow and age, had 
 raifed a general companion towards him. You 
 may look upon this letter as the fore-runner of 
 my fpeech, which, long and copious as it is, I 
 Jhall fend you at large; but you muft not expect 
 it foonj for it is a fubjeft of too much impor- 
 tance to be revifed in hafte. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER x. 
 
 YOUR letter informs me, that Sabina, who 
 appointed you and me her heirs, tho' fhe has 
 no where exprefsly directed that Modeftus fhall 
 have his freedom, yet has left him a legacy in the 
 following words i I give, fcJV. to Modeftus, whom I 
 
 have
 
 Book IV. OF PLINY. 205 
 
 have ordered to have bis freedom : upon which 
 you defire my fentiments. I have confulted 
 the moft learned lawyers, and they, all agree 
 Modeftus is not entitled to his liberty, fince ic 
 is not exprefsly given, and confequently thut 
 the legacy is void, as being devifed to a a flave. 
 But it appears plainly to be a miftake in the tefta- 
 trixj and therefore I think we ought to act in this 
 cafe as if Sabina had directed in fo many words, 
 what it is clear fhe imagined Ihe had ordered. I 
 am perfuaded you will join with me in this opinion, 
 who fo religioufly regard the will of the dead: 
 which indeed, where it can be difcovered, will 
 always be law to an honeft mind. Honour is to 
 you and me as ftrong an obligation, as the com- 
 pulfion of law is to others. Let Modeftus then 
 enjoy his freedom and his legacy in as full a man- 
 ner, as if Sabina had obferved all the requifite forms j 
 as indeed they effectually do, who make a judici- 
 ous choice of the perfons whom they appoint their 
 heirs. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XL ft MINUTIANUS. 
 
 YO U have fcarcely, I imagine, yet heard (for 
 the news is but juft arrived) that Licinianus 
 is become zprofeflbr in Sicily, This unforturjate 
 
 perfon, 
 
 > A flave w?? incapable of property, and therefore what- 
 evfi $ acquired became the right of ivjs maiier,
 
 2o6 THE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 perfon, who lately enjoyed the dignity of Praetor 
 and was efteemed the moft eloquent of our ad- 
 vocates, is now fallen from a fenator to an exile, 
 from an orator to a teacher of rhetoric. Lici- 
 nianus himfelf took notice of this fad change, 
 in a pathetic fpeech which he made at the 
 opening of his fchool: Ob fortune, faid he, 
 low capricioufly doft tboufport with mankind ! Thou 
 tnakeft rhetoricians of fenator s, andjenators of rhetori- 
 cians I a farcafm fo poignant and full of gall *, that 
 one might almoft imagine he fixed upon this profef- 
 fion merely for the fake of an opportunity of 
 applying it. Being drefled, when he firft appear- 
 ed in the chair, after the Grecian fafhion (for exiles 
 are not permitted to wear the Roman gown) Alas % 
 fays he, looking upon his garment, lam going to 
 declaim in Latin! You will think, perhaps, this 
 fituation, wretched and deplorable as it is, is 
 whac he well deferves for having ftained the ho- 
 nourable prcfefiion of an orator by his abominable 
 lewdnefs. It is true, indeed, he confeffed the 
 crime with which he was charged; but whether 
 it was from a confcioufnefs of his guilt, or from 
 an apprehenfion of worfe confequences if he denied 
 it, is not clear; for Domitian's vengeance gene- 
 rally ragfd with the greateft fury, where his evi- 
 dence failed him moft. That emperor had deter- 
 mined 
 
 See B, 3. 1st. 9. note*.
 
 Book IV. O F P L I N Y. 207 
 
 mined that Cornelia Maximilla, one of the veftai 
 * virgins, mould be buried alive ; from an extra- 
 vagant notion that this fort of exemplary feve- 
 rities did honour to his reign. Accordingly in 
 the character of high-pried, or rather indeed in 
 that of a lawlefs and cruel tyrant, he convened 
 the focred college, not in the pontifical court where 
 they ufually afiemble, but at his villa near Alba ; 
 and there by (a fentence no lefs wicked, as it was 
 patted when me was not prefent to defend herfelf, 
 than as it was the effeft of pafTiQn and revenge), 
 he condemned her of havhg violated her veftai 
 vow. Yet he himfelf had been gui'.ty, not only 
 of debauching his brother's daughter, but was 
 alfo acceflary to her death : for that lady being a 
 wid w, in order to conceal her fhame, endeavour- 
 ed to procure an abortion, and by that means loft 
 
 her 
 
 ** " Their office was to attend upon the r'tes of Veda, the 
 " chief part of which was the prefervation of the holy fire. 
 " If this fire happened to go out, it was thought iinpiety to 
 " light it at any common flame, but they made ufeof the pure 
 " and unpolluted rays of the fun for that purpofe. There 
 " were other holy things under their care, of which we have- 
 " very uncertain accounts. The chief rules prefcribed them 
 " were, to vow the ftri&eft chaflity for the fpace of 30 years. 
 ** After this term was completed, th^y had liberty to leave the 
 * order. If they broke their vow of virginity, they were bu- 
 " ried alive in a place allotted to that peculiar ufe." Ken- 
 pet's Antiq. Their character fpr fanftity was fo great, that 
 Livy mention? two of thofe virgins having violated their vows, 
 as a prodigy that threatened dellruclion to the Roman ftate. 
 L. zj. c. 57. And Suetonius informs us, that Auguitus IKU! 
 fo high an opinion of this religious order, that he coniigned 
 the care of his will to fix oftheie veilal's. Suet.' in vie. Aug,
 
 2o8 THE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 her life. However, the priefts were directed ta 
 fee the fentence immediately executed upon Cor- 
 nelia. As they were leading her to the place of 
 execution, fhe implored Vefta, and the reft of the 
 Gods, to atteft her virtue ; and amongft other 
 exclamations, frequently cried out, 1$ it pojfibh 
 that C<ejar (an think me polluted, under the in- 
 fluence of whofe Jacred functions he has conquered 
 and triumphed? Whether fhe faid this in flat- 
 tery or derifion; whether it proceeded from a 
 confcioufnefs of her innocence, or contempt of the 
 emperor, is not certain c ; but fhe continued ex- 
 claiming in this manner, till fhe came to the place 
 of execution, to which fhe was conducted at leaft 
 like a criminal, tho' perhaps blamelefs. As fhe was 
 defcending into the fubterraneous cavern, her 
 robe hitched upon fomething in the way, ancl 
 turning back to difengage it, the executioner offer- 
 ed her his hand, which fhe refilled with fome hor - 
 ror, as if fhe could not touch it without impurity. 
 Thus flie preferved the appearance of untaint- 
 ed chaftity to the concluding fcene of her life, 
 
 " d And her loft care was decjtntly to fall" 
 Celer likewife, a Roman knight, who was accufeti 
 
 of 
 
 e It was ufual with Domitian to triumph not 
 a victory, but even after a defeat. 
 
 # Euripides in his tragedy of Hecuba,
 
 Book IV. OF PLINY. 209 
 
 of having had an intrigue with herj during the 
 whole time his fentence a was executing in the 
 fquare near the fenate-houfe, perfifted in faying, 
 What crime have I committed? I have committed 
 none. Thefe declarations of innocency had ex- 
 ceedingly exafperated Domitian as imputing to 
 him acts of cruelty and injuftice. Accordingly, 
 Licinianus being feized by the emperor's or- 
 ders for having carried off a freed-woman 
 of Cornelia's, and concealed her at one of his 
 eftates, was adviled, by the perfons who had him 
 in cuftody, to confefs the fact, if he hoped to ob- 
 tain a remifiion of his punifhment : and he com- 
 plied with their advice. Herennius Senecio Ipoke 
 for him in his abfence, fomewhat in that abrupt 
 manner which Antilochus in b Homer relates the 
 death of Patroclus : " Dead is Patroclus /" Inftead 
 tf an advocate, faid he, Im'uft turn informer: Ltd- 
 nianus is fled ! This news was fo agreeable to 
 Domitian, that he could not forbear betraying 
 his fatisfaftion : Then, fays he, has Licinia- 
 uus acquitted us of injuftice > and we will not 
 
 urge 
 
 * The punifiiment inflifted upon the violators of veilal 
 chaftity, was, to be fcourged to death. 
 
 * II. Lib. 18. v. 20. 'Jntilochu! appears. 
 
 And tells the melancholy tale itntb tears ; 
 
 Sad tidings, fan of Peieus, thou mujt he.tr, 
 And wretched I, th y unwilling mejfenger i 
 Dead is Patroclus ! POPE. 
 
 VOL. I. O
 
 2fo THE LETTERS Book IT. 
 
 urge his pumjhment to the utmoft. He accordingly 
 permitted him to carry off fuch of his effects as- 
 he could fecure before they were feized for the 
 nfe of the public ; and in other refpects foftened 
 the fentence of his banimment, as a fort of re- 
 ward for this voluntary confeffion. Licinianus 
 was afterwards, by the clemency of the emperor 
 Nerva, permitted to fix in Sicily, where he now 
 profefles rhetoric, and inveighs againft the caprices 
 of fortune. 
 
 You fee how obedient I am to your com- 
 mands, by fending you a circumftantial Detail of 
 foreign as well as domcftic news. I imagined, 
 indeed, as you were abfent when this transition 
 happened, you had heard only in general that 
 Licinianus was bammed upon account of his 
 lewd crimes. For fame ufually makes her report in 
 general terms, without relating particular circum- 
 ilances. I think I deferve in return a full account 
 of all that happens in your town, and neighbour- 
 hood ; for fometimes, no doubt, occurrences arife 
 there worth relating : at all events, however, write 
 any thing you pleafe, provided you fend me a let- 
 ter as long as mine. But I give you notice, I will 
 abate nothing in this demand, and I fhall not only 
 number the fides, but even the very lines and fyl- 
 lables. Farewel. 
 
 LET-
 
 BookiV* OF, PLINY. 211 
 
 LETTER XII. To ARRIANUS. 
 
 IKN O W you love Marcellinus, and indeed yoii 
 have frequently mentioned him to me with par- 
 ticular approbation; but he will rife flill higher in 
 your efteem when I inform you of the honourable 
 part he has lately ailed. When he went Quasftor 
 into one of the provinces, the perfon to whofe lot 
 it fell to attend him as fecretary^ happening to die 
 before his falary became due, Marcellinus had too 
 much honour to think he had a righi: of applying 
 the fum, which the public had appointed for that 
 purpofe, to his own ufe. At his return therefore 
 he applied to Casfar ; who referred the confidera- 
 tion of what mould be done with this money, to 
 the fenate. It was a queftion indeed of no great 
 importance; however, a queftion ir -vas. The 
 heirs of the fecretary clairred it fbrt-icmfelves ; and 
 the commijTioners of the treafur'y for the public. 
 The caufe was tried, and couniel on behalf of each 
 party were heard, who fpoke extremely well for 
 their refpeftive clients. Csecilius Strrijo was of 
 opinion that the public had a right to this money ; 
 Bsebius Macer thought it legally belonged 
 to the heirs: but it was determined agreeably to 
 the fcntiments of the former. You vrj-i, I am per- 
 fuaded, take the firft opportunity, as 1 did, of ex- 
 preffing your approbation to Mr.rce'linus of this 
 conduct; for tho' indeed it is abundantly fuffi- 
 O 2 cient
 
 ai2 THE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 cient that he has received the applaufe of the 
 emperor and the fenate, yet the addition of yours 
 will be a very confiderable fatisfaction to him. 
 Thofe who are actuated by a fenfe of fame, arc 
 fond of praife, even tho' it comes from their 
 inferiours; but Marcellinus has fo high a refpect for 
 you, as to be particularly defirous of approving 
 himfelf to your judgment. To which let me add, 
 it will increafe his fatisfaction when he finds, that 
 the fame of this action has travelled fo far as to- 
 have reached your parts. For I know not how it is, 
 mankind are generally more pleafed with an ex- 
 tenfive than even a great reputation. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XIII. To CORNELIUS TACITUS. 
 
 1 Rejoice that you are fafely arrived in Rome ; 
 for tho' I am always defirous to fee you, I am 
 more particularly fo now. I purpofe to continue 
 a Yew days longer at my houfe at Tufculum, in 
 order to finiih a work which I have upon my 
 hands. For I am afraid, ihould I put a flop to 
 this defign now that it is fo nearly completed, I 
 Ihall find it difficult to refume it. In the mean 
 while, that I may lofe no time, I fend this letter 
 before me to requeft a favour of you, which I hope 
 iliordy to afk in perfon. But before I inform you 
 what my requeft is, I muft let you into the occa- 
 
 fion
 
 Book IV. OF PLINY. 0.13 
 
 fion of it. Being lately at Comum, the place ef 
 my nativity, a young lad, fon to one of my neigh- 
 bours, made me a vifit. I afked him whether he 
 ftudied rhetoric, and where ? he told me he did, 
 and at 1 Mediolanum. And why not here? Be- 
 caufe, (faid his father, who came with him) we 
 have no profeflbrs. " No ! faid I ; furely it near- 
 " ly concerns you who are fathers (and very op- 
 ct porttmely feveral of the company were) that 
 cc your fons fhould receive their education here, 
 <c rather than any where elfe. For where can 
 <e they be placed more agreeably than in their 
 Cf own country, or inftructed with mo're fafety 
 ft and lefs expence than at home and under the 
 " eye of their parents ? Upon what very eafy 
 <e terms might you, by a general contribution, 
 " procure proper matters, if you would only ap- 
 <f ply towards the raifing a falary for them, the 
 " extraordinary expence you fuftain for your fons 
 " journies, lodgings, and for whatever elfe you 
 C( pay in confequence of their being educated at 
 " a diftance from home j as pay you mud for 
 " every article of every kind. Tho' I have no 
 " children myfelf, yet I fliall willingly contribute 
 " to a defign fo beneficial to my native country, 
 " which I confider as my child or my parent; and 
 " therefore I will advance a third part of any fum 
 " you lhall think proper to raife for this purpofe. 
 03 "I would 
 
 8 Milian.
 
 2i 4 THE LETTERS Book IV, 
 
 " I would take upon myfelf the whole expence^ 
 ?f were I not apprehenfive that my benefaction 
 " might hereafter be abufed and perverted to pri- 
 <f vate ends j which I have obferved to be the cafe 
 f( in feveral places where public foundations of this 
 " nature have been eftablifhed. The fingle mean 
 " to prevent this mifchief is, to leave the choice of 
 ( the profeflbrs entirely in the breaft of the pa- 
 <f rents ; who will be fo much the more careful 
 " whom they elect, as they will be obliged to 
 " fhare the expence of their flipend. For tho* 
 tc they may be negligent in difpofmg of another's 
 " bounty, they will certainly be cautious how 
 f c they apply their own ; and will fee that none 
 f< but thofe who deferve it fhall receive my 
 " money, when they muft at the fame time re- 
 < f ceive theirs too. Let my example then en- 
 " courage you to unite heartily in this ufeful de- 
 " fign j and be afllired, the greater the fum my 
 " propotion Ihall amount to, the more agreeable it 
 <e will be to me. You can undertake nothing 
 ?t that will be more advantageous to your chil- 
 ? f dren, nor more acceptable to your country. 
 " Your fons will by thefe means receive their edu- 
 " cation where they received their birth, and be 
 * f accuftomed from their infancy to inhabit and 
 " affect their native foil. May you be able to. 
 ? c procure profeflbrs of fuch diftmguifhed abi-? 
 f lities, that the neighbouring towns fhall be glad 
 
 to
 
 Book IV. OF PLINY. 
 
 t{ to draw their learning from, hence; and as 
 " now fend your children to foreigners for educa- 
 " tion, may foreigners in their turn flock hither for 
 <c their inftruction!" 
 
 I thought proper thus to lay open to you 
 the principles upon which this fcheme turns, 
 that you might be the more fenfible how 
 agreeable it will be to me, if you under- 
 take the office I requeft. I intreat you therefore, 
 with all the earneftnefs a matter of fo much im- 
 portance deferves, to look out, amongft the great 
 numbers of men of letters which the reputation of 
 your genius brings to you, proper perfons to whom 
 we may apply for this purpofe ; but without en- 
 tering into any agreement with them on my part. 
 For I would leave it entirely free to the parents to 
 judge and choofe as they fhall fee proper: all the 
 fiiare I pretend to claim is, that of contributing 
 my afliftance and my money. If therefore any one 
 (hall be found who thinks himfelf qualified for 
 the office, he may repair thither: but without 
 relying upon any thing but his merit. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XIV. fo PATERNUS. 
 
 YOU expect, perhaps, as ufual, fome grave 
 oration; but I am going to make you 
 a prefent, as a kind of curiofity, of fome of my 
 poetical amufements. You will receive then with 
 O 4 this
 
 2i6 THE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 this letter a collection of my verfes, which I 
 wrote in order to while away an idle hour upon 
 the road, in the bathing room, or between 
 the time of fupper. They were compofed 
 upon different occafions, as I found myfelf in a 
 gay, an amorous, a melancholy, or fatyrical hu- 
 mour j and accordingly the ftile is fometimes of the 
 florid and fometimes of the concife kind. I endea- 
 voured by this variety to hit different taftesj and 
 fome things may be found in them, perhaps, of ge- 
 neral relifh. If you fhould mert with any pafiages 
 which may feem fomewhat too wantonly exprelled, 
 your reading will fupply you with my apology, 
 in the example of thofe great and venerable names 
 who have gone before me in the fame kind of writ- 
 ing, who without fcruple have employed not only 
 the warmeft defcriptions, but the plained terms. 
 This, however, is a liberty I have not allowed 
 myfelf; not as pretending to more feverity (for 
 why Ihould I ?) but becaufe, in truth, I have lefs 
 courage. Neverthelefs, I entirely approve of the 
 rule which Catullus lays down for this kind of com-, 
 pofitions : 
 
 Let the poet's conduit be 
 Free from wanton levity : 
 Not Jo his mufe her Jpor live lay 
 fkajes weft, when moft foe's gay.
 
 Book IV. OF PLINY. 217 
 
 You muft look upon it as an inftance of the great 
 value I fet upon your judgment, that I venture 
 to fubmit the whole to your examination, rather 
 than feledt fome of the more finifhed pieces for 
 your approbation. Indeed, in this kind of mif- 
 eellaneous collections, what would pafs well 
 enough if they were viewed feparately, Jofe ali 
 their advantage, .by appearing in better com- 
 pany. But a fenfible and difcerning reader ought 
 not to compare pieces of diftincl: forts with one 
 another, but examine each performance apart, 
 and if it be perfect in its kind, not condemn it 
 becaufe it does not equal the beauties of fome others 
 of a different nature. But I will fay nothing more 
 concerning them : for to attempt to excufe or re- 
 commend this idle bufmefs by a long preface, 
 would , be adding one folly to another. I will 
 only therefore premife farther, that I defign to 
 give thefe trifles the title of a Hendecafyllables, in 
 allufion to the meafure in which the verfes are 
 compofed. Call them, if you think proper, 
 Epigrams, Eclogues, or (as many others have) 
 Sonnets j in a word, give them what name you 
 pleafe, I offer them only as Hendecajyllables. All 
 I beg of your fmcerity is, that you would fpeak 
 your opinion of them to me, with the fame free- 
 that you would to others. When I afk 
 
 this, 
 f A verfe confifting of eimn fyllables.
 
 2iS THE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 this, 1 think, I lay you under no difficulty. If, 
 indeed, thele little poetical effays were my only or 
 chief productions, it might found, perhaps, a little 
 harm to advife me, to turn my mind to Jomething 
 elfe; but you may with great delicacy and po- 
 litenefs tell me, / have Jometbing elfe to mind. Fare- 
 wet, 
 
 LETTER XV. 
 
 IF 1 can pretend to judgment in any thing, it 
 is undoubtedly in the fingular affection which 
 I have for Afinius Rufns. He is a perfon of the 
 higheft merit, and a friend to all good men; in 
 which number, why may I not venture to include 
 myfelf ? He and Tacitus (to whofe eminent vir- 
 tues you are no ftranger) are united in the ftri6teft 
 intimacy. If therefore you efteem us> you can- 
 not but have the fame favourable fentiments of 
 Rufusj for a fimilitude of manners is, you know, 
 the ftrongeft cement of friend/hip. He has feve- 
 ral children : and in this, as in every thing elfe, 
 he acts the part of a friend to his country, by 
 fupplying it with a numerous race of citizens, 
 which he fees with pleafure extend to a fecond 
 generation; and this in an age when even one 
 child is thought a burthen, as it prevents that 
 
 lucrative
 
 Book IV. OF PLI N Y. 219 
 
 * lucrative adulation which is ufually paid to 
 thofe who have none. But he fcorns fuch bale 
 views, and thinks himfelf happy in the title of 
 grand-father -, for which he is indebted to Satu- 
 rius Firmus : a perfon whom you would efteern 
 as much as I do, if you knew him as well. My 
 defign in all this detail, is, to let you fee, what 
 a numerous family you may oblige by conferring 
 a fingle favour : a favour for which I apply to you, 
 becaufe I fincerely wifh, and afluredly prefage 
 you will foon be in a condition to grant it. 
 J hope and believe you will be Conful the ap- 
 proaching 
 
 a As luxury prevailed among the Romans, avarice, its fure 
 attendant, increafed in proportion, and among other bale me- 
 thods of gratifying the importunate demands of unbounded 
 defires, die mean practice of paying court to the wealthy with 
 a view to their fortunes, was extremely common. Horace has 
 expofed this contemptible commerce in his ufual agreeable 
 manner, and recommends it as the moil infallible method of 
 becoming rich. 
 
 unde 
 
 " Divitias eerifque ruam,di: augur, acervcs?'* 
 Dixi e^uidem, & dico : cartes ajlutus ubique 
 eft amenta fenum ; neu, fi wafer unus & alter 
 J.njidiatorem prtcrofo fugerii bamo, 
 jlutffem deponas, aut artem, illu/us, omittas. 
 
 Sat. 5. 1. 
 
 f Tell, for you know, my friend, prophetic tell, 
 " What fiiall I do my empty bags to fwell?"* 
 Have I not fa:d it ? and 1 fay it itill, 
 Court each rich dolt, and Hide into his will : 
 Tho' here or there, perhaps, a rogue be found 
 Too wife to gorge the hook he nibbles round, 
 i,ofe not thy hopes, nor ciuit, deceiv'd, the game.
 
 220 THE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 proaching year : and in this perfuafion I am con- 
 firmed both by your own confpicuous merit, and 
 the diftinguifhing judgment of the emperor, pri- 
 mus Bafifus, the eldeft fon of Rufus, folicits the 
 Quasftorfhip at the fame time. I know not whe- 
 ther I ought to fay (which however the father 
 would have me both fay and think, tho' BafTus 
 it too modeft to allow it) that he is a greater 
 man than his father. Were I to reprefent his 
 abilities, his probity, his learning, his genius, 
 his application, and his parts, as great as 
 you will moft certainly find them ; you, who 
 never yet fufpected my veracity, would fcarce 
 conceive he deferved the character. I wifh 
 our age fo abounded in merit, as to fupply 
 you with forne who might juflly ftand in com- 
 petition with him. In that cafe, I mould be 
 the firft to advife you, to confider well where to 
 fix your choice : but the misfortune is how- 
 ever, I will not fpeak of my friend in an invidi- 
 ous (train. I will only fay he is a young man, 
 who deferves you mould look upon him in the 
 fame relation as our anceftors ufed to confider 
 their a Quasftors., that is, as your fon. Men of 
 your character for wifdom fhould choofe their 
 political children of the fame caft they would 
 
 wifh 
 
 a The connection between a Conful and his Quaftor, &c. 
 was confidered by the ancient Romans as a tye of the ftrongeft 
 kind. Vid. Cic. in Verrem.
 
 Book IV. OF PLINY. 221 
 
 wifh nature to form their real ones. Will it not 
 be an honour to your Confulfliip to have a Quasftor 
 whofe father has been Prsetor, and whofe relations 
 Confuls, yet who, tho' but a youth, reflects 
 back to his family (and that by their own confef- 
 fion) as much glory as he derives from them ? Let 
 me entreat you then to comply with my requeft 
 and my advice. In which, if I feem premature, 
 I hope you will pardon me, when you confider, 
 that in a city where every thing is feized by the 
 man who can firft lay hold of it, it is flaying 
 much too late to wait till precifely the proper 
 time: befides, there is a pleafure in anticipa- 
 ting one's wifhes. Allow BafTus then to revere 
 you already as Conful, and do you in return 
 efteem him as your Quseftor; and may I, who 
 love you both, enjoy that double pleafure. The 
 truth is, you have each fo equal a .claim to my 
 affecYion, that as I mail be obliged to promote with 
 all my afiiduity and credit your refpedlive interefts 
 in this affair, tho' they mould happen to be dif- 
 tincl; fo it will be extremely agreeable if I may 
 be able to ferve both thofe ends at the fame time 
 by my good offices to this young man; in a 
 word, if I may be fupported in this folicitation by 
 your afllftance, to whofe judgment and fuffrage 
 the fenate pays fo great a regard. Farewel. 
 
 LET-
 
 222 TPlE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 LETTER XVI. ?o VALERIUS PAULINUS. 
 
 REjoice with me, my friend, riot only upori 
 my account, but your own, and that of 
 the public; for Rhetoric is ftill held in honour. 
 Being lately engaged to plead in a caufe before 
 the Centumviri, the Crowd was fo great that I 
 could not get to my place, without pafiing through 
 the tribunal where the judges fat. And I have this 
 flattering circumftance to add farther, that a young 
 nobleman having loft his robe in the prefs, flood 
 in his veft to hear me during the feven hours I 
 was fpeaking: and my fuccefs was equal to the 
 great fatigue I fuftained. Come on then, my 
 friend, and let us earneftly purfue our fludies, 
 nor fcreen our own indolence under pretence of 
 that of the public. Never, we may reft afluredy 
 will there be wanting hearers and readers, fo long 
 as we can fupply them with orators and authors 
 worthy of their attention, Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XVII. 20 CALLUS, 
 
 YOtJ acquaint me that Cascilius, the conful 
 elect, has commenced a fuit againft Cor- 
 rellia, and earneftly beg me to undertake her caufe 
 in her abfence. As I have reafon to thank you 
 
 for
 
 Book IV. OF PLINY. 223 
 
 for your information, fo I have to complain of 
 your intreaties: without the firft, indeed, I (hould 
 have been ignorant of this affair, but the laft was 
 unnecefTary, as I want no folicitations to comply, 
 where it would be ungenerous in me to refufej for 
 can I hefitate a moment to take upon myfelf the 
 protection of a daughter of Correllius ? It is true 
 indeed, tho' there is no particular intimacy be- 
 tween her adverfary and me, we are, however, 
 upon good terms. It is true like wife, that he is 
 a perfon of great rank, and who has a claim to 
 particular regard from mej as he is entering upon 
 an office, which I have had the honour to fill; and 
 it is natural for a man to be defirous thofe dignities 
 fliould be treated with the highefl refpeft, which 
 he himfelf once poffefTed. Yet thefe confidera- 
 tions have little weight, when I reflect that it is 
 the daughter of Correllius whom I am to defend. 
 The memory of that excellent perfon, than whom 
 this age has not produced a man of greater dig- 
 nity, rectitude, and good fenfe, is indelibly im- 
 prefTed upon my mind. I admired him before I 
 was acquainted with him ; and contrary to what 
 is ufually the cafe, my efteem increafed in pro- 
 portion as I knew him better: indeed I knew 
 him thoroughly, for he treated me without re- 
 ferve, and admitted me to (hare in his joys and his 
 forrows, in his gay and his ferious hours. When 
 I was but a youth, he efteemed, and (I will 
 4 even
 
 22 4 THE LETTERS Book IV, 
 
 even venture to fay) revered me as if I had been 
 in every refpect his equal. When I f licited any 
 pod of honour, he fupported me with his intereft 
 and recommended me by his teftimony ; when I ob- 
 tained it, he was my introducer and my attendant; 
 when I exercifed it, he was my guide and my 
 counfellor. In a word, wherever my intereft was 
 concerned, he exerted himfelf with as much zeal and 
 alacrity as if he had poffeflfed all his former health 
 and vigour. In private, in public, and with the 
 emperor, how often lias he advanced and fupported 
 my credit and intereft! It happened once, that the 
 converfation before the emperor Nerva turned upon 
 the hopeful young men of that time, and feveral 
 of the company were pleafed to mention me with 
 applaufe ; he fat for a little while filent, which gave 
 what he faid the greater weight j and then with that 
 air of dignity, to which you are no ftranger, / 
 muft be refsrved, faid he, in my fraifes of Pliny, be- 
 cauft he does nothing without my advice. By which 
 fmgle fentence he gave me a greater character 
 than I could prefume even to afpire to ; as he re- 
 prefcnted my conduct to be always fuch as wif- 
 dom muft approve, fince it was wholly under 
 the guidance of one of the wifeft of men. Even 
 in his laft moments he faid to his daughter, (as fhe 
 often mentions,) / have in the courfe of a long life 
 rai/td up many friends to you j but there is none 
 
 in
 
 Book IV. OF PL IN ?. 225 
 
 in whom you may more affuredly confide, than Pliny 
 and Cornutus : a circumftance I cannot reflect up- 
 on, without being deeply fenfible how much it is 
 incumbent upon me, to endeavour to a& up to 
 the opinion fo excellent a judge of mankind con- 
 ceived of me. I mall therefore mod readily give 
 my afiiftance to Corellia in this affair ; and wil- 
 lingly hazard any difpleafure I may incur by ap- 
 pearing in her caufe. Tho' I mould imagine, if 
 in the courfe of my pleadings, I mould find an 
 opportunity to explain and enforce, more at large 
 than I can in a letter, the reafons I have here men- 
 tionedi and upon which I reft at once my apo- 
 logy and my glory j her adverfary (whofe fuit 
 may perhaps, as you fay, be entirely unprecedent- 
 ed, as it is againft a woman*) will not only excufe, 
 but approve my conduct. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XVIII. To ANTONINUS. 
 
 CAN I give you a ftronger inftance how 
 much I admire your Greek epigrams, than 
 by having endeavoured to imitate fome of them in 
 a Latin trahflation ? I confefs, however, (partly 
 from the weaknefs, or as Lucretius calls it, the 
 poverty of our native language) much to their 
 difadvantage : yet, if cloathed in a Roman drefs, 
 
 and 
 
 Alluding, perhaps, to fome legal privilege attached to the 
 fex by the jurifprudence ofantient Rome. 
 
 VOL. I. P
 
 426 THE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 and by my unfkilful hand, you fhould be able 
 to difcover fome beauty ftill remaining in them 5 
 what muft their charms be, when adorned with all 
 the majefty of the Greek language, and formed 
 by your fuperiour genius ! Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XIX. 2* HIS*ULLA. 
 
 AS you are an exemplary inftance of tender 
 regard to your family in general, and to 
 your late excellent brother in particular, whofe 
 affection you returned with equal warmth ; and 
 have not only fhewn the kindnefs of an aunt, 
 but fupplied the lofs of a tender parent to his 
 daughter a j you will hear, I am perfuaded, with the 
 greateftpleafure, that fhe behaves worthy of her 
 father, her grand- father, and yourfelf. She pof* 
 feffes an excellent understanding, together with 
 confummate prudence, and gives the ftrongeft 
 teflimony of the purity of her heart by her fond- 
 nefs of her hufband. Her affection to me has 
 given her a turn to books j and my compofi- 
 tions, which fhe takes a pleafure in reading, 
 and even in getting by heart, are continually in 
 her hands. How full of tender folicitude is (he, 
 when I am going to fpeak in any caufe ? How 
 kindly does fhe rejoice when I have happily 
 difcharged the office ? While I am pleading, fhe 
 
 places 
 Calphurnia, Pliny's wife.
 
 Book IV. F P L I N Y. 227 
 
 places perfons to inform her from time to time 
 how I am heard, what applaufes I receive, and 
 what fuccefs attends the caufe. When at any 
 time I recite my works, me conceals herfelf 
 behind fome curtain, and with fecret rapture en- 
 joys my praifes. She fings my verfes to her lyre 
 with no other matter but Love, the beft inftruc- 
 tor, for her guide. From tliefe happy circum- 
 ftances I derive my moft affured hopes, that the 
 harmony between us will increafe with our days, 
 and be as lafting as our lives. For it is not my 
 youth or my perfon, which time gradually im- 
 pairs; it is my character and my glory of which 
 me is enamoured. But what lefs could be expect- 
 ed from one who was trained by your hands, and 
 formed by your inftructions; who was early fa- 
 miliarifed under your roof with all that is worthy 
 and amiable, and was tirft taught to conceive an 
 affection for me, by the advantageous colours in 
 which you were pleafed to reprefent me? As 
 you revered my mother with all the refpect due 
 even to a parent, fo you kindly directed and en- 
 couraged my tender years; prefaging from that 
 early period all that my wife now fondly ima- 
 gines I really am. Accept therefore of our united 
 thanks, that you thus, as it were defignedly, form- 
 ed us for each other. Farewel. 
 
 Pa LET-
 
 THE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 LETTER XX. To MAXIMUS. 
 
 I Have already acquainted you with my opinion 
 of the feveral parts of your work, as I perufed 
 therm I rnuft now tell you my general thoughts 
 of the whole. It is a beautiful performance ? 
 the fentiments are manly and fublime, conceived 
 in all the variety of a ftrong and pregnant ima- 
 gination exprefled in chaile and elegant lan- 
 guage ; the figures happily chofen, and a copious 
 vein of eloquence runs through the whole,, and 
 raifes a very high idea of the author's talents. 
 You feem impelled by the energy of a power- 
 ful genius actuated! by deep forrow, mutually 
 afllftrng and animating each other; for your 
 genius gives majefty to your grief; and your grief 
 adds ftrength to your genius.. FareweJ. 
 
 LETTER XXI. fo VELIUS CEREALIS. 
 
 HO W fevere a fate has attended the daugh- 
 ters of Helvidius! Thefe two Mers are 
 ,both dead in child-bed, after having each of them 
 been delivered of a girl. This misfortune pierces 
 me with the marpeft forrow; as indeed, to fee two 
 fuch amiable young women fall a facrifice to their 
 fruitfulnefs in die prime and flower of their years, 
 4 is
 
 Book IV. O F P L I N Y. 229 
 
 is a misfortune which I cannot too deeply lament. 
 I lament for the unhappy condition of the poor 
 infants, who are thus become orphans from their 
 birth : 1 lament for the fake of the difconfolate 
 ihufbands of thefe ladies ; and I lament too for my' 
 own. The affection I bear to the memory of 
 their late father, is inviolable, as my * defence of 
 Hrn in the fenate, and as all my writings witnefs. 
 Of three children which furvived him there re- 
 mains but one; and his family, which had lately fo 
 many noble fupports, now refts upon a fmgle per- 
 fon ! It will, however, be a confiderable mitigation of 
 my affliction, if fortune mould at leaft kindly fpare 
 Mm t and render him worthy of his father, and 
 * grand-father : and I am fo much the more anxi- 
 ous for his welfare and good conduct, as he is the 
 only branch of the family remaining. You know 
 the foftnefs and folicitude of my heart where I have 
 any tender attachments ; you will not wonder then, 
 that I have many fears, where I have many hopes. 
 Fare we! . 
 
 * See B.-9- let. 13. 
 
 u The famous Helvidius Prifcus, who fignalized himfelf in 
 the fenate, by the freedom of his fpeeches in favour of liberty, 
 during the reigns of Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vefpafian. In 
 the reign of the latter he was put to death by the order of the fe- 
 nate, tho* contrary to the inclination of the emperor, who coun- 
 termanded the execution; but it was too late, the executioner 
 having performed his office before the meffenger arrived. Ta- 
 citus reprefents him as acling in all the various duties of focial 
 life with one confident tenour of uniform virtue ; fuperiour to 
 all temptations of wealth, of inflexible integrity, and unbroken 
 fortitude* Hilt. 1. 4. 5. 
 
 P 3
 
 ajo THE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 LETTER XXII. to RUFUS. 
 
 I Lately attended our excellent emperor * as one 
 of his affeffors, in a caufe wherein he him- 
 felf prefided. A certain perfon left by his will, 
 a fund for the eftablilhment of the b gymnaftic 
 games at c Vienna. Thefe my worthy friend 
 Trebonius Rufinus, when he exercifed the office of 
 Duumvir d , had ordered to be totally abolifhdd; 
 and it was now alledged againft him, that. he had 
 no authority for fuprefllng them. He fpoke in his 
 own caufe with a fuccefs equal to his great elo- 
 quence ; and what particularly recommended his 
 fpeech was, that he delivered it with a certain fuit- 
 able boldnefs becoming a true Roman and a good 
 citizen, rifing up in his own j'iftification. When, 
 the fentiments of the afleffors were taken, Junius. 
 Mauricus (who in fpirit and integrity has no 
 fuperiour) declared his opinion, that the liberty 
 of folemnizing thefe games fhould not be reftored 
 
 to, 
 
 * Trajan. 
 
 b So called, becaufe the perfons who performed in thefe 
 games were naked. They confided principally of running, 
 vvrellling, and boxing. 
 
 c Vienne in Daupnine, a province in France. 
 
 * The Duumviri, ib called from their number, being only 
 two, were magiftrajes in the corporate cities, who exercifed, in 
 their refpeftive corporations, the fame functions as the Confuls 
 t Rome ; they were chofen out of the body of Decuriones t 
 who werf a kind of fenatprs. Sigoniw de jure Ital. 1. 3. ^<,
 
 Book IV. OF PLINY. 231 
 
 to the people of Vienna j and would to God^ add- 
 ed he, they .could be abolljhed at Rome tool This 
 you will fay, was an inftance of great 6 firmnefs: 
 but it is nothing uncommon in Mauricus. He 
 gave as ftrong a proof of his honeft freedom, be- 
 fore the late .emperor Nerva. Being at fupper 
 one evening with that prince, and a few felect 
 friends, Vejenlo f was placed next to the emperor: 
 After I have named the man, I need fay no more 
 to raife your -indignation. The difcourfe happen- 
 ed to turn upjon Catullus McfTalinus, who had a 
 foul as dark as his body; for he was not only 
 curfed with want of fight, but want of humanity. 
 As he was uninfluenced either by fear, fhame, or 
 compaflion, he proved a very proper inftrument 
 in the hand of Domitian to execute his black pur- 
 pofes againfl every man of worth. The company 
 gave their fentiments of the fanguinary counfel? 
 and infamous character of this man. " And what, 
 ff faid the emperor, would have been his fate had 
 " he lived now?" 5T0 bavefupped with us, replied 
 Mauricus. But to return from this long di- 
 greffion, into which, however, I did not fall un- 
 defignedly. It was determined that thefe games 
 (hould be fupprefied; for they had greatly depraved 
 P 4 ^c 
 
 Trajan was fond of thb kind of entertainments, and had 
 himfelf exhibited fonie very iplendid ones, upon his triumph 
 ever the Daciar.s. 
 
 f An infamous fycopham, frequently mentioned by Juvenal*
 
 232 THE LETTERS Book IV, 
 
 the morals of the people of Vienna: and they 
 have had the fame general effect among us. 
 But the vices of the Viennenfes are confin'd within 
 their own walls y ours have a more extenfive in- 
 fluence : for it is in the body politic, as in the 
 natural, thofe diforders are moft dangerous that 
 flow from the head. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XXIII, <fo POMPONIUS BASSUS. 
 
 IH A D the great pleafure to hear from OUF 
 common friends, that you difpofe of your time 
 in your agreeable -retirement from public bufmefs 
 with that dignity which becomes a man of your 
 diftinguiftied wifdom$ that you mix the exercife 
 of riding or failing with contemplation, and learned 
 conferences with much reading; in a word, that 
 you are daily encreafing that fund of knowledge 
 you already pofTefs. This is to grow old in a way 
 worthy of a man who has difcharged the higheft 
 offices both civil and military, and who gave 
 himfelf wholly up to the fervice of the com- 
 monwealth, whilft it became his years. Our 
 youth and manhood we owe to our country, but 
 our declining age is due to ourfelvesj as the laws 
 themfelves feem to fuggeft, which refign us to 
 cafe, when we are arrived beyond our fixtieth 
 year*. How do I long for the time when I 
 
 fhaU 
 
 t A fenator was not obliged to attend the bufmefs of the 
 houfe, after that age. Seneca de Civ. vit. c. 29.
 
 Book IV. O F P L I N Y. 233 
 
 (hall enjoy that happy privilege! When my 
 years fhall juflify my following the example of 
 your honourable retreat! When my retiring 
 from active life fhall not be deemed indolence, 
 but repofe ! Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XXIV. ft VALENS, 
 
 BEING engaged ktely in a caufe before the 
 Centumviri, it occur'd to rne that when I was 
 a young man I had alfo pleaded in the fame court. 
 I could not forbear, as ufual, to purfue the re- 
 flection, and to consider if there were any ofrhofe 
 advocates then prefent, who were joined with me 
 in. the former caufe; but I found I was die only 
 perfon remaining who had been counfel in both: 
 fuch changes does the inftability of human nature, 
 or the viciflitudes of fortune, produce! Death had 
 removed fome; banifhment others; age and infir- 
 mities had filenced thofe, while thefe were with- 
 drawn to enjoy the happinefs of retirement; one 
 was at the head of an army ; and the indulgence 
 of the prince has exempted another from the bur- 
 then of civil employments. What turns of for- 
 tune have I experienced even in my own perfon ! 
 It was the cultivation of my talents for oratory 
 that firft raifed rne into notice j it was the fame 
 
 talents
 
 THE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 talents that afterwards occafioned my difgracej and 
 it is the fame talents that have advanced me again. 
 The friendfhips of the wife and good at my firft 
 appearance in the world, were highly ferviceable to 
 me; the fame friendlhips proved afterward ex- 
 tremely prejudicial to my intereft, and now 
 they are my ornament and fupport. If you com- 
 pute the time in which thefe revolutions have hap- 
 pened, it is but a few years; if you number the in- 
 cidents, it feems an age : and it is a leflbn that will 
 teach us to check both our defpair and our prefump- 
 tion, when we obferve fuch a variety of events ra-r 
 pidly revolving in fo narrow a circle. It is my cuf- 
 tom to communicate to my friend all my thoughts, 
 and to fet before him the fame reflections and ex- 
 amples, by which 1 regulate my own conduct: and 
 fuch is die purpofe of the prefent letter. Fare we!. 
 
 LETTER XXV. To MAXIMUS. 
 
 I Mentioned to you in a former * letter, that I 
 apprehended the method of voting by ballots 
 would be attended with inconveniencies j and fo it 
 has proved. At the laft election of magiftrates, 
 upon fome of the tablets were written feveral 
 pieces of pleafantry, and even indecencicsi in one 
 
 par- 
 B. 3. let. 20.
 
 Book IV. OF PLINY. 235 
 
 particularly, inftead of the name of the candidate, 
 was inferred the names of thofe who efpoufed his 
 Sntereft. The fenate was extremely exafperated at 
 this infolence , and with one voice threatened the 
 vengeance of the emperor upon the author. But 
 he lay concealed, and poflibly might be in the 
 ' number of thofe who expreffed the warmefl indig- 
 nation. What muft one think of fuch a man's 
 private conduct, who in public, upon fo impor- 
 tant an affair, and at fo folemn a time, could in- 
 dulge himfelf in fuch indecent liberties, and 
 dare to act the droll in the face of the fenate ? 
 Who will know it, is the argument that prompts 
 little and bafe minds to commit thefe indecorums. 
 Secure from being difcovered by others, and 
 unawed by any felf-refpect, they take their pen 
 and tablets; and hence arife thefe buffooneries, 
 which are fit only for the ftage. What method 
 fhall we take, what remedy apply againft this 
 abufe? Our diforders indeed, in general, have 
 every where eluded all attempts to reftrain them. 
 But thefe are evils much too deeply rooted for our 
 limited power to eradicate, and muft be left to 
 fhe care of that fuperiour authority who by thefe 
 low but daring infults, has daily frefh occa- 
 lions of exerting all his pains and vigilance, 
 farewel,
 
 THE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 LETTER XXVI. 
 
 THE requeft you make me to revife and 
 correct that copy of my works, which you 
 have taken the pains to collect, I {hall moft willing. 
 3y comply with ; .as indeed there is nothing I ought 
 to perform with more readinefs, efpecially at your 
 inftance. When a man of fuch dignity, literature, 
 and eloquence, deeply engaged in bufinefs, and en- 
 tering upon the important government of a pro- 
 vince, has fo good an opinion of my compofitions 
 as to think them worth taking with him ; how am 
 I obliged to endeavour that this part of his bag-* 
 gage may not feem an ufelefs embarraffmcnt ! My 
 firft care therefore (hall be, that they may attend 
 you with all the advantages pofliblei and my 
 next, to fupply you at your return with others, 
 which you may not think undeferving to be added 
 to the former j for I can have no ftronger encou- 
 ragement to encreafe the number of my writings, 
 than the being aflured of finding a reader of your 
 tafle and difcernment. Farewel, 
 
 LETTER XXVII. to FALCO. 
 
 I Have been attending thefe three days the re- 
 cital of Augur bus's fonnets, which I heard 
 not only with great pleafure, but even admira- 
 tion.
 
 Book IV. OF PLINY. 237 
 
 tion. They are conceived with much delicacy of 
 fentiment, are exprefied with great elegance, and 
 abound with numberlefs ftrokes of the tender and 
 the fublime, of wit and of fatire. I am of opinion 
 there has not for thefe many years appeared any 
 thing more finifhed of the kind ; if indeed my great 
 affection for him, and the praifes he bellows upon 
 me, do not biafs my judgment. He introduces his 
 poems with obferving, that I fometimes amufe my- 
 felf with writing verfes. If I can recollect the fe- 
 cond line of this introduction (for the reft I re- 
 member, and have often repeated) you lhall judge 
 if my opinion of them is juft: 
 
 Sweetly flow my tender lays> 
 
 Like Calvus' or Catullus' ftrains, 
 
 (Bards approv'd of ancient days!) 
 Where love in all its Joftnejs reigns. 
 
 Yet wherefore ancient 'poets name ? 
 
 Let Pliny my example be : 
 Him the Jacred nine inflame -, 
 
 More than ancient poets he ! 
 
 <To mutual love he tunes the lay, 
 While far the noify bar he flies : 
 
 Say then ye grave, ye formal Jay t 
 Who Jhall gentle love defpife ? 
 
 You
 
 2 3 & THE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 You fee with what fprightlinefs of imagination, 
 what propriety of fentiment, what clearnefs of 
 expreflion the whole is wrought up; and in this 
 tafte, I will venture to afTure you, you will find 
 his performance in general: I will ferid it to 
 you as foon as it ihall be publifhed. In the mean 
 while, admit this excellent youth into a fhare of 
 your affection, and congratulate our age on the 
 production of fuch a genius, whofe virtues render 
 him ,{1111 more illuftrious. He fpends his time 
 partly with Spurinna, and partly with Antoninus ; 
 having the honour to be the relation of one and 
 the companion of both. You will eafily imagine 
 what uncommon virtues he muft poffefs, who is 
 thus the favourite of two fuch venerable old men: 
 for the poet's obfervation is moft undoubtedly 
 true : 
 
 f fhcje who in clcje faiety are join d> 
 In manners equal^ you will ever find * ; 
 Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XXVIII. To SEVERUS. 
 
 HER EN I US Severus, a perfon of diftin- 
 guimed erudition, is exceedingly defirous to 
 have the pictures of two of your country-men, 
 Cornelius Nepos, and Titus Caffius, to adorn his 
 libraryj and has intreated me, if they are to be 
 
 met 
 
 * Euripides.
 
 Book IV. O F P L I N Y. 239 
 
 met with where you are (as probably they may) 
 that I would procure copies for him. That 
 care I recommend to you, rather than to any 
 other, not only becaufe I know your friend fhip 
 for me readily inclines you to comply with my 
 requefts, but as being fenfible of the high regard 
 you have for learning and all her friends 5 and 
 that your affection and veneration for thofe who 
 have proved an ornament to your country, is equal 
 to that which you bear towards your country her- 
 felf. I beg you therefore to employ fome fkilful 
 hand in this work; for if it is difficult to catch 
 a likenefs from the life, it is much more fo to 
 preferve it in a copy; from which I defire you 
 will not fuffer the painter to deviate, even for 
 the better. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XXIX. fo ROMANUS. 
 
 "INDEED, my friend, you muft at all rates take 
 * your place upon the bench the next time the 
 court fits. In vain would your indolence repofe 
 itfelf under my protection; for there is no abfent- 
 ing with impunity. Behold that fevere Praetor, the 
 refolute Licinius Nepos, fining even a mighty fe- 
 nator for the fame neglect ! The fenator pleaded 
 his caufe in perfon; but pleaded in fuppliant tone. 
 The fine, 'tis true, was remitted j but fore was 
 
 his
 
 2 4 o THE LETTERS Book IV. 
 
 his difmay, but humble his intercefiions, but fad 
 his neceffity of being obliged to afk pardon. All 
 magiftrates in that office, you will tell me per- 
 haps, are not thus rigid. You may, however, 
 be miftaken: for tho' indeed to be the author 
 and reviver of an example of this kind, may be 
 an act of feverity ; yet when once it is intro- 
 duced, even lenity herfelf' may follow die pre^ 
 cedent* Farewel, 
 
 LETTER XXX. To LICINIUS, 
 
 I Have brought you as a prefent out of the 
 country, a query which well deferves the con- 
 fideration of your extenfive knowledge. There 
 is a fpring which rifes in a neighbouring moun- 
 tain, and running among the rocks is received 
 into a little banquetting-room, from whence, after 
 the force of its current is a little reftrained, it falls 
 into the a Larian lake* The nature of this fpring 
 is extremely furprizingj it ebbs and flows regu- 
 larly three times a day. The increafe and decreafe 
 is plainly vifible, and very amufing to obferve. 
 You fit down by the fide of the fountain, and whilft 
 you are taking a repaft and drinking its water, 
 which is extremely cool, you fee it gradually rife, 
 and fall. If you place a ring, or any thing elfe at 
 
 the 
 
 S.-e B. i. Let. 3. in not.
 
 BooktV. OF PLINY. 241 
 
 the bottom when it is dry, the dream reaches in 
 by degrees 'till it is entirely covered, and then 
 gently retires ; and if you wait you may fee it thus al- 
 ternately advance and recede three fucceflive times. 
 Shall we fay, that fome fecret current of air flops 
 and opens the fountain-head, as it approaches to or 
 retires from it; as we fee in bottles, and other 
 vefiels of that nature where there is not a free 
 and open paftage, tho' you turn their necks down- 
 wards, yet the outward air obftructing the vent, 
 they difcharge their contents as it were by ftarts ? 
 Or may it not be accounted for upon the fame 
 principle as the flux and reflux of the fea ? Or, as 
 thofe rivers which difcharge themfelves into the 
 fea meeting with contrary winds and the fwell of 
 the ocean are forced back into their channels ; fo 
 may there not be fomething that checks this foun- 
 tain, for a time, in its progrefs ? Or is there rather 
 a certain refervoir that contains thefe waters in the 
 bowels of the earth, which while it is recruiting 
 its difcharges, the ftream fiows more flowly and 
 in lefs quantity, but when it has collected its due 
 meafure, it runs again in its ufual ftrength and 
 fulnefs ? Or laftly, is there I know not what kind 
 of fubterraneous counter-poife, that throws up the 
 water when the fountain is dry, and (lops it when 
 it is full t You, who are fo well qualified for the 
 VOL. I. Q_ enquiry,
 
 a 4 2 THE LETTERS,^. Book IV. 
 
 enquiry, will examine the reafons b of this won- 
 derful phenomenon; it will be fufficient for me if I 
 have giver) you a clear defcription of it. Farewel. 
 
 b Th?re are feveral of thefe periodical fountains in different 
 parts of the world; as we have fome in England. Lay-it^ II 
 near Torbay, is mentioned in the Philofophical Transactions 
 [N 104. p. 909.] to ebb and flow feveral times every hour. 
 The reafons of this kind of fprings are of no very eafy folu- 
 tion, and the caufes afligned by modern philosophers are 
 fcarce more fatisfaclory than thofe pointed out by the an- 
 cients : perhaps they do not depend upon any general prin- 
 ciple, but arife from different caufes according to their 
 reipecYive fituations. The conjecture which Mr. Addifon 
 offers in accounting for thofe he faw in Switzerland, feems 
 plaufible, and equally applicable to this fountain men- 
 tioned by Piiny ; as it is probable it took its rife from 
 the fame mountains. " We faw, fays that inimitable 
 " author in his defcription of Geneva and the lake, in 
 ' feveral parts of the Alps that bordered upon us, vaft pits 
 " of fnow j as feveral mountains that lie at a greater diftance 
 " are wholly covered with it. I fancied the confufion of 
 " mountains and hollows I here obferved, furnifhed me with 
 * a more probable reafon than any I have met with, for thefe 
 ' periodical fountains in Swizerland, which flow only at 
 " particular hours of the day. For as the tops of thefe 
 " mountains caft their (hadows upon one another, they hin 
 '* der the fun's fliining on feveral parts at fuch certain 
 " times, fo that there are feveral heaps of fnow which have 
 " the fun lying upon them for two or three hours together, 
 " and are in the made all the day afterward. If therefore 
 " it happens, that any particular fountain takes its rife 
 ' from any of thefe relervoirs of fnow, it will naturally 
 " begin to flow on fuch hours of the day as the fnow begins 
 " to melt : but as foon as the fun leaves it again to freeze 
 " and harden, the fountain dries up, and receives no more 
 fupplies, till about the fame time the next day, when the 
 " heat ot the fun again lets the ihows a running that fall into 
 " the fame little conduits, traces, and canals, and by confe- 
 " quence break cut and dtfcover themfelves always ia the 
 " lame place." Adaiion's Trav . 353. 
 
 i THE
 
 THE 
 
 LETTERS 
 
 ^ 
 
 O F 
 
 P L INT. 
 
 BOOK V. 
 
 L E T T E R I. to SEVERUS. 
 
 A Small legacy which was lately left me, has 
 given me much greater pleafure than I 
 mould have received by a far more confiderable be- 
 queft unattended with fimilar circumftances. Pom- 
 ponia Gratilla, having difinherited her fon Aflidius 
 Curianus, appointed me, and Sertorius Severus of 
 Praetorian rank, together with feveral eminent Ro- 
 man knights, her coheirs. The fon applied to me to 
 give him my {hare of the inheritance, in order to 
 make ufe of my name as an example to the reft' 
 of the joint-heirs ; but offered at the fame time 
 to enter into a fecret agreement with me to return 
 my proportion. I told him, it was by no means 
 Q^ 2 agreeable
 
 244 THE LETTERS Book V. 
 
 agreeable to my character to feem to at one way, 
 xvhen, in truth, I was afting another; and that there 
 was fomething of meamTefs in making prefents to a 
 man of his fortune, who had no children: be- 
 ildes it would not at all anfwer the parpofe at 
 which he was arming. Indeed, (I added) if I 
 were to withdraw my claim, it might be of 
 fome fervice to him : and this I was ready and 
 milling to do, if he could prove to me that he 
 was unjuftly difmherited. " Let me prevail with 
 " you then, faid he, to be my arbitrator in this 
 <f cafe." After a fhort paufe, I told him I confent- 
 ed to his propofal: "for why, faid I, fhould I 
 " not have as good an opinion of my own im- 
 " partial difmtereftednefs as you feem to have ? 
 " But remember I am not to be prevailed upon 
 " to decide the point in queftion againfl your 
 " mother, if it fhould appear flic had juft reafon 
 "for what me has done." " Be it agreeable 
 tf to your inclination, he replied, which 1 arn fure 
 " is always to as5t according to juftice." I cal- 
 led to my afllftance Corellius and Frontinus, 
 two of the moft considerable lav/yers which 
 Rome at that time afforded. Attended with 
 thofe friends, I heard the caufe in my chamber. 
 Curianus faid every thing which he thought could 
 favour his pretenfions, to whom (as there was 
 nobody but myfelf to defend the character cf 
 Gratilla) I made a fhort reply $ after which I 
 
 retired
 
 BookV. OF PLINY. 245 
 
 retired with my friends to deliberate upon the 
 cafe, and then returning acquainted Curianus 
 that it was our opinion his conduct had juftly 
 drawn upon him his mother's difpleafure. Some- 
 time afterwards, CurLinus commenced a fuit in 
 the Centiimviral court againft all the coheirs ex- 
 cept myfcif. The day appointed for the trial ap- 
 proaching, the reft of the coheirs were defirous 
 of compromising the affair j not out of any dif- 
 fidence of their caufe, but from a diftruft of the 
 times. They were apprehenfive, that what had been 
 the cafe of many others might happen to them, 
 and from a civil fuit it might end in a criminal 
 one j as there was fome amongft them to whom 
 the friendfhip of Gratilla and Rufticus a might prove 
 extremely prejudicial: they therefore defired me 
 to talk with Curianus. Accordingly I had con- 
 .ference with him in the temple of Concord: 
 " Suppofe, faid I, your mother had left you 
 " the fourth part of her eftate, or even fuppofe 
 f fhe had made you fole heir, but had ex- 
 '* haufted fo much of the eftate in legacies that 
 <f there would not be more than a fourth part re- 
 " maining to you; could you juftly have complain- 
 " ed ? you ought to be contented therefore, if 
 cc being abfolutely difinherited, as you are, the heirs 
 
 <c are 
 
 3 Gratilla was the wife of Ruflicus : Rufticus was put to 
 death by Domitian, and Gratiila banilhed.- It was * fuificient 
 crime in the reign of that execrable prince to be even a friend 
 ol thofe who were obnoxious to him. See B. 7. let. 33. laft 
 note.
 
 246 THE LETTERS BookV. 
 
 " are willing to relinquish to you a fourth part : 
 " which however I will encreaie by contributing 
 ff my proportion. You know you did not com- 
 Cf mence any fuit againft mej fo that the prefcrip- 
 " tion which I have gained by two years peaceable 
 " pofTeffion, fecures my fhare from any clairr. you 
 " can fet up againft it. But to induce you to agree 
 cc to the propofals on the part of the other coheirs, 
 " and that you may be no fufferer by the peculiar 
 c refpect you ihew to me, I offer to advance my 
 <c proportion with them." 
 
 The filent fatisfaction of my own confcience is 
 not the only pleafure this concefiion has afforded 
 me i it has contributed alfo to the honour of uny 
 character. For it is the fame Curianus who has 
 left me the legacy I mentioned in the beginning of 
 my letter, and I received it as a very diftinguilhing 
 mark, if I do not flatter myfclf, of his approbation 
 of my conducl:. I have given you this detail, be- 
 caufe in all my joys and ibrrows I look upon you 
 as myfelf, and I thought it would be unkind not to 
 communicate to fo tender a friend whatever occa- 
 cafions me a fenfible gratification; as J confefs 
 this circumftance has proved : for I do not pre- 
 tend to fuch refined {trains of philofophy as to be 
 indifferent, when I think I have aded as becomes 
 a man of probity, whether my actions meet with 
 that approbation which is in fome fort their re- 
 ward. , Farewel. 
 
 LET,,
 
 Book V. O F P L I N Y. 247 
 
 LETTER II. 7*0 FLACCUS. 
 
 TH E a thrufhes I received from you were fo 
 excellent, that my Laurentinum is not ca- 
 pable of fupplying me with any thing in this tem- 
 peftuous fcafon, either of the land or fea kind, to 
 make you a fuitable return. 1 have only therefore 
 to fend you the ineffectual acknowledgments of a 
 barren letter : an exchange more unequal, I con- 
 fefs, than that famous one of the b fubtle Diomed. 
 But your good-nature will fo much the more rea- 
 dily grant this idle epiftle a pardon, as it confefled- 
 ly does not deferve one. Farewel. 
 
 8 Thefe birds, of which there are feveral forts, were in 
 high reputation among the Romans, and generally had a 
 place upon all elegant tables. 
 
 6 Alluding to the ftory in Horn. Iliad, where Glaucus and 
 Diomed having an interview between the two armies, they 
 difcovered that a connexion of friendfhip and hoipitality had 
 formerly fubliiled between their families. Accordingly Dio- 
 med propnfes an exchange of their arms, as a token of reci- 
 procal amity : 
 
 of fat x^ ot^t 
 
 Tvus-u, on, &c. -- Lib. 6. v. 230. 
 
 Now change tue arms, and prove to either hoft, 
 
 We guard the fritndjhip of the line ive boajl. 
 
 Thus having [aid 
 
 Their hands they join, their mutual faith they flight. 
 
 Brave Glaucus then each narrow thought rejieri 1 d> 
 
 (Jove twarm'd his bofom and enlarged his mindj 
 
 For Diomed'' 's brafs arms of mean devictt 
 
 For 'which nine oxen paid (a vulgar price} 
 
 He gave his own of gold divinely ivroug&t; 
 
 An hundred beeves the Jhining purchafe bought. POPE. 
 
 LET-
 
 24* THE LETTERS BoqkV. 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 AMONG the many agreeable and obliging 
 inftances I have received of your friend- 
 Jfhip, your not concealing from me the long con- 
 verfation which lately paffed at your houfe concern- 
 ing my verfes, and the various judgments pro- 
 nounced upon them, is by no means the lead. There 
 were fome of the company, it feems, who did not 
 difapprove my little poems, but at the fame time 
 cenfured me in a free and friendly manner, for em- 
 ploying myfelf in compofmg and reciting them. 
 I am fo far, howeyer, from defiring to extenuate 
 the charge, that I willingly acknowledge myfelf 
 ilill more deferving of it; and confefs that I 
 fometimes amufe myfelf with writing verfes of 
 the ludicrous and gayer kind. I compofe come- 
 dies ; divert myfelf with pantomimes j read the 
 Lyric poets ; and enter into the fpirit of the moft 
 wanton mufe ; in fhort, I am nothing averfe from 
 pleafantry, mirth, and gayety ; or to fum up 
 every kind of innocent amufement in one word, 
 I am a Man. I am not at all difpleafed, that 
 thofe who are ignorant that the moft learned, the 
 wifeft, and the beft of men have amufed them- 
 felves in the fame way, mould be furprifed at 
 pie: but thofe who know what noble exam- 
 
 ples
 
 Book V. O F P L I N Y. 249 
 
 pies I follow, will allow me, I truft, thus to 
 err with thofe whom it is an honour to imitate, 
 not only in their moft ferious occupations, 
 but lighteft amufements. Is it unbecoming 
 me (I will not name any living example, left I 
 mould feem to flatter) but is it unbecoming me 
 to praftife what became Tully, Calvus, Pollio, 
 Meffala, Hortenfius, Brutus, Sulla, Catulus, 
 Scaevola, Sulpitius, Varro, the Torquati, Mem- 
 mius, Getulicus, Seneca, Lucceius, and in our 
 own memory, Verginius Rufus? But if the ex- 
 amples of private men are not fufficient to juftify 
 me, I can cite Julius Casfar, Auguftus, Nerva, 
 and Titus. I forbear to add Nero to the cata- 
 logue ; tho' I am fenfible what is fometimes prac- 
 tifed by the worft of men does not therefore de- 
 generate into wrong; on the contrary, it ftill 
 maintains its credit, if frequently countenanced 
 by the beft. In that number Virgil, Cornelius 
 Nepos, and prior to the'fe, Ennius and Accius, 
 juftly deferve the moft diftinguimed place. Thefe 
 laft indeed were not fenators; but propriety of con- 
 duct knows no diftindtion of rank or title. I recite 
 my works, 'tis true, and in this inftance I am notfure 
 I can juftify myfelf by their examples. They, per- 
 haps, might be fatisfkd with their own judgment ; 
 but I have too humble an opinion of mine, to fup- 
 pofe my compofitions fufficiently perfect, becaufe 
 they appear fo to my own mind. My reafons then 
 
 for
 
 250 THE LETTERS Book V. 
 
 for reciting are, that there is a certain reverence for 
 oi.e's audience, which fires the imagination, and ex- 
 cites a more vigorous application ; and that I have 
 by ihefe means an opportunity of fettling any doubts 
 I may have concerning my performance, by ob- 
 fcrving the general fentiments of my auditors. 
 In a word, I have the advantage of receiving dif- 
 ferent hints from different perfons : and tho' they 
 Should not declare their opinions in exprefs 
 terms, yet the air of a countenance, the turn of 
 a head or eye, the motion of a hand, a whifper, 
 or even filence itfelf will eafily diftinguifh their 
 real fentiments from the language of civility. Ac- 
 cordingly, if any one of my audience fliould have 
 the curiofity to perufe the fame performance 
 which he heard me read, he may find feveral things 
 altered or omitted, and perhaps too upon bis parti- 
 cular judgment, tho' he did not fay a fingle word 
 to me. But I am defending my conduct in this par- 
 ticular, as if I had actually recited my works in pub- 
 lic, and not in my own houfe before a felect party 
 of my friends; a numerous appearance of whom, 
 has upon many occafions been held an honour, but 
 never furely a reproach. Farewel. 
 
 LET-
 
 BookV. OF PLINY. 251 
 
 LETTER IV. r* VALERIANUS. 
 
 THE fad which I am going to mention, 
 tho' in itfelf of no great importance, may 
 be attended with very confiderable confequences. 
 Sollers, a perfon of Prastorian rank, petitioned 
 the fenate for leave to hold a fair upon his eftate, 
 He was oppofed in this by the deputies from the 
 a Vicentini, who employed Tufcillinus Nominatus 
 as their ^counfel. The caufe was adjourned j and 
 at the next meeting the deputies appeared unat- 
 tended with their counfel, complaining that they 
 had been grofsly deceived: an expreffion, which 
 whether it dropped from them in the warmth of 
 refentment, or that they really had reafon to think 
 fo, I will not determine. Nepos the Praetor afked 
 them whom it was they had retained ? They replied, 
 the fame perfon who was counfel for them in the 
 former inftance. Being farther afked, whether he 
 then appeared for them without any gratuity ? 
 They replied, that they had given him bx fix thou- 
 fand fefterces, and afterwards preferred him with a 
 fecond fee of one thoufand c denarii. Upon 
 which, Nepos moved that Nominatus mould be 
 ordered to attend : and this is all that was done 
 in the affair that day. But, unlefs I am greatly 
 
 miftaken, 
 
 a Of Vicenza, a city in the territories of Venice* 
 fc About 48!. of our money. 
 * About 30!. of our money.
 
 252 THE LETTERS Book V, 
 
 miftaken, the enquiry will not end there j for one 
 may obferve in feveral inftances, that the flighteft 
 fparks have lighted up a long train of very unex- 
 pected eonfequences. And now I have fufficiently 
 raifed your curiofity, I fuppofe,tomakeyoudefirous 
 1 Ihonld inform you of the reft; unlefs, perhaps, 
 you fhould'choofe to gratify it by coming to Rome, 
 and had rather fee than read the fecjuel. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER V. ToMAXiMus. 
 
 I A M deeply afflicted with the news I have re- 
 ceived of the death of Fannius, not only as 
 having loft in him a friend whofe eloquence and po- 
 lite manners I admired, but a guide alfo by whofe 
 judgment I was often directed; as indeed he pof- 
 feffed a moft penetrating genius, improved and 
 enlightened by great experience. There are fome 
 circumftances attending his death, which aggravate 
 my concern: He left behind him a will which had 
 been made a confiderable time before his deceafe, 
 by which it happens that his eftate is fallen into the 
 hands of thofe who had incurred his difpleafure, 
 \vhilft his greateft favourites are excluded. But 
 what I particularly regret is, that hehasleftunfinim- 
 ed a very noble work in which he was engaged. 
 Notwithftanding his full employment at the bar, 
 he had commenced a hiftory of thofe perfons 
 who were put to death or banilhed by Nero; 
 
 aacj
 
 BookV. OF PLINY. 2$$ 
 
 and had compleated three books. They are writ- 
 ten with great elegance and precifion ; the ftyle is 
 pure, and preferves a proper medium between the 
 fimple narrative and rhe hiftorical : and as they were 
 very favourably received by the publ ; c, he was the 
 more defirous of being able to finifh the remainder. 
 The hand of death is ever, in my opinion, too fevere 
 and too fudden when it falls upon fuch as are 
 employed in fome immortal v/ork. The fons of 
 lenfuality, who have no views beyond the prefent 
 hour, terminate with each day the whole purpofe of 
 their exiftence ; but thofe who look forward to pof- 
 terity, and endeavour to tranfmit their names with 
 honour to future generations by ufeful labours ; to 
 fuch, death is always immature, as it ever fnatches 
 them from amidft fome unfiuifiied defign. Fannius, 
 long before his death, had a ftrong prefentiment 
 of what has happened: he dreamed one night, that 
 as he was fitting in his ftudy with his papers before 
 him, Nero entered, and placing himfelf by his 
 fide, took up the three firft books of this hiftory ; 
 which he read through, and v then departed. 
 This dream greatly alarmed him, and he looked 
 upon it as an intimation, that he fhould not carry- 
 on this hiftory any farther than Nero had read : and 
 fo the event has proved. I cannot reflect upon 
 this accident without lamenting that he was pre- 
 vented from accomplilhing a work, which had 
 
 coft
 
 $54 THE LETTERS Book V. 
 
 coft him fo many painful vigils, .as it fuggefts 
 to me at the fame time reflections on my own 
 mortality, and the fate of my writings : and I am 
 perfuaded the fame apprehenfions alarm you for 
 thofe in which you are at prefent employed. Let us 
 then, my friend, while yet we live, exert all our en- 
 deavours, that death, whenever it lhall arrive, may 
 find as little as poffible to deftroy. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER VI. To APOLLINARIS. 
 
 THE kind concern you exprefled when you 
 heard of my defign to pals the fummer at 
 my a villa in Tufcany, and your obliging endea- 
 vours to difluade me from going to a place which 
 you think unhealthy, are extremely pleafmg to me. 
 
 I con- 
 
 * This was Pliny's principal feat, lying about one hundred 
 and fifty miles from Rome,and in which he ufuallyrefided during 
 the fummer feafon. The reader will obferve therefore, that he 
 confidefs it in a very different manner from that of Laurenti- 
 r.um (his winter villa) both with refpecl to the fituation and 
 the hcufe itfelf. Clu-ver in his Geography has placed this villa 
 a little above I'ifernum Tiberinum, now called Citta di Caftdloy 
 where *our autnor built a temple at his own expence. This 
 has given room to * imagine that, poffibly, there may be yet 
 fome remaining traces of this houfe to be discovered in Tuf- 
 cany, near a town which the Italians call Stintignano, in the 
 neighbourhood of Ponte di San Stefano, about ten miles north of 
 an epifcopal city now called Bcrgo di San Sepulcbro. If after 
 having traverfed this noble villa, the reader ihould be curious 
 to know how Pliny difpofed of his time, when he retired to 
 it, he may turn to the 36th letter of the 9th book. 
 
 * Plans per Felibien, p. 65.
 
 BookV. OF PLINY. 255 
 
 I conftfs, the atmofphere of that part of Tuf- 
 cany, which lies towards the coaft, is thick and 
 umvholcfome: but my houfe is fituated at a great 
 diftance from the Tea, under one of the Ap-penmne 
 mountains, which, of all others, is mod efteemed 
 for the clearnefs of its air. But that you may be 
 relieved from all apprehenfions on my account, I 
 will give you a defcription of the temperature of 
 the climate, the fituation of the country, and 
 the beauty of my villa, which I am perfuaded you 
 will read with as much pleafure as I mail re- 
 late. The winters are fevere and cold, fo that 
 myrtles, olives, and trees of that kind which de- 
 light in conftant warmth, will not flourifh here; 
 but it produces bay-trees' 1 in great perfection* 
 
 yet 
 
 b In the original it is lauruf, which the ingenious Mr 
 Martyn, profelTor of botany in Cambridge, has given very 
 ftrong realbns for believing is not the fame tree with ou 
 laurel, but tfie bay-tree. " Our laurel, (that author ob- 
 ferves,) was hardly known in Europe till the latter end 
 *' of the i6th century; about which time it feems to have 
 ' been brought from Trebizond to Conftaminople, and from 
 " thence into moft parts of Europe. The Inurrl has no fine 
 ec fmell, which is a property abfcribed to the laurm by Virgil 
 " in the zd Eclogue : 
 
 Et i'os, o lauri, carfam, et fe proxime, myrte, 
 Sic pijfita, qttoniam fuaves mifcstis odores. 
 
 And in the 6th ^Eneid ; 
 
 Odoratum lauri nemus, 
 
 ' Nor xs the laurel remarkable for crackling in the fire, of 
 " which there is abundant memiou with regard to the /aunts. 
 
 " Thefe
 
 THE LETTERS Book V. 
 
 yet fometimes, tho' indeed not oftener than in 
 the neighbourhood of Rome, they are killed by 
 the feverity of the feafons. The fummers are 
 exceedingly temperate, and continually attended 
 with refrefhing breezes, which are feldom in- 
 terrupted by high winds. If you were to come 
 here and fee the numbers of old men who have 
 lived to be Grand-fathers and Great -grand-fathers, 
 and hear the ftories they can entertain you with 
 of their anceftors, you would fancy yourfelf born 
 in fome former age. The difpofition of the coun- 
 try is the mod beautiful that can be imagined: 
 figure to yourfelf an immenfe amphitheatre j 
 but luch as the hand of nature could only form. 
 Before you lies a vaft extended plain bounded 
 by a range of mountains, whofe fummits are 
 covered with lofty and venerable woods , which 
 fupply variety of game: from thence, as the 
 mountains decline, they are adorned with under- 
 woods. Intermixed with thefe are little hills- of fo 
 ftrong and fat a foil, that it would be difficult 
 to find a fingle ftone upon them; their fertility 
 is nothing infcriour to the loweft grounds j and 
 tho' their harvcft, indeed, is fomewhat later, their 
 crops are as well matured. At the foot of thefe 
 
 hills 
 
 " Thefe characters agree very well with the bay tree, which 
 < feems to be moft certainly th laurus of the ancients; and 
 " is at this time frequent in the woods and hedges of Italy*" 
 Notes upon Georg. i. v. 306;
 
 . 
 
 BookV. OF PLINY. 257 
 
 hills the eye is preferred, wherever it turns, with 
 one unbroken view of numberlefs vineyards, 
 terminated by a border, as it were, , of fhrubs. 
 From thence you have a profpecl of the adjoin-.' 
 ing fields and meadows below. The foil of the 
 former is fo extremely ftiff, and upon the firft 
 ploughing turns- up in fuch vaft clods, that it is 
 neceflary to go over it nine ieveral times with the 
 largeft oxen and the ftrongeft ploughs, befor? 
 they can be thoroughly broken; whilft the ena- 
 meled meadows produce trefoil, and other kinds 
 of herbage as fine and tender as if it were but juft 
 fprung up, being continually refrefhed by never- 
 failing rills. But tho' the country abounds with 
 great plenty of water, there are no marfhes; for, 
 as it lies upon a rifing ground, whatever water it 
 receives without abforbing, runs off into the Ti- 
 ber.' This river, which winds thro* the middle 
 of the meadows, is navigable only in the winter anci 
 fpring, at which feafbns it tranfports the produce 
 cf'ihe lands to Rome; but its channel is fo exr 
 tremely low in fummer, that it fcarcejy deftrryes the 
 name of a river; towards the autumn, however, it 
 begins again to renew its claim to that title. You 
 could not be more agreeably entertained, than by 
 talcing a view of the face of this country from the 
 top of one of our neighbouring mountains: you 
 would fuppofe that net a real, but fome imaginary
 
 258 THE LETTERS Book V. 
 
 landfcape painted by the moft exquifite pencil lay 
 before you: fuch an harmonious variety of beau- 
 tiful objefts meets the eye, which way foever 
 it turns. My villa is fo advantageoufly fituated, 
 that it commands a full view of all the coun- 
 try round j yet you approach it by fo infen- 
 lible a rife, that you find yourfelf upon an emi- 
 nence without perceiving you afcended. Behind, 
 but at a great diftance, (land the Apenninc 
 mountains. In the calmeft days we are re- 
 frefhed by the winds that blow from thence, 
 but fo fpcnt, as it were, by the long trafb of 
 land they travel over, that they are entirely 
 diverted of all their ftrength and violence be- 
 fore they reach us. The expofition of the prin- 
 cipal front of the houfe is full fouth, and feems 
 to invite the afternoon 'fun in fummer (but 
 fomewhat earlier in winter) into a fpacious and 
 well-proportioned Portico, confifting of feve- 
 ral members, particularly a porch built in the 
 ancient manner. In the front of the por- 
 tico is a fort of terrace, embellimed with va- 
 rious figures, and bounded with a box hedge, 
 from whence you defcend by an eafy Hope, 
 adorned with the reprefentation of divers ani- 
 mals in box anfwering alternately to each other, 
 into a lawn overfprcad with the foft, I had al- 
 5 moft
 
 Book V. O F P L I N Y. 
 
 moft faid the liquid a Acanthus : this is furround- 
 ed by a walk b inclofed with tonfile ever-greens, 
 fhaped into a variety of forms. Beyond it is the 
 Geftatio, laid out in the form of a c circus, orna- 
 mented in the middle with box cut in number- 
 lefs different figures, together with a plantation 
 of fhrubs, prevented by the fheers from mooting 
 up too high : The whole is fenced-in with a wall 
 covered by box, riling by different ranges to the 
 top. On the outfide of the wall lies a meadow 
 that owes as many beauties to nature, as all I 
 have been defcribing within does to art; at the 
 end of which are feveral other meadows and fields 
 R 2 inter- 
 
 a Sir William Temple fuppofes the Acanthus of the ancients 
 to be what we call Pericantbe. Modern f botanifts term it gar- 
 den tears-foof, but Mr. Cailel, in his obfervations upon this 
 paflage, with more probability, imagines by its character here 
 that it refembles mofs. Sje note, p. 266. 
 
 b This walk is called in the original Ambulatio t as what I 
 have ventured to tranflate a Terrace, is by Pliny termed Xyftus. 
 The Ambulatio feems to be what we properly call a walk ; the 
 Gejliitie was a place appropriated to the taking of exercife in 
 their vehicles, and the Xyjlus in its original fignification, ac- 
 cording to the definition given by f^itru-uius, was a large por- 
 tico, wherein the athletic exercifes were performed ; tho' it is 
 plainly ufed in this place for an open walk, ornamented much 
 in the manner of our old-faftuoned parterres; but its being 
 raifed above the walks which lay in the front, feems to juftify 
 its being called a Terrace. 
 
 c The Circus was a place fet apart for the celebration of 
 feveral public games, particularly the chariot-race. Its form 
 was generally oblong, having a wall quite round with ranges 
 of feats for the convenience of fpe&ators. 
 
 J- See Martyn on Oeorg. 4. v. 133.
 
 260 T H E L E T T E R S Book V. 
 
 interfperfed with thickets. At the extrenr y of 
 this portico (lands a grand dining-room, which 
 opens upon one end of the terrace ; as from the 
 windows there ts a very extenfive profpect over 
 the meadows up into the country, from whence 
 you alfo have a view of the terrace, and fuch parts 
 of the houfe which project forward, together with 
 the woods inclofing the adjacent d hippodrome. 
 Oppofite almoft to the center of the portico, flands 
 a fquare edifice, which encompalTes a fmall area, 
 fhaded by four plane-trees, in the rrudft of which 
 a fountain rifes, from, whence the water run- 
 ning over the edges of a marble bafon gently 
 refrefhes the furrounding plane-trees and the 
 verdure underneath them. This apartment con- 
 fifts of a bed-chamber fecured from every kind 
 of noife, and which the light itfelf cannot pe- 
 netrate -, together with a common dining-room, 
 which I ufe when I have none but intimate 
 friends with me. A fecond portico looks upon 
 this little area, and has the fame profpec"b with 
 the former I juft now defcribed. There is 
 befides, another room, which being fituated clofe 
 to the neareft plane-tree, enjoys a conftant fhade 
 and verdure : its fides are incrufted half-way with 
 carved marble ; and from thence to the ceiling a 
 
 foliage 
 / 
 * A part of the garden, fo called. See note f , p. 264,
 
 BookV. OF PLINY. 261 
 
 foliage is painted with birds intermixed among 
 the branches, which has an efiedt altogether as 
 agreeable as that of the carving: at. the bafis of 
 a little fountain, playing thro' feveral fmall pipes 
 into a vafe, produces a moft pleafing murmur. 
 From a corner of this portico you enter into a 
 very fpacious chamber oppofue to the grand 
 dining-room, which from fome of its windows 
 has a view of the terrace, and from others of 
 the meadow j as thofe in the front look upon 
 a cafcade, which entertains at once both the 
 eye and the ear; for, the water dafhing from 
 a great height, foams over the marble bafon, 
 that receives it below. This room is ex- 
 tremely warm in winter, being much expofed 
 to the fun; and in a cloudy day the heat of 
 an adjoining (love very well fupplies his abfence. 
 From hence you pafs thro' a fpacious and plea- 
 fant undreffing-room into the cold -bath- room, in 
 which is a large gloomy bath: bur if you are dif- 
 pofed to fwim more at large or in warmer water, 
 in the middle of the area is a wide bafon for 
 that purpofe, and near it a refervoir from whence 
 you may be fupplied with cold water to brace yaur- 
 felf again, if you fhould perceive you are too much 
 relaxed by the warm. Contiguous to the cold- 
 bath is another of a moderate degree of heat, 
 which enjoys the kindly warmth of the fun, but 
 R 3 not
 
 *6a THE LETTERS Book V. 
 
 not fo intenfely as that of the hot- bath, which 
 projects farther. This laft confitls of three di- 
 vifions, each of different degrees of heat : the 
 two former lie entirely open to the fun ; the latter, 
 tho* not fo much expofed to its rays, receives an 
 equal fhare of its light. Over the undreffing- 
 room is built the tennis-court, which by means of 
 particular circles, admits of different kinds of 
 games. Not far from the baths, is the flair- cafe 
 leading to the inclofed portico, after you have 
 firfl parTed thro' three apartments : one of thefe 
 looks upon the little area with the four plane- 
 trees round it ; the other has a fight of the mea- 
 dows ; and from the third you have a view of 
 feveral vineyards: fo that they have as many dif- 
 ferent profpe&s as expofitions. At one end of 
 the inclofed portico, and indeed taken off from 
 it, is a chamber that looks upon the hippodrome, 
 the vineyards, and the mountains; adjoining is a 
 room which has a full expofure to the fun, efpeci- 
 ally in winter; and from whence runs an apartment 
 
 that 
 
 * " Thcfc circle? were probably no other than particular 
 ' marks made on the floor, tlie fuccefs of their play depend- 
 " ir.g en the ball's lighting in fiich a circle after it had been 
 " flruck, which was the adveii'.iries bufmefs to prevent; and 
 e the many forts of cxercifes this room was made for, might 
 Cf be divcrfified by Hues or circles en the walls or floor; like 
 ' the game of tei<nu, which tho' it takes up one entire room, 
 " may ferve for levual games cf the like nature." Cartel's 
 Remarks on Tufcum, p. no.
 
 Book V. O F P L I N Y, 263 
 
 that conne&s the hippodrome with the houfe: 
 fuch is the form and afpecc of the front. On 
 the fide rifes an inclofed fummer-portico which 
 has not only a profpect of the vineyards, but 
 feems almoft contiguous to them. From the 
 middle of this portico you enter a dining- 
 room cooled by the falutary breezes from 
 the Apennine valleys j from the windows 
 in the back front, which are extremely large, 
 there is a profpedt of the vineyards j as you 
 have alfo another view of them from the fold- 
 ing-doors thro' the fummer-portico. Along that 
 fide of this dining-room where there are no win- 
 dows, runs a private flair- cafe for the greater 
 conveniency of ferving at entertainments : at the 
 farther end is a chamber from whence the eye 
 is pleafed with a view of the vineyards, and 
 (what is not lefs agreeable) of the portico. Un- 
 derneath this room is an inclofed portico fome- 
 what refembling a grotto, which enjoying in the 
 midft of the fummer-heats its own natural cool- 
 nefs, neither admits nor wants the refrefhment of 
 external breezes. After you have pafied both thefe 
 porticos, at the end of the dining-room ftands a 
 third, which, as the day is more or lefs advanced, 
 ferves either for winter or fummer ufe. It leads 
 to two different apartments, one containing four 
 chambers, the other three; each enjoying by turns 
 R 4 both
 
 LETTERS Book V< 
 
 both fun and made. In the front of thefe agree- 
 able buildings lies a very fpacious hippodrome { t 
 entirely cpen in the middle j by which mean the 
 eye, upon your firft entrance, takes in irs whole 
 Extent at one glance. It is encompaffed on every 
 fide with plane-trees covered with * ivy, fo chat 
 While their heads flourish with their own foli.igc, 
 their bodies enjoy a borrowed Verdure; and thus 
 the ivy twining round the trunk and branches, 
 fpreads from tree to tree, and connects them 
 together; Between each plane-tree are planted 
 box-trees, and behind thefe, bay- trees, which 
 blend their * made with that of the planes.' 
 This plantation, forming a ftreight boundary 
 6n both fides of the hippodrome, bends at 
 the" farther end into a femi-circle, which being 
 fet round and flickered with cyprefs-trees, va- 
 
 ries 
 
 f The Hippoclrornus, in its proper fignification,- was a place 
 among the Grecians, let apart for i'orfe-racing and other 
 cxercifes of that kind. But it feems here to oe nothing more 
 than a particular walk, to which Pliny perhaps gave that 
 j fmin its bearing fome refemblance in its form to the 
 
 public places fo called. 
 
 g What the Hederes were, that deferved a place in a gar- 
 " den, (fays bir William Temple in hii Effay on Gardening) 
 il I cannot guefs* unlefs they had forts or ivy unknown to 
 " us." But it does not (eem neceflary to have recourie to 
 that fuppofuicn; for there are two forts among us, which are, 
 very beautiful plants, the one called the fiiver-ftriped ivy, 
 the other the yellow variegated ivy. The former, perhaps, 
 is the pallentes Hercda * of Virgil; which epithet fome of thd 
 critics, not attending to the different kinds of ivy, have in- 
 judicioufly changed for $alant-.s. 
 
 * Ceorg. 4.
 
 Book V. O F P L I N Y. 265 
 
 ries the profpeft, and cads a deeper gloom j 
 while the inward circular walks (for there 
 are feveral) enjoying an open expofure, are 
 perfumed with rofes, and correct, by a very pleaf- 
 ing contraft, the coolnefs of the fhade with the 
 warmth of the fun. Having paffed thro' thefe fe- 
 veral winding-alleys, you enter a h ftreight walk, 
 which breaks out into a variety 'of others, divided 
 by box hedges. In one place you have a little 
 meadow ; in another the box is cut into a thoufand 
 different ; forms ; fometimes into letters, expreffing 
 the name of the matter j fometimes that of the 
 artificer ; whilft here and there little obelifks rife 
 intermixed alternately with fruit-trees : when on a 
 fudden, in the midft of this elegant regularity, you 
 are ftirprized vwith an imitation of the negligent 
 beauties of rural nature j in the center of which 
 
 lies 
 
 * Here feems to begin what we properly call the Garden, 
 and is the only description of a Roman one, which has come 
 do>.vp to us. Virgil indeed .mentions that of his Corycian 
 friend';> but he only gives an account of the plants which that 
 contented old man cultivated, without describing the form in 
 which tais little fpot was laid out. 
 
 1 It is very remarkable, that this falfe tafte in gardening, fo 
 juftly rejected by modern improvements in that agreeable art, 
 was introduced among the Romans at a time, when one mould 
 litiie expect to met with any inelegancies in the polite refine- 
 nK-.iti of life. Marius,the friend of Julius Csefar, and peculiar 
 favourite of Auguftus, (of \vh >m there is ftill extant a letter to 
 Cicero, greatly admired for the beauty of its fentiments and 
 txpreiiion) is laid to have firft taught hii cnu.urymen this 
 monftrous method of diilorting nature, by cutting trees into 
 regular forms. Commel. 1. 12. c. 44.
 
 S66 THE LETTERS Book V. 
 
 lies a fpot furrounded with a knot of dwarf k plane- 
 trees. Beyond thefe is a walk planted with the 
 fmooth and twining ' acanthus, where the trees 
 
 are 
 
 k The plane-tree was much cultivated among the Romans 
 upon account of its extraordinary fhade, and they ufecl to 
 nourifli it with * wine inftead of water, believing (as an inge- 
 nious author f obierves) " This tree loved that liquor, as well 
 * as thole who ufed to drink under its fhade." Virgil men- 
 tions it as mlntftranltm potantibus umbras. Georg. 4. It 
 was a favourite tree iikewile among the Grecians : 
 
 Avletf ep.ot y\vy.v$ vmos VTTO Tr^ctlatu 
 
 Ka; -arayaj pi? k soi//,t TO> lyyvfie* ij^o ax.gtm. 
 
 Mofcb. lujL 
 
 ive me beneath th plane-tree's fhade to lie, 
 While tinkling fountains fvveetly murmur by. 
 
 J It is probable the Acanthus here mentioned is not the fame 
 plant with that defcribed above ; it is certain at leaft there 
 were different forts of them. It feems to be of the kind whick 
 Virgil fpeaks of in the 4th Georgic : 
 
 Jut flexi tacuijfem vimen Acanthi', 
 
 Whatever that was, which is by no means clear. The inge- 
 nious Botanift mentioned before, fuppofes it to be Brank-urfine, 
 and that Dryden was miftaken in tranflating this paffage : 
 
 The winding Trail 
 Of Bears foot -- 
 
 For, fays he, it is by no means a trailing plant. But there is 
 reafon, it mould feem, to believe the contrary ; for it is not 
 very probable, that Virgil mould ufe the epithet Plexus in al- 
 iufion, as this gentleman imagines, to the ftory of the tile and 
 the bafket, which gave the firft hint to the inventor of the Co- 
 rinthian capital. Jt is much more likely and natural that he 
 ihould join an epithet to Acanthus, which denoted a certain 
 general quality attending it, than any foreign and accidental 
 circuniftance, efptcially one fo extremely remote. And this 
 corjefture feems to be itrongly fupported by Pliny's calling it 
 Flexucfits. 
 
 * Plin. Hift. Nat. f Sir William Temple.
 
 RookV. OF PLINY. 267 
 
 are alfo cut into a variety of names and fhapes. 
 At the upper end is an alcove of white marble, 
 (haded with vines, fupported by four fmall Cary- 
 ftian m pillars. From this bench the water gulhing 
 thro* feveral little pipes, as if it were prefied out 
 by the weight of the perfons who repofe them- 
 felves upon it, falls into a ftone ciftern under- 
 neath, from whence it is received into a fine po- 
 liflied marble bafon, fo artfully contrived, that it 
 is always full without ever overflowing. When I 
 fup here, this bafon ferves for a table, the larger 
 fort of difhes being placed round the margin, 
 while the fmaller ones fwim about in the form of 
 little veflels and water-fowl. Correfponding to 
 this, is a fountain which is inceflantly emptying 
 and filling; for the water which it throws up a 
 great height, falling back into it, is by means 
 of two openings returned as faft as it is re- 
 ceived. Fronting the alcove (and which reflects 
 as great an ornament to it, as it borrows from it) 
 (lands a fummer-houfeofexquifite marble, thedoors 
 whereof project and open into a green inclofure? as 
 from its upper and lower windows the eye is 
 
 pre- 
 
 m This marbl? came from Caryftus (now called Carilto) in 
 Eubceu, an ifland in the Archipelago, which has fince changed 
 its name into Negroponte. From hence likewife, it is faid, 
 the Romans fetched that famous itone out of which they 
 fpun a fort of" incombuilible cloth, wherein they wrapped the 
 bodies of their dead, and thereby preferved their afhes dif- 
 tmft and unmixed with thofe of the funeral pile.
 
 263 THE LETTERS Book V. 
 
 preferred with a variety of different verdures. 
 Next to this is a little private recefs (which tho' 
 it feems diftinft, may be laid into the fame room) 
 furnifhed with a couch j and notwithftanding it 
 has windows on every fide, yet it enjoys a very 
 agreeable gloominefs, by means of a fpreaciing 
 vine which climbs to the top, and entirely over- 
 ihades it. Here you may recline and fancy your- 
 felf in a wood ; with this difference only, that 
 you are net expofed to the weather. In this place 
 a fountain alfo rifes and inftantly difappears : in 
 different quarters are clifpofed feveral marble-feats, 
 which ferves no lefs than the fummer-houfe, as fo 
 many reliefs after one is wearied with walking. 
 Near each feat is a little fountain ; and through- 
 out the whole hippodrome feveral finall rills run 
 murmuring along, wherefoever the hand of art 
 thought proper to condudb them, watering here 
 and there different fpots of verdure, and in their 
 progrefs refrefhing the whole. 
 
 And now, I ihould not have hazarded the impu- 
 tation of being too minute in this detail, if I had 
 not propofed to lead you into every corner of my 
 houfe and gardens. You will hardly, I imagine, 
 think it a trouble to read the ciefcription of a place, 
 which I am perfuaded would pleafe you were you 
 to fee it: efpecially as you have it in your power 
 to flop, and by throwing afide my letter, fit down 
 
 as
 
 Book V. O F P L I N Y. 269 
 
 as it were, and reft yourfelf as often as you think 
 proper. I had at the fame time a view to my own 
 gratification : as I confels I have a very great 
 affeflion for this villa, which was chiefly built 
 or finilhed by myfelf. In a word (for why mould 
 I conceal from my friend my fentiments whether 
 right or wrong?) I look upon it as the firft 
 duty of every writer frequently to throw his eyes 
 upon his title-page, and to confider well the fub- 
 jed he has propofed to himfelf; and he may be 
 aflured if he precifely purfues his plan he Cannot 
 juftly be thought tedious ; whereas on the contrary, 
 if he fuffers himfelf to wander from it, he will 
 moft certainly incur -that cenfure. Homer, you 
 know, has employed many verfes in the defcrip- 
 tion of the arms of Achilles, *s Virgil alfo has in 
 thofe of ./Eneas ; yet neither of them are prolix, 
 becaufe they each keep within the limits of their 
 original defign. Arams, you fee, is not deemed too 
 circumftantial, tho' he traces and enumerates the 
 minuteft ftars : for he does not go out of his way 
 for that purpofe, he only follows where his fub- 
 je<r. leads him. In the fame manner (to com- 
 pare fmall things with great) if endeavouring to 
 give you an idea of my houfe, I have not de- ' 
 viated into any article foreign to the purpofe, ic 
 is not my letter which defcribes, but my villa 
 which is defcribed, that is to be confide red as large, 
 
 But
 
 270 THE LETTERS Book V. 
 
 But not to dwell any longer upon this digreffion, 
 left I fhould myfelf be condemned by the maxim 
 I have juft laid down; I have now informed 
 you why I prefer my Tufcan villa, to thofe which 
 I poffefs at " Tufculum, Tiber, and * Prasnefte. 
 Befides the advantages already mentioned, I here 
 enjoy a more profound retirement, as I am at a 
 farther diftance from the bufmefs of the town, and 
 the interruption of troublefome avocations. All is 
 calm and compofed; circumftances which contri- 
 bute, no lefs than its clear air and unclouded fky, 
 to that health of body and chearfulnefs of mind which 
 I particularly enjoy in this place ; both which I pre- 
 ferve by the exercife of iludy and hunting. Indeed 
 there is no place which agrees better with all my 
 family in general; I am lure, at leall, I have not 
 yet loft one (and I fpeak it with the fendments I 
 ought) of all thofe I brought with me hither: 
 may the gods continue that happinefs to me, and 
 that honour to my villa ! Farewel. 
 
 * Now called Frafcati, Tivoli, P and Paleftrina, all of 
 them fituated in the Campagna di Roma, and at no great dif- 
 tance from Rome. 
 
 LET-
 
 BookV. OF PLINY. ayt 
 
 LETTER VII. To CALVISIUS. 
 
 IT is certain that the law does not allow a cor- 
 porate city to inherit any eftate by will, or to 
 receive a legacy. Saturninus however, who has 
 appointed me his heir, had left a fourth part of 
 his eftate to our corporation of Comum j which 
 devife he afterwards changed into an abfolute le- 
 gacy of 400,000 a fefterces. This bequeft, in a 
 legal view, is undoubtedly void ; but confidered 
 as the clear and exprefs will of the deceafed, ought 
 to (land firm and valid: a confideration in my 
 opinion (tho' I am afraid the lawyers will not be 
 pleafed with what I fay) of higher regard than 
 any law whatsoever, elpecially when the intereft 
 of one's native province is concerned. It would be 
 extremely incpnfiftent in me, who made them a 
 prefent of eleven hundred thoufand b fefterces out 
 of my own patrimony, to with-hold a benefaction 
 from them of little more than a third part of that 
 fum, out of an eftate which is entirely adventiti- 
 ous. You, who like a true citizen have the fame 
 affection for this our common municipal town, 
 will join with me, I dare fay, in thefe fentiments. 
 I wilh therefore you would, at the next aflem- 
 bly of the Decurii, acquaint them, in a refpe<5t- 
 
 ful 
 
 a About 3,200!. of our money, 
 k About 8,800 1.
 
 S72 THE LETTERS Book V. 
 
 ful manner, how the law ftands in this cafe, and 
 at the fame time inform them that I ihall not 
 take .advantage of it, but will pay them the 
 400,000 fefterces according to the directions in 
 the will of Saturninns. You will reprefent this 
 donation as Us prefent and his liberality j I only 
 claini the merit of complying with his requefb. I 
 forbear writing to the fenate concerning this affair, 
 fully relying upon your friendmip and prudence, 
 and being aflured that you are both able and 
 willing to act for me upon this occafion as I would 
 for myfelfj betides, I am afraid I fhould not feem 
 to have fo cautioufly guarded my expreffions in a 
 letter, as you will be able to do in a fpeech. 
 The countenance, the gefture, and even the 
 tone of voice governs and determines the fenfe 
 of the fpeaker; whereas a letter being deftitute 
 of thefe advantages, is more liable to the malig- 
 nant conftruclion of thofe who are inclined to 
 paifinterpret its meaning. FareweJ. 
 
 LETTER VIII. 
 
 "\7 OU are not fingular in the advice you give 
 
 * me to undertake the writing of hiftory : it 
 
 is a work that has been frequently prefied upon, 
 
 flic by feyeral others of my friends, and in which I
 
 BookV. OF PLINY. 273 
 
 have fome thoughts of engaging. Not becaufe I 
 have any confidence of fucceeding in this way; 
 (it would be prefuming upon the event of an ex- 
 periment which I have never yet made) but be- 
 caufe it is a noble employment to refcue from 
 oblivion thofe who deferve to be eternally remem- 
 bered i and by extending the reputation of others, 
 to advance at the fame time our own. Nothing, I 
 confefs, fo ftrongly ftimulates my breaft as the de- 
 fire of acquiring a lading name : a pafllon highly 
 worthy of the human heart, efpecially of bis, who 
 not being confcious of any ill, is not afraid of being 
 known to pofterity. It is the continual fubje<5t 
 therefore of my thoughts, 
 
 a By what fair deed I too a name may raife: 
 for to that I moderate my wifhes ; the reft, 
 
 And gather round the world immortal $raife> 
 is much beyond my hopes : 
 
 k ^ho yet However the former is fufficient; 
 and the writing of Hiftory is perhaps the only means 
 
 I may 
 
 * Virgil Georg. I. fub. ink. 
 
 * Part of a verfe from the fifth ./Eneid, where Meneftheus, 
 one of the competitors in the naval games, who was in fome 
 danger of being diftanced, exhorts his men to exert their uc- 
 moft vigour to prevent fuch a difgrace. The reader, perhaps, 
 
 VOL. I. S will
 
 a 7 4 T&E LETTERS BookV. 
 
 I may promife myfelf to acquire it. Oratory and 
 Poetry unlefs carried to the higheft perfection, are 
 talents of fmall recommendation j but Hiftory, in 
 whatever manner executed, is always entertaining. 
 Mankind are naturally inquifitive, and fo fond 
 of having this turn gratified, that they will liften 
 with attention to the plaineft matter of fact, 
 and the moft common tale. But, befides, I 
 have an example in my own family that inclines 
 me to engage in a work of this kind; my uncle 
 and adoptive father c having acquired great repu- 
 tation as a very accurate hiftorian : and the philo- 
 fophers, you know, recommend it to us to tread 
 in the fteps of our anceftors, when they have 
 led the way to us in the right path. If you 
 afk me then, why do I not immediately enter 
 upon the tafk ? My reafon is this ; I have plead- 
 ed fome very important caufes, and (tho* I 
 
 am 
 
 will not be difpleafed to fee the whole paflage, as it is excel- 
 lently translated by Mr. Pitt; which I am the more inclined 
 to tranfcribe, not only as it will (hew the propriety of my 
 author's application of the verfe ; but as 1 am glad of any 
 opportunity of quoting from a poet whofc tranflation of the., 
 yneid does honour to the Engliih language. 
 
 Now, now, my friends, your utmoft ponu'r difplay, 
 
 Rife to your oars, and fiveep ike ivaf'ry tvay : 
 
 T"bo' yet but ah ! let thoje the palm obtain, 
 
 *Thr>fe ivl>om thy f amours crown, great monarch of the main ! 
 
 JSut to return the lags of all the day, 
 
 OA / wipe, my friends, that Jhameful Jlain aivay. 
 
 e See Bcok 3. Let. 5.
 
 BookV. OF PLINY. 27$ 
 
 am not extremely fanguine in my hopes concern- 
 ing them) I have determined to revife my fpeeches, 
 left for want of this remaining labour, ail the pains 
 they coft me fhould be thrown away, and they 
 with their author be buried in oblivion : for wirh 
 refpect to pofterity, the work that was never 
 finifhed, might as well have never been begun. 
 You will think, perhaps, I might correct my plead- 
 ings and write a hiftory at the fame time: I wifli 
 indeed, I were capable of executing that double 
 Jlabour at the fame time; but they are each fuch im- 
 portant undertakings, that either of them feparate 
 is abundantly fufficient for my powers. I was 
 but nineteen when I firft appeared at the bar; 
 and y.et it is only now at laft I underftand (and 
 that in truth but imperfectly) what is eflential 
 to conftitute a complete orator. How then fhall 
 I be able to fupport the joint- weight of an addi- 
 .tional burthen? It is true, hiftory and oratory 
 have in many points a general refemblancej yet 
 in thofe very articles in which they feem to 
 agree, there are feveral circumftances wherein 
 they differ. Narration is common to them both; 
 but narration of a diftinct kind. The former con- 
 tents itfelf frequently with common and familiar 
 facts; the latter requires fplendid, elevated, and 
 extraordinary events: ftrength and finews are fu- 
 ficient in tbat, but beauty and ornament are effen- 
 S 2 tial
 
 jt;6 THE LETTERS BookV. 
 
 tial to this: the excellency of the one confifts in a 
 ftrong, grave, and clofe ftile; of the other, in adif- 
 fufive, flowing, and harmonious diction : in fhort, 
 the words, the emphafis, and whole turn and ftruc- 
 ture of the refpective periods are extremely differ- 
 ent in thefe two arts. For, as Thucydides obferves, 
 there is a wide diftance between compofitions which 
 are calculated for a prefent $urpofe> and thofe which 
 are defigned to remain as lofting monuments to pof- 
 terity ; by the firft of which exprefiions he alludes 
 to Oratory, and by the other to Hiftory. For thefe 
 reafons I am not inclined to blend together two 
 performances of fuch diftinct natures, which, as 
 they are each of the higheft rank, neceflarily there- 
 fore require an undivided attention; left, confound- 
 ed by a crowd of incongruous ideas, I mould intro- 
 duce into the one what is only fuitable to the 
 other. Therefore, (to fpeak in the language of 
 our bar) I mufl beg leave that the cauje may 
 be adjourned. In the mean while, I refer it to 
 your confideration from what period I fhall com- 
 mence my hiftory. Shall I take it up from thofe 
 remote ages which have been treated of already 
 by others? In this way, indeed, the materials 
 will be ready prepared to my hands, but the col- 
 lating, of the feveral hiftorians will be a work 
 of great labour: or, fhall I treat only of the 
 prefcnt times, and in which no other author 
 has
 
 Book V. . O F P L I N Y. 277 
 
 has gone before me ? Iffo, I may probably give 
 offence to many, and pleafe but few. For, in an 
 age fo over-run with vice, you will find infinitely 
 more to condemn than approve - 3 yet your praife, 
 tho' ever fo lavifh, will be deemed too refcrved ; 
 and your cenfure, tho' ever fo cautious, too fevere. 
 However, this does not at all q^fcourage me ; for 
 I want not refolution to bear teftimony to truth. 
 I expeft then, that you prepare the . way which 
 you have pointed out to me, and determine what 
 fubjedt I (hall fix upon for my hiftory ; that when 
 I mall be ready to enter upon the taflc you have 
 affigned me, 1 may not be delayed by fome new 
 difficulty. FareweL 
 
 LETTER IX. To SATURNINUS. 
 
 OUR letter made very different impref- 
 fions upon me, as it brought me news 
 which I both rejoiced and grieved to receive. It 
 gave me pleafure when it informed me you were 
 detained in Rome j and tho' you will tell me 
 that circumftance affords you none, yet I can- 
 not but rejoice at it, fince you affaire me you 
 jfqiam there upon my account, and defer the 
 recital of your work till my return: for which 
 I am greatly obliged to you. But I was much 
 concerned at that article of your letter, which 
 $ 3 men-
 
 278 THE LETTERS Book V. 
 
 mentioned the dangerous illnefs of Julius Valens ~ 9 
 tho' indeed, with refpect to himfelf it ought to 
 affect me with other fentiments, as it cannot but 
 be for his advantage the fooner he is relieved by 
 death from a diftemper, of which there is no 
 hope he can ever be cured. But what you add 
 concerning Avitus, who died in his return from 
 the province where he had been Quaeftor, is 
 an accident too juftly demanding our forrow. 
 His dying on board a ftiip, at a diilance fom his 
 brother whom he tenderly loved, and from his 
 mother and fitters j are circumflances, which tho' 
 they cannot affect him now, yet undoubtedly em- 
 bittered his laft moments, and aggravate the af- 
 fliction of thofe friends he has left behind. How 
 fevere is the reflection, that a youth of his well- 
 formed difpofition fhould become extinct in the 
 prime of life, and (hatched from thofe high honours 
 to which his virtues, had they been permitted to 
 grow, to their full maturity, would certainly have 
 raifed him ] How did his bofom glow with the 
 love of the fine arts ! How many volumes has he 
 perufed ! How many treatifes has he tranfcribed ! 
 but the fruits of his labours are now perifhed with 
 himfelf, and for ever loft to pofterity. Yet why 
 indulge, my forrow? a paffion which, if not re- 
 {trained, always magnifies the flighted circum- 
 flances, and finds additional caufes to aggravate our 
 
 grief,
 
 Book V. O F P L I N Y. 279 
 
 grief. I will put an end therefore to my letter, 
 that I may to the tears which yours has drawn 
 from me. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER X. 7* ANTONINUS. 
 
 I A M never more fenfible of the fuperiour ex- 
 cellency of your verfes, than when I endea- 
 vour to imitate them. As the hand of the painter 
 muft always fail, when perfect beauty fits for the 
 picture-, fo I labour to catch the graces of my 
 original, but ftill fall fliort of them. Let me con- 
 jure you then to continue to fupply us with many 
 more fuch excellent models, which every man 
 muft wiih to imitate, but few, perhaps none, will 
 ever be able to equal. Farewel. 
 
 L E T T E R XI. To TRANQUILLUS. 
 
 IT is time you fhould acquit the promife my 
 verfes gave to our common friends, of your 
 works. The world is every day impatiently en- 
 quiring after them ; and there is fome danger of 
 your being fummoned in form to give an account 
 of your delay. I am myfelf a good deal back- 
 ward in publiming, but you are ftill flower. 
 You muft haften your hand, however j other- 
 wife the feverity of my fatire may perhaps extort 
 from you, what the blandishments of *ny fofter 
 S 4 mule
 
 THE LETTERS Book V. 
 
 mufe could not obtain. Your work is already 
 arrived to that degree of perfection, that the file 
 can only weaken, not polifh it. Allow me then 
 the pleafure of feeing your name in the title-page 
 of a book, and fuffer the works of my dear Tran- 
 quillus to be recited and tranfcribed, to be bought 
 and iead. It is but fair, and agreeable to our mu- 
 tual friendihip, that you fhould give me in return 
 the fame pleafure yeu receive from me. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XII. To FABATUS . 
 
 YOUR letter informs me that you have 
 creeled a noble b public portico, as 3, me- 
 morial of yourfelf and your fon; and that the next 
 day after the ceremony of opening it, you en- 
 gaged to repair and beautify the gates of our city 
 at your own charge : thus it is that you rife from 
 
 one 
 
 . a Grand-father to Calphurnia, Pliny's wife. 
 
 * Thefe porticos, which were carried to an extreme degree 
 of magnificence, ferved for various ufes ; fometimes for the 
 aliembiy of the Tenate, lometimes tor lla'.ds of the mod curi- 
 ous merchandize. But the general uf? they were put to was, 
 the pleafure of walking in them : like the prefent piazzas iq 
 Italy. [Fabri . Defcnpt. Rom. c. 13.] Hc-re likewife works 
 of genius were publicly recited, and ihe philofophers held their 
 difputations. The famous PosJle Portico, or piclure gallery 
 at Athens, muft have afforded the nobleft fcene of this kind 
 imaginable to a lover of the imitative arts ; Polygnotus, Pa- 
 nsenus, and all the great maflers of that elegant age, having 
 contributed to embeliim it with the fineft productions of their 
 pencils. Vid. Meurfii. Ath. At.l. I. c. 5.
 
 BookV. OF PLINY. 281 
 
 one aft of munificence to another! I take a 
 part, in every thing that concerns your glory; 
 which, from the alliance that fubfifts between 
 us, in fome degree redounds to mine ; and am 
 pleafed to fee the memory of my father-in-law 
 delivered down to pofterity by fuch beautiful 
 ftructures. I rejoice too, at the honour which 
 by this means refults to our native province : and as 
 every thing that tends to her advantage is highly- 
 agreeable to me, by what hand foever it may be 
 conferred ; fo particularly when it is by yours. I 
 have only to wilh that heaven may continue 
 to cherifh in you this generous fpiiit, and grant 
 you many years in which to exert it : for, your 
 bounty, I am well perfuaded, will not terminate 
 here, but extend itfelf to farther afts of munificence. 
 Generofity, when once (he is fet forward, knows 
 not how to flop; and the more familiar we are 
 with the lovely form, the more enamoured we be- 
 come of her charms. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XIII. fo SCAURUS. 
 
 HAving thoughts of publifhing a little fpeech 
 which I have compofcd, I invited fome of 
 my friends whofe judgments I refpeft, to attend 
 (he recital ; and that 1 might be more fecure of 
 
 hearing
 
 282 THE LETTERS Book V. 
 
 hearing the truth of their fentiments, I felefted 
 only a linail number. I have a double view in 
 thefe rehearfals ; the firft is, that the fchcitude of 
 being approved by the audience may excite my 
 attention j the next, that thofe errors which par- 
 tiality to myfelf concealed from my own obfer- 
 yation, may be pointed out to me. I fucceeded in 
 my defign, and my friends obliged me with their 
 fincere opinions ; as I likewife difcovered in my 
 turn forrie pafTages which required correction. I 
 fend you the piece therefore as it is now altered. 
 The occafion of my compofmg it will appear from 
 the title, and for the reft I refer you to the fpeech $ 
 which I hope you will perufe fo carefully, as not 
 to fland in need of a preface. I intreat you to 
 tell me fmcerdy your fentiments of the whole, and 
 of its feveral parts : I fhall be more difpofed to 
 fuppreis or publiih it, as your judgment fhall in-* 
 ^Hne either way. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XIV. To VALERIANUS. 
 
 \7" O U defire me to Inform you (agreeably * to 
 
 ** my promife) what fuccefs attended Nepos 
 
 in his accufation of Tufcillinus Nominatus. The 
 
 latter 
 * See letter the 4th of this book
 
 Book V. O F P L I N Y. 283 
 
 latter being brought before the fenate, pleaded his 
 own caufe, tho* indeed no perfon appeared to fup- 
 port the accufation. On the contrary, the deputies 
 from the Vicentini were fo far from attempting to 
 prove their charge, that they favoured his defence. 
 The fum of what he urged in his own behalf was; 
 " That it was his courage and not his integrity 
 " had failed him; that he fet-out with a defign 
 " of pleading the caufe, and acbualJy came in- 
 " to the fenate for that purpofe, but being dif- 
 *' couraged by his friends, he withdrew; that they 
 " diffuaded him from perfifting to oppofc (efpe- 
 <f daily in the fenate) the inclinations of a 
 tc fenator, who did not contend fo much for 
 {{ the fair itfelf, as for his own credit and cha- 
 <f rafter, which he Jooked upon as concerned in 
 " this caufe j that if you fhould not defift, he would 
 * fuffer greater indignities than in his former 
 " pleading." (And there were fome, tho' indeed 
 but a few, who exprefled high indignation at his 
 fpeech.) He proceeded to implore the clemency 
 of the fenate with tears in his eyes; prudently 
 endeavouring throughout his whole fpeech (as he 
 is a man extremely well verfed in the arts of ora- 
 tory) to appear rather to fue for pardon than forjuf- 
 dce. Afranius Dexter, the conful elect, moved for 
 accpkting him: and the purport of his fpeech 
 
 was
 
 28 4 THE LETTERS Book V. 
 
 was to this effect; " That Nominatus would 
 " have acted more prudently if he had gone 
 *^thro-' the caufe of the Vicentini with the fame 
 " refolution he began it: however, fince it did 
 " not appear he had been guilty of this neglect 
 ce with any fraudulent defign, and that he had not 
 "been convicted of any thing which merited 
 <c public animadverfion, it was his opinion he 
 " ought to be acquitted, but that he fhould re- 
 < c turn to the Vicentini whatever gratuity he had 
 <* received from them." This motion was ap- 
 proved by the whole fenate except Flavius Aper: 
 Jiis opinion was, that he fhould be fufpended 
 from exercifmg the profeflion of an advocate 
 during five years: and akho' he could not prevail 
 with any member to adopt his fentiments, he 
 obltinately perfifted in them. He even compelled 
 Dexter, who fpoke firft on the oppofite fide, to 
 take an oath that he really thought the motion a he- 
 had made was for the benefit of the republic; 
 agreeably to a law which he produced concern- 
 ing the affembling of the fenate b . But this, not- 
 withftanding it was certainly legal, was oppoftd by 
 fome, who thought it a. reflection upon Dexter, as if 
 
 he 
 Dexter, 
 
 b The law rJloded to is not now to be found intire in any 
 Roman writer, but it appears from certain fcattered paflages, 
 in different antient authors, to have contained, among oinef 
 .directions, the article mentioned in the text, 
 
 ife
 
 BookV. OF PLINY. 285 
 
 he had been unduly influenced in his opinion. But 
 before the votes of the houfe were collected; Nigri- 
 nus, a tribune of the people, read a very elegant and 
 fenfible remonftrance, wherein he ftrongly com- 
 plained that the profefTion of the law was becomtf 
 venal, and that the advocates took money, even to 
 betray the caufe of their clients ; that they made a 
 ihameful trade of their function ; and that mftead 
 of honour, which was formerly their only reward, 
 they now lived upon the fpoils of their fellow- 
 citizens, from whom they received large and an- 
 nual ftipends. He gave the fenate a fummary ac- 
 count of the laws which had been made upon 
 this fubjecV and reminded them likewife of their 
 own decrees to the fame purpofe: he conclu- 
 ded with obferving, that fince both the autho- 
 rity of the laws and of the fenate had been con- 
 temned, it was highly neceffary to addrefs the em- 
 peror that he would be pleafed himfelf to inter- 
 pofe, and provide fome remedy to fo great an evil. 
 Accordingly a few days after, an edift was pub- 
 lifhed, drawn up with a proper mixture of mild- 
 nefs and feverity: for which I refer you to the 
 journals of the public b . I cannot but congratu- 
 late myfelf upon this occafion, that in all the 
 caufes in which I have been concerned, I never 
 
 made 
 
 * SeeB. 7. let. 33. note 6 .
 
 286 THE LETTERS Book V. 
 
 made any bargain, or received any fee, reward, or 
 even prefent whatfoever. One ought no doubt, 
 to avoid whatever is mean and unworthy, not fo 
 much becaufe it is illegal, as becaufe it is difho- 
 nourable. But ftill there is great fatisfaclion in find- 
 ing the legiflature levelling ks prohibitions againft 
 a practice, which one never fuffered one's felf to 
 follow. The glory of my conduct may, or rather 
 indeed moft certainly will, be confiderably eclipfed, 
 when this rcftraint fhall univerfally prevail by 
 compulfion, which I always laid upon myfelf by 
 choice. In the mean time, however, I enjoy the 
 pleafure of my friends jefts, while fome tell me I 
 certainly forefaw this edict j and others, that it 
 was particularly levelled againft my avarice and 
 extortion. Farewel. 
 
 L E T T E R XV. fo PONTIUS. 
 
 I Was at Comum when I heard that Cornutus 
 Tertullus had accepted the furveyorfhip a of the 
 Mmilizn way. This news was inexprefiibly agreea- 
 
 ble 
 
 * This was an office of great dignity among the Romans, 
 and ufaally conferred upon thofe who had been confuls. 
 Thus Csefar is mentioned by Plutarch as furveyorof the Appian 
 way. Thefe roads extended to a great diftance from the city 
 on all fides, the moft noble of which was the Appian, computed 
 to reach three hundred and fifty miles. Mr. Wright in his 
 travels fpeaking of this road, obferves, that tho' it be much 
 
 " broken
 
 BookV. OF PLINY. 267 
 
 ble to me, both upon his account and my own : 
 upon his, becaufe tho' ambition fhonld be (as it 
 certainly is) far removed from his heart, yet it can- 
 not but be acceptable to him to receive fo great 
 an honour without feeking it; upon mine, becaufe 
 it heightens the fatisfadtioa which refults from my 
 own office, to fee a man of fo diftinguifhed a 
 character as Cornutus appointed to one of the 
 fame b nature : for, to be placed in the fame 
 rank with the worthy, is an honour equal to an 
 encreafe of dignities. And where indeed is the 
 man who exceeds Cornutus in merit and vir- 
 tue? Or whofe conduct is a more exprefs model 
 of ancient manners ? In faying this, I do not found 
 my judgment upon fame ; which however, with 
 great juftice, fpeaks of him in the higheft terms j 
 but upon long and repeated experience. We have 
 ever been joined in the fame friendfhips with the 
 m.oft fhining characters of both fexes, which this 
 age has produced : an union that ftrongly cemented 
 our mutual amity. To thefe private ties were 
 added thofe of a more public nature: he was 
 
 my 
 
 ** broken in feveral places, and travelling over It very bad, in 
 others it is wonderfully well preferved, notwith Handing it 
 be computed near two thoufand years old. They are paved 
 with fuch hard itones, that they are rather polifhed than 
 worn, and fo well joined, that in feme places the whole 
 breadth of the way feems one intire piece." 
 
 k It appears byfome ancient infcriptions ftill remaining, 
 that Pliny was furveyor of the river Tiber and its banks; to 
 which o%e it is probable he here alludes.
 
 288 THE LETTERS BookV. 
 
 my colleague in the treafury, as well as in 
 the confulfhip : and in both inftafices I could not 
 have afled with, a man more agreeable to my 
 wilhes. Thefe were opportunities of gaining a 
 thorough knowledge of his uncommon virtues : I 
 followed him therefore as a guide, and revered him 
 as a parent, not fo much upon account of his 
 age as his merit. Accordingly, I rejoice no lefs 
 for my own fake than for his, and upon a public 
 as well as a private confideration ; fince virtue 
 is no longer as formerly % expofed to the moft 
 cruel dangers, but advanced to the nobleft dig- 
 nities. But if I were to indulge the joyous fen- 
 timents I feel upon this occafion, I fhould ne- 
 ver have finifhed my letter. Let me turn then 
 to an account of what I was doing when your 
 meffenger arrived. He found me with my wife's 
 grandfather and aunt, together with feveral other 
 friends, whofe company I had not enjoyed for 
 a confiderable time : I was traverfing my grounds, 
 hearing the complaints of the farmers, running 
 over their tedious accounts, and had before me 
 papers and letters far different from thofe to 
 which my inclination early devoted me: in a 
 word, I was preparing to return to Rome. For 
 I have obtained but a fhort leave of abfence ; 
 and indeed the news of this office being con- 
 ferred on Cornutus, reminds me to haften to 
 
 the 
 c Alluding to the times of Nero and Domitian.
 
 Cook V. O F P L I N Y. 289 
 
 the duties of my own. I hope your favourite 
 Campania will refign you about the fame time ; fo 
 that when I return to Rome, not a day may be loft 
 to our focial intercourfe. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XVI. STo MARCELLINUS* 
 
 I WRITE to you, impreffed with the deepeft 
 forrow : the youngeft daughter of my intimate 
 friend Fundanus is dead ! Never furely was there a 
 more agreeable and more amiable young perfon, or 
 one who better deferved to have enjoyed a long, I 
 had almoft faid, an immortal life ! She was fcarce- 
 ly fourteen, and yet united the wifdom of age and 
 difcretion of a matron, with the fprightlinefs of 
 youth, and fweetnefs of virgin modefty. With what 
 an endearing fondnefs did me hang on her father's 
 neck ! How kindly and refpectfully behave to us 
 his friends ! How affectionately treat all thofe who, 
 in their refpective offices, had the care of her edu- 
 cation ! She employed much of her time in ftudy 
 and reading; indulged herfelf in few diverfions, 
 and entered even into thofe with fmgular caution 
 and referve. With what forbearance, with what 
 patience, with what fortitude did me endure her 
 laft illnefs ! She complied with all the directions of 
 her phyficians ; encouraged the hopes of her fifter, 
 VOL. I. T and
 
 S 9 o THE LETTERS Book V. 
 
 and her father j and when her ftrength was totally 
 exhaufted, fupported her fpirits by the fole force 
 of her own mind. The vigour of her mind 
 indeed, continued even to her laft moments, 
 unbroken by the pain of a long illnefs, or the 
 terrors of approaching death : a reflection which 
 renders the lofs of her fo much the more fen- 
 fibly to be lamented by us. It is a lofs in- 
 finitely indeed fevere! and aggravated by the 
 particular conjuncture in which it happened ! She 
 was contracted to a moft worthy youth j the 
 wedding day was fixed, and we were all invited. 
 How fad a change from the higheft joy, to the deep- 
 eft forrow ! How Ihall I exprefs the wound that 
 pierced my heart, when I heard Fundanus him- 
 felf (as grief is ever fond of dwelling upon every 
 circumilance to increafe the affliction) ordering the 
 money he had defigned to lay out upon cloaths and 
 jewels for her marriage, to be employed in myrrh 
 and fpices for her funeral ? He is a man of great 
 good fenfe and accomplifhments, having applied 
 himfelf, from his earliefl youth, to the nobleft 
 arts and fciences ; but all the maxims of fortitude 
 and philofophy which he has derived from books, 
 or delivered by his own precepts, he now abfolute- 
 ty rejects ; and every firmer virtue of his heart 
 gives place to paternal tendernefs. You will ex- 
 cufe, you will even approve his grief, when you 
 confider what a lofs he has fuftained ! He has loll 
 X a daughter
 
 BooicV. OF PLINY. 291 
 
 a daughter who refembled him in his manners, as 
 well as his perfon, and exactly copied out all her 
 father. If you fhould think proper to write to him 
 upon the fubject of a calamity fo juftly to be de- 
 plored, let me remind you not to urge feverer 
 arguments of confolation, which feem to carry a 
 fort of reproof with them, but to ufe thofe only of a 
 gentle and fympathizing humanity. Time will 
 render him more open to the dictates of reafon 
 for, as a recent wound fkrinks from the hand of 
 the furgeon, but gradually fubmits to, and even 
 requires the means of cure; fo a mind under 
 the firft impreflion of a misfortune (huns and re- 
 jects all the perfuafions of reafon, but at length, 
 if applied with tendernefs, calmly and willingly 
 refigns itfelf to confolation. pareweL 
 
 LETTER XVIl. fo SPURINNA. 
 
 KNowiNO, as I do, how much you admire 
 the polite arts, and what fatisfaction yoti 
 take in feeing young men of quality purfue the 
 fteps of their anceftors, I feize this earlieft oppor- 
 tunity of informing you, that I went to-day to 
 hear Calpurnius Pifo read an elegant and fpirited 
 poem he has compofed, entitled the Sports ofLovtt 
 His numbers, which were elegiac, were tender, 
 fweet, and flowing, at the fame time that they 
 T a occafionalty
 
 <2 9 2 THE LETTERS Book V. 
 
 occafionally rofe into all the fublimity of diction 
 which the natare of his fubject required. He varied 
 his ftile from the lofty to the fimple, from the clofe 
 to the copious, from the grave to the florid, with 
 equal genius and judgment. Thefe beauties were 
 much improved and recommended by a moft 
 harmonious voice ; which a very becoming mo- 
 defty rendered flill more pleafmg. A confufion and 
 concern in the countenance of a fpeaker cafts a 
 grace upon all he utters j for, there is a certain de- 
 cent timidity which, I- know not how, is infinite- 
 ly more engaging than the allured and felf-fuffi- 
 cient air of confidence. I might mention feve- 
 ral other circumftances to his advantage, and am 
 the more inclined to point them out, as they are 
 exceedingly ftriking in a perfon of his age, and are 
 moft uncommon in a youth of his quality : but not 
 to enter into a farther detail of his merit, I will only 
 add, that when he had finimed his poem, I 
 embraced him with the utmoft complacency j and 
 being perfuaded that nothing is a greater encou- 
 ragement than applaufe, I exhorted him to perfe- 
 vere in the paths he had entered, and to Ihine out 
 to pofterity with the fame glorious luitre, which 
 was reflected upon him from his anceftors. I con- 
 gra.ulated his excellent mother, and particularly his 
 brother, who gained as much honour by the generous 
 affection he difcovered upon thisoccafionas Calpnr- 
 
 nius
 
 BookV. OF PLINY. 293, 
 
 nius did by his eloquence ; To remarkable a folici- 
 tude he mowed for him when he began to recite 
 his poem, and fo much pleafure in his fuccefs. 
 May the gods grant -me frequently to have it 
 in my power to fend you accounts of this nature! 
 for I have a partiality to the age in which I live, 
 and mould rejoice to find it not barren of merit. 
 I ardently wifh, therefore, our young men of qua- 
 lity would have fomething elfe to mew of honour- 
 able memorial in their houfes than the a images of 
 their anceftors. As for thofe which are placed in the 
 manfion of thefe excellent youths ; I figure them to 
 myfelf as filently applauding and encouraging their 
 purfuits, and (what is a fufficient glory to both the 
 Brothers) as recognizing their kindred. Farewel, 
 
 LETTER XVIII. ft MACER. 
 
 ALL is well with me, fince it is fo with you. 
 ** You are happy, I find, in the company of 
 your wife and fon; and are enjoying the pleafures- 
 of the fea, the freflinefs of the fountains, the ver- 
 dure of the fields, and the elegancies of a moft 
 T 3 agreeable 
 
 * None had the right of ufing family pi&ures or ftatues, 
 but thofe whofe anceftors or themfelves had borne fome of 
 the higheft dignities. So that the jus imaginis was much 
 the fame thing among the Romans, as the right of bearing 
 coat of arms among us. K^n. antiq.
 
 294 THE LETTERS Book V, 
 
 agreeable villa: for fo I judge it to be, fince a 
 He who was perfectly happy ere fortune had raifed 
 him to what is generally efteemed the higheft point 
 of human felicity, chofe it for the place of his re- 
 tirement. As for myfelf, I am employed at my 
 Tufcan villa in hunting and ftudying, fometimes 
 alternately, and fometimes both together b j but I 
 am not yet able to determine in which, of thofe 
 purfuits it is moft difficult to fucceed, Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XIX. 70PAULINUS, 
 
 AS I know the humanity with which you treat 
 your own fervants, I do not fcruple to con- 
 fefs to you the indulgence I fhew to mine. I have 
 ever in my mind Homer's e character of Ulyfles a 
 Whojwafd bis people with a father's love: 
 
 And the very expreffion d in our language for the 
 head of a family, fuggefls the rule of one's conduct: 
 towards it. But were I naturally of a rough and 
 hardened caft of temper, the ill ftate of health of 
 
 my 
 
 * It is fuppofed by Come commentators, that Pliny alludes 
 here to Nerva, who being fufpefted by Domitian, was ordered 
 by that emperor to retire to Tarentum, where without any 
 views of reigning, he quietly fet down in the enjoyment of a 
 private life. 
 
 b See B. i . let. 6. and the note there. 
 
 c Odyff. 1. 5. n. 
 
 d The Latin word for a mailer of a family, implies 3 
 father of a family.
 
 BookV. OF PLINY. 295 
 
 my freedman Zofimus (who has the ftronger 
 claim to a humane treatment at my hands, as 
 he now ftands much in need of it) would be 
 fufficient to foften me. He is a perfon of great 
 worth, diligent in his fervices, and well fkilled 
 in literature i but his chief talent, and indeed his 
 diflinguifhing qualification, is chat of a comedian, 
 wherein he highly excels. He pronounces with 
 great judgment, propriety, and gracefulnefs : he 
 has a very good hand too upon the lyre, and per- 
 forms with more {kill than is neceffary for one of 
 his profeflion. To this I muft add, he reads hif- 
 tory, oratory, and poetry, as perfectly well as if it 
 had been the fole object of his ftudy. I am the 
 more particular in enumerating his qualifications, 
 that you may fee how many agreeable fervices I 
 receive from him. He is indeed endeared to me 
 by the ties of a long affection, which is height- 
 ened by the danger he is now in. For, nature has 
 fo formed our hearts, that nothing contributes 
 more to enframe our paffion for any enjoyment, 
 than the apprehenfion of being deprived of it : 
 a fentiment which Zofimus has given me occa- 
 fion to experience more than once. Some years 
 ago, he ftrained his lungs fo much by too vehe- 
 ment an exertion of his voice, that he fpit blood j 
 upon which account I fent him into c Egypt j 
 T 4 from 
 
 c The Roman phyficians ufed to fend their patients in con- 
 fujnpuve cafes into Egypt, particularly to Alexandria.
 
 296 THE LETTERS Book V, 
 
 from whence, after a long abfence, he lately re- 
 turned with great benefit to his health. But hav- 
 ing again exerted himfelf for feveral days toge- 
 ther beyond his ftrength, he was reminded of his 
 former malady, by a flight return of his cough, and 
 a fpitting of blood. For this reafon I intend to 
 fend him to your farm at d Forum- Julii, having 
 frequently heard you mention it as an exceeding 
 fine air, and recommend the milk of that place 
 as very falutary in diforders of this nature. I beg 
 you would give directions to your people to re- 
 ceive him into your houfe, and to fupply him 
 -<with what he mail have occafion for ; which will 
 not be much j for, he is fo temperate as not only 
 to abftain from delicacies, but even to deny him- 
 felf the necefTaries his ill ftate of health requires. 
 I mail furnifh him towards his journey with what- 
 ever will be fufficient for one of his abflemious 
 turn, who is coming under your roof. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XX. ft URSUS. 
 
 SOON after the Bithynians had finifhed 
 their profecution of Julius Baffus, they alfo 
 impeached their late governour Rufus Varenus; 
 
 whq 
 
 * Frejus iq Prpvcnce, the fouthern part of France,
 
 Book V. O F P L I N Y. 497 
 
 .who had been juft before, (and that too at their own 
 requeft) appointed counfel for them againft Baffus. 
 Being introduced into the fenate, they petitioned, 
 that an enquiry might be made into his conduct. 
 Varenus, on the other hand, begged that all pro- 
 ceedings might be flayed till he could fend for the 
 witnefies neceflfary to his defence : but this be- 
 ing oppofed by the Bythinians, that point was de- 
 bated. I was counfel (and no unfuccefsful one) 
 for Varenus ; but whether a truely able advocate or 
 not, you will judge when you read my fpeech. For- 
 tune has a very confiderable fhare in the event 
 of every caufe: the fagacity, the voice, the man- 
 ner of the orator, even the circumftance of time 
 itfelf; in a word, the general difpofition of the fe- 
 nate, as it .is either favourable or adverfe to the 
 accufed, all confpire to influence the decifion. But 
 when a fpeech is read in the clofet, it is ftripped 
 of all thefe external circumftances, and has no- 
 thing to fear or hope from favour or prejudice, 
 from lucky or unlucky accidents. Fonteius 
 Magius one of the Bythynians, replied to me 
 with great pomp of words, and very little to 
 the purpofe: a character applicable to many of 
 the Greek orators, as well as to himfelf. They 
 iiiiftake volubility for copioufnefs, and thus over- 
 whelm you with an endlefs torrent of cold' 
 
 and
 
 298 THE LETTERS Book V. 
 
 and unaffe&ing periods 6 . Julius Candidus ufed, 
 very juftly, to fay, eloquence is one thing, and 
 loquacity another. Eloquence indeed is the talent 
 of very few; or rather, if we believe Mar- 
 cus Antonius, of none f : but that faculty which 
 Candidus called loquacity, is common to numbers, 
 and generally attends impudence. The next day 
 Homulus fpoke in defence of Varenus with great 
 art, ftrength, and elegance; to whom Nigrinus 
 made a very concife, but pertinent, and graceful 
 reply. It was the opinion of Acilius Rufus, 
 the conful elect, that the Bithynians mould be 
 permitted to prefent their informations but he 
 
 took 
 
 e This verbofe and turgid {tile, which Pliny here condemns, 
 the elegant Petronius likewife mentions with equal contempt, 
 and reprefents it as having firft began to infect the purity of 
 Attic eloquence, about this time. This falfe fpecies of oratory 
 fpread to Athens from Afia, where the fwelling and highly 
 figurative ftile has prevailed, from the earlieft accounts we have 
 of thofe people, to this day. Vid. Petron. fatir. fub init. 
 
 f The great matters among the ancients, in eloquence, as well 
 as thofe in all other of the fine arts, heated their imaginations 
 with a certain ideal perfection, which as they could not explain 
 in what it con filled, fo neither, they owned, could they reach 
 in their refpective works. But however national this fupreme 
 beauty, this TO wporo* and decorum, as it was called, might be, 
 yet it was productive of very real and fubftantial excellencies ; 
 and while the geniufes of the feveral artifts were flretching 
 after this flying form, they reached thofe glorious productions 
 that have been the admired models to all fucceeding ages. 
 Agreeably to this high enthufiafm, Marcus Antonius, who 
 bears a part in Tully's dialogue intitled The Orator, fays, that 
 " in his earlier years he publiftied a treatife upon that fubject, 
 *' wherein ihe aflerted, that tho' he had known fome few in- 
 
 ' deed.
 
 Book V. O F P L I N Y. 29 j 
 
 took no notice of the petition of Varenus; which 
 was only another way of putting his negative upon 
 it. Cornelius Prifcus, formerly conful, declared 
 that he thought the requeft of both parties fhould 
 be granted : and his opinion prevailed. Thus 
 we gained our point; and tho' we had not the 
 Authority either of law or ufage on our fide, yet 
 certainly the thing we infifted upon was perfectly 
 fquitable. But I will not in this place anticipate 
 my reafons for thinking fo, that you may be 
 more impatient turn to my fpeech. For if it be 
 true, as Homer fmgs, that 
 
 Novel 
 
 " deed, who deferved to be called orators, in the popular fenfe 
 .*' of that word, yet he had met with none who had ever ar- 
 " rived at true eloquence." (Vid. Tull. de orat. lib. I.) and to 
 that treatife, Pliny, it is probable, here alludes. " All the 
 c fciences indeed (as a very ingenious author obferves) have 
 " their particular chimeras ; certain fancied points after 
 " which they run, without ever being able to overtake, but 
 ." which lead, however, to very folid acquisitions. Thus (fays 
 ' that writer) chemiftry has its philofopher's ftone; geometry 
 5 its quadrature of the circle; aftronomy its longitude; me- 
 " chanics its perpetual motion : thefe, tho' it is impoflible 
 .' to find, it is ufeful to enquire after. Morality too is not 
 " without her chimeras; pure difmtereftednefs and perfecT: 
 " friendfhip are of that fort: none will ever arrive at them; 
 " neverthelefs, it is proper to have them in view, at leaft by 
 " that means feveral other virtues may be acquired. It is 
 " neceffary in all things to propofe to ourfelves a certain point 
 " of perfection beyond our abilities to reach ; for, we fhould 
 " never fet out if we thought of arriving no farther than we 
 " (hall in faft : it is expedient therefore, to have fome itnagi- 
 " nary term in aim, in order to forward and animate our pur- 
 ." fuus." Fontenelle dial, des marts.
 
 THE LETTERS Book V. 
 
 - - Novellays attraft our ravijh'd ears ; 
 But old, the mind with inattention hears g : 
 
 I will not fuffer the intemperate loquacity of my 
 ktter to defpoil my fpeech of its principal flower, 
 by depriving it of that novelty which is indeed its 
 chief recommendation. Farewel, 
 
 LETTER XXI. <?o RUFUS. 
 
 I Went into the Julian a court to attend a caufc 
 in which at the next fitting I was to reply, 
 The judges had taken their feats, the b Decemviri 
 were arrived, the eyes of the audience were fixed 
 upon the counfel, and all was hufhed in filence and 
 expectation, when an order arrived from the 
 Brsetor, that the court mould be adjourned : a cir- 
 cumftance extremely agreeable to me, who am ne-r 
 ver fo well prepared, but that I am glad of gaining 
 farther- time. The occafion of the court's rifing 
 thus abruptly, was an edicl: of Nepos, the Prastor 
 for criminal caufes, wherein he ordered all per- 
 fons concerned as plaintiffs or defendants in any 
 
 caufe 
 
 * Pope. 
 
 a A court of juftice. 
 
 b The Decemviri feem to have been magiftrates for the 
 adminiftration of .juftice, fubordinate to the Prcetors, who (to 
 wive the Englifh reader a general notion of their office) may 
 be termed lords chief juitices, as the judges here mentione4 
 were foniewhat in the nature of our juries.
 
 BookV. OF PLINY. 3 oi 
 
 caufe before him, to take notice, that he defigned 
 ftriftly to put in force the decree of the fenate 
 annexed to his cdid. This decree was expreflcd 
 in the following words : ALL PERSONS WHO- 
 SOEVER, THAT HAVE ANY LAW-SUITS DEPEND- 
 ING, ARE HEREBY REQUIRED *KND COMMANDED, 
 BEFORE ANY PROCEEDINGS BE HAD THEREON, 
 TO TAKE AN OATH THAT THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN, 
 PROMISED, OR ENGAGED TO GIVE, ANY FEE OR 
 REWARD TO ANY ADVOCATE UPON ACCOUNT OF 
 HIS UNDERTAKING THEIR CAUSE. In thefe terms, 
 
 and many others equally full and exprefs, the 
 lawyers ar,e prohibited to make their profefllon 
 venal. However, after the caufe fhall be decided, 
 they are permitted to accept a gratuity of ten 
 thoufand fefterces c . The Prastor for civil caufes, 
 being alarmed at the unexpected edift of Nepos, 
 gave us this welcome relaxation, in order to take 
 time to confider whether he mould follow the ex- 
 ample. In the mean while, the town is much di- 
 vided in its fentiments of this injunction, forrie ex- 
 tremely approving, and others <js much condemn- 
 ing it. We have gotten itfeems at laft (fay the latter 
 with a fneer) a redrejfir of abufes. But pray, was 
 there never any Praetor before this man ? and what 
 are His pretenjions thusforwardly to Jet up for a re- 
 former ? Others, on the contrary, fay, that he has 
 
 taken 
 
 * About 8oL of our money.
 
 302 THE LETTERS Book V, 
 
 taken a very proper meafure upon entering into 
 his office j that he has paid obedience to the laws ; 
 confidered the decrees of the fenate ; fuppreffed a 
 moft indecent traffic ; and will not fuffer the mod 
 honourable of all profeflions to be debafed into a 
 fordid commerce of lucre, Thefe are the dif- 
 ferent reflections which are thrown out upon 
 this occafion ; but which fide (hall be thought to 
 judge moft rightly, the refult alone will determine. 
 It is the ufual cuftom of the world, (tho* a very 
 unequitable rule of eftimation,) to pronounce an 
 action to be either right or wrong, as it is attended 
 with good or ill fuccefs : and accordingly, you 
 fhall hear the very fame conduct attributed to zeal 
 or folly, to liberty, or licentioufnefs, as the event 
 happens to prove. Farewel. 
 
 THE
 
 ( 303 ) 
 
 T H K 
 
 LETTERS 
 
 O F 
 
 FLINT. 
 
 BOOK VI. 
 
 LETTER I. ?*TYRO. 
 
 I WAS lefs fenfible of your abfence while you 
 were in the country of the Piceni % and I on 
 the other fide the Po b , than I find myfelfnow 
 that I am returned to Rome. Whether it be 
 that the fcene where we ufed to meet, naturally 
 excites a more pafiionate remembrance of you; 
 or that the lefs diftant we are from a friend, 
 the more impatient we feel under the feparation, 
 (our defires for a favourite object rifing in propor- 
 tion 
 
 a The marquifate of Ancona. 
 * At Comum.
 
 304 THE LETTERS Book vi 
 
 tion to our nearer approach towards it) I know 
 not. But upon whatever principle this difference 
 is to be accounted for, remove the uneafmefs of 
 it, I intreat you, by haftening hither: otherwife 
 I s fhall return again into the country which I too 
 haftily left, were , it only to make the experi-tient 
 whether, when you fhall not find me at Rome,' 
 you will fend the farrie affectionate regrets after 
 me as I have expreffed refpeding .you in this letter, 
 FareweL- 
 
 LETTER II. ? 
 
 IWiLL not fay I lament the death of Regulus/ 
 but I confefs, I fometimes mifs him at tHe 
 bar. The man, it mud be owned, held the ftudy 
 of eloquence in high honour, and was indefatigable 
 In his endeavours to become an orator. If, indeed, 
 he could never leave off the ridiculous cuftom of 
 anointing his right or left eye, a and wearing a 
 white patch over one fide or the other of his fore- 
 head, as he wa# to plead either for the plaintiff 
 or defendant; if he always, with a moft foolifh 
 fuperflition, confulted the footh-fayers upon the 
 event of every caufe in which he was concerned j 
 ftill all thefe abfurdities proceeded from his 
 
 profound 
 
 * This filly piece of Tuperftition feems to have been pecu- 
 liar to Regulus, and not of any general pradice.
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 30$ 
 
 profound veneration of eloquence. It was ex- 
 tremely convenient to be concerned in the fame 
 caufe with him, as he always petitioned the court 
 that his pleadings, and thofe of the advocates joined 
 with him, might not be limited in point of time ; 
 'and alfo as he never failed to procure an audience : 
 for, what could be more deferable than, under the 
 protection of an invidious requeft which you did 
 hot make yourfelf, and before an audience too 
 which you had not the trouble of collecting 11 , to 
 harangue without interruption, and as long as you 
 thought proper ? Neverthelefs Regulus did well to 
 depart^ tho' indeed he would have done much bet- 
 ter had he made his exit fooner; fince he might 
 now, in the feign of a prince under whom he 
 would have no opportunity of effecting i.is ma- 
 levolent purpofes, have continued to live on, 
 without having it any longer in his power to be 
 a public mifchief. I need not fcruple therefore, I 
 think, to fay I fometimes feel the lofs of this man: 
 for, fince his death, the cuftom has prevailed of 
 not allowing, nor indeed of afking, more than 
 an hour or two to plead, and fometimes not 
 above half that time. The trtith -is, our ad- 
 vocates take more plea r ure in finifhing a caufe, 
 than in defending it j and our judges had rather 
 *ife from the bench than fit upon it: fuch is 
 
 their 
 
 * This feetns to allude to a cuftoin which the author repre- 
 hends B. ii. let. 14. pp. too, lot. 
 
 VOL. I. U
 
 3 c6 THE LETTERS BookVl. 
 
 their indolence, and fuch their difregard to the 
 honour of eloquence and the intereft of juftice ! 
 Bur are we wifer than our anceftors ? are we more 
 equitable than the laws, which grant fo many 
 hours and days, and adjournments, to a caufe ? 
 were our fore-fathers flow of apprehenfion, and 
 dull beyond meafure ? and are we more perfpicuous 
 in our oratory, more quick in our conceptions, or 
 more fcrupulous in . our decifions, becaufe we 
 difpatch our caufes in fewer hours than they took 
 days to confider them ? What a reproach is it, 
 Regulus, that none could refufe to the importunity 
 of thy vain-glorious felicitations, what few will 
 yield even to the duty of their office ! As for myfelf, 
 wht never I fit upon the bench, (which is much 
 oftner than I appear at the bar) I always give 
 the advocates as much time as they defire: for, 
 I look upon it as highly prefuming, to pretend 
 to guefs before a eaufe is heard, what time the 
 difcuffion will require, and to fet limits to the 
 examination of -a queftion before one is ac- 
 quainted with t hs full extent; efpecially as the 
 firft and moft facred duty of a judge is pa- 
 tience, which indeed is itfelf a very ccnfiderable 
 .part of juftice. But, this, 'tis objected, would 
 give an opening to much impertinent fuperfluity : 
 I grant it may ; yet is it not better to hear too 
 much, than not to hear enough? Befides, how 
 ihall you know that what an advocate has farther 
 8 to
 
 Sook VI. O F P L I N Y. 307 
 
 to offer will be fuperfluous, 'till you have heard 
 him ? But this, and many other public abufes, 
 will be beft refer ved to a converfation when we 
 meet ; for, I know your affection to the common- 
 wealth inclines you to wifh, that fome means 
 might be found to check at leaft thofe grievances, 
 which would now be very difficult abfolutely to 
 remove. But to turn to affairs of private con- 
 cern j I hope all goes well in your family : mine 
 remains in its ufual fituatipn. The' happinefs 
 I enjoy, becomes more acceptable to me by irs 
 continuance, and habit renders me lefs fenfible of 
 the infelicities I fuffer. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER III. ?o VEHUS. 
 
 I A M much obliged to you for undertaking the 
 care of that little farm I gave to my nun';. 
 It was worth, when I made her a prefeht of it, an 
 hundred thoufand a fefterces ; but the crops having 
 fince failed, it has funk in its value : however, i: 
 will thrive again, I doubt not, under your good 
 management. But what I recommend to ycur 
 attention is, not fo much the land itfrlf, (which, 
 yet I by no means except) as the inrercll of my 
 particular benefa<flion j for it is not more her cc 
 cern than mine, to render it as aslvant .. js as 
 poflib'lc. Fare 
 
 * About 8ool. of our money. 
 
 U 2 LET-
 
 308 THE LETTERS Book Vt 
 
 N 
 
 LETTER IV. 20 CALPHURNIA 3 . 
 EVER was bufmefs more uneafy to me, 
 
 than when it prevented me not only from 
 attending, but following you into b Campania. As 
 at all times, fb particularly now, I wifh to be with 
 you, that I may be a witncfs what progrefs you 
 make in the recovery of your ftrength, and how 
 the tranquillity, the amufements, and plenty of that 
 charming country agrees with you. Were you in 
 perfect health, yet I could ill fupport your abfence ; 
 for, even a moment's uncertainty of the welfare of 
 thofe we tenderly love, is a fituation of mind in- 
 finitely painful : but at prefent, your ficknefs con- 
 fpires with your abfence to alarm me with a 
 thoufand difquietudes. I fear every thing that 
 can befall you, and, as is ufual with all under the 
 fame anxious apprehenfions, fufpecl: moil, what I 
 moil dread. Let me conjure you then to prevent 
 my folicitude, by writing to me every day, and 
 even twice a day : I mail be more eafy, at leaft 
 while I am reading your, letters ; tho' all my fears 
 will again return the moment I have perufed 
 them. Farewel. 
 
 His wife. 
 
 * Where Fabatus, Calphurnia's grand-father, had a villa. 
 This delightful country is celebrated by almoft every claffic 
 author, and every modern traveller, for the fertility of its 
 {oil, the beauty of its landfcape, and 'temperature of its air. 
 Nibilmcllius ccelo> fays Florus, nihil uberius /olo ; denique bis 
 Jloribui vernal, L. I. 16. 
 
 LET-
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY, 309 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 I Acquainted you in a former a letter, that Va^ 
 renus obtained leave of the fenate to fend 
 for his witnefTes. This was thought, by many, 
 extremely equitable, tho' fome, with much obfti- 
 nacy, maintained the contrary j particularly Li- 
 cinius Nepos, who at the following affembly of 
 the fenate, when the houfe was going upon other 
 bufmefs, refumed this matter after it had been 
 fettled, and made a long fpeech upon the laft de- 
 cree. He concluded with moving, that the confuls 
 might jbe defined to put the queftion, whether 
 it was the fenfe of the fenate, that as in profe- 
 cutions founded upon the law concerning bribery 
 and .corruption, jfo in that relating to extortion a 
 claufe would be added impowering the defendant, 
 as well as the informer, to fummon and ex- 
 amine witnefTes? This fpeech was looked upon 
 by fome .as particularly ill-timed : they thought it 
 flrange that Nepos mould let flip the proper op- 
 portunity of animadverting upon the decree, when 
 it was under the confideration of the fenate; and 
 raife objections to a decifion after it had been de- 
 termined, and which he might have oppofed when it 
 .was in debate. Jubentius Celfus, the Praetor, very 
 U 3 warmly 
 
 . * Book 5. let. 29.
 
 310 THE LETTERS Book VI. 
 
 warmly reproved him in a long fpeech, for pre- 
 fuming to correct the Tenate. Nepos anfwered 
 him; Celfus replied; and neither of them were 
 fparing of reflexions on each other. But I for- 
 bear to repeat what I could not hear without re- 
 gret : and am therefore fo much the more dif- 
 pleafed with fome members of the fenate, who ran 
 from Nepos to Celfus, as one or the other was 
 fpeaking, with the illiberal pleafure of hftening to 
 their mutual invectives; fometimes encouraging 
 the one, fometimes the other, and fometimes both; 
 immediately afterwards feeming to reconcile them, 
 and then again animating them to the attack, as 
 if they had been preftnt at fome ludicrous 
 ipeclacle. And I could not obferve without 
 great concern, that they were mutually informed 
 what each intended to urge againft the other 5 
 for Celfus replied to Nepos, as Nepos did to 
 Celfus, out of a paper they refpectively held in 
 their hands. This circumflance was occafioned 
 by the indifcretion of their officious friends : and 
 thus thefe two men abufed one another as if they 
 had previoufly agreed -in what terms to exprefs 
 their refentment. Farewel. 
 
 LET-
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY, 
 
 LETTER VI. 
 
 T Never wiflied more to fee you in Rome than 
 -^ at this time, and I entreat you therefore to 
 come hither ; for, I want ah aflbciate to fnare with 
 me in voting and foliciting, refpecling an affair, in 
 which I very warmly intereft myfclf. Julius Nafo 
 is a candidate for an office of conGderable honour : 
 he has many competitors, and fome of them of great 
 merit ; upon which account, as his fuccefs will be 
 the more glorious, fo it will be the more difficult to 
 fecure. I am much divided between hope and fear; 
 and the anxiety I undergo upon this occafion is fo 
 great, that I almoft forget I am of confular rank, 
 and feel as many uneafy apprehenfions as if I were 
 again to become a candidate for every office I have 
 filled. This zeal is juftly due to Nafo, in return 
 to the long affection he has borne for me. The 
 friendmip I entertain for him did not, it is true, 
 defcend to him by inheritance; for, his father and I 
 were at too great a diftance in point of age to admit 
 of any intimacy between us ; yet from my earlieft 
 youth, I was taught to look up to the latter with the 
 higheft veneration. He was not only an admirer of 
 the polite arts, but the patron of all who cultivated 
 them; as he was a frequent auditor alfo of 
 Quinclilian and Nicetes, to whom I was at that 
 U 4 time
 
 3*4 THE LETTERS Book Vk 
 
 time a dif ; nle. He wa>, in fhort, a man of 
 fingular worth and eminence, and one whofe me- 
 mory ought extremely to facilitate the advancement 
 of his fon to the hon ursoi the ate. But there are 
 numbers in the fenate who never knew his father ; 
 and although there are many too who were well 
 acquainted with him, yet they confift chiefly of that 
 kind of men who never extend their regards beyond 
 the living. For this reafon Nepos, without relying 
 upon the character of his father, which is likely to 
 prove of more honour than fervice to him, muft 
 exert the urmoft of his endeavours to recommend 
 bimfelf by his own merit : and indeed, his condu6b 
 has ever been as guarded as if he had governed, 
 it with a. particular view to the prefent occafion. 
 The many friendfhips he has acquired, he has 
 ever cultivated with the ftridleft fidelity; and 
 particularly fingled me out as the object of 
 his eftcem and imitation, from the firft moment 
 he was capable of forming any judgement of the 
 world. Whenever I plead, he anxioufly attends 
 me, and is always of the party when I recite ; as 
 he is ever the firft to enquire after my works. 
 His brother had the feme attachment to me. But 
 he has loft that excellent brother! and it (hail 
 be rry part to fupply his place. Jt is with grief 
 1 reflect upon the immature death of the one, as 
 I lament that the other fhould be deprived of the, 
 
 sffiftance
 
 flook VI. OF PLINY. 313 
 
 afiiftance of fo valuable a relation, and left to de- 
 pend only on the .zeal of his friends. I c is that 
 confideration which induces me, earneftly to intreat 
 you to return to Rome and unite your fuffrage 
 with mine. It will be of fmgular advantage to 
 the caufe in which I am embarked, if you would 
 appear in it, and become a joint- folicitor with 
 me: for I know your credit and influence is fo 
 great, that I am perfuaded your applications will 
 render mine more effefbual, even with my own 
 friends. Let me requeft you then to break thro* 
 all obftacles, if any may happen to lie in your 
 way. I have a right to claim your afiiftance 
 in this conjuncture; your friendship to me, and my 
 credit, both require it. I have undertaken to fup- 
 port the intereft of Nafo, and the world knows it; 
 the purfuit and the hazard therefore is become my 
 own. In a word, if he obtains this poft, all the ho- 
 nour will be his ; but if he fhould be rejected, the 
 repulfe will be mine. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER VII. fy CALPHURNIA a . 
 
 YO U kindly tell me, my abfence very fenfibly 
 affects you, and that your only confolation 
 is in converfing with my works, which you fre- 
 quently fubftitute in my place by your fide. How 
 agreeable is it to me to know that you thus wi(h 
 for my company ! and fupport yourfelf under the 
 
 want 
 Pliny's wife.
 
 THE LETTERS Book VI, 
 
 want of it by thefe confolations ! In return, I 
 entertain myfelf with reading over your letters 
 again and again, and am continually taking them 
 tip as if I had but jufi then received them : but alas! 
 they only ferve to make me more feelingly re- 
 gret your abfence j for, how amiable muft her con- 
 verfation be, whofe letters have fo many charms ! 
 Let me receive them, however, as often as pomble, 
 notwithftanding there is always fome mixture of 
 pain in the pleafure they afford me, as they render 
 me the more fenfible of the lofs I fuffer, by my 
 abfence. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER VIII, r<?Piuscus. 
 
 YOU know and cfteem Atcilius Crefcensj 
 who indeed is there of any rahk or worth that 
 does not? For myfelf, I profefs to have afriendmip 
 for him muchfuperiour to the common attachments 
 of the world. The places of our nativity are fepa- 
 rated only by a day's journey ; and we conceived an 
 affection for each other when we were very young: 
 a ieafon when connections of that kind ftrike the 
 decpefb root. Ours improved by years; and fo 
 far from being weakened, that it was confirmed 
 by our riper judgements, as thofe who know us 
 beft can witnefs. He takes pleafure in boafling 
 every where of my friendmip j as I do to let the 
 world know, that his honours, his eafe, and his in- 
 
 tereft
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 315 
 
 tereft are my peculiar concern. Infomuch that up- 
 on his expreffing to me lately an apprehenfion 
 that he might receive fome infuits from a certain 
 perfon who was entering upon the office of tribune 
 of the people, I could not forbear anlwering, 
 
 Long as Achilles breathes this vital air, 
 , To touch thy head no impious hand Jh all dare *. 
 
 I mention this, to fhew you that I look upon every 
 injury offered to Attilius, as done to myfel But 
 you will be impatient to hear what all this tends 
 to. You muft know then, Valerius Varus at his 
 death, owed Attiiius a fum of money. Though 
 I am acquainted wkh Maximus, who inherits the 
 eftate of Varu?, yet there is a much clofer friend- 
 fhip between him and you. I beg therefore, and 
 conjure you by all the affection you feel for me, to 
 take care that Attilius is not only paid the prin- 
 cipal which is due to him, but the whole long 
 arrears of intereft He neither covets the property 
 of others, nor neglects the care of his own ; and as 
 he is not engaged in any lucrative profeffion, he 
 has nothing to depend upon but his frugality: 
 for, as to the polite arts, in which he greatly ex- 
 cels, he purfues them merely from motives of 
 pleafure and fame. In fuch a fituation, the flight- 
 ed lofs prefies hard upon a man, and the more 
 
 fo 
 a Hem. II. lib. i. ver. 88.
 
 3i6 THE LETTERS Book VI, 
 
 fo becaufe he has no opportunities of repairing any 
 injury that affects his fortune. Affift us then, I 
 intreat you, in this difficulty, and fuffer me ftill to 
 .enjoy the pleafure cf his fprightly and diverting 
 convejfatbn ; for I cannot bear to fee the cheer- 
 ful nefs jof my friend over- clouded, whofe mirth 
 and good-humour diflipates every gloom of me- 
 lancholy in my own bofom. In a word, as you 
 are well acquainted with the entertaining gaiety qf 
 temper which Attiltus poffefies, I hope you will 
 not fuffer any injury to difcompofe and four it. 
 You may judge by the warmth of his affeclion, 
 how bitter his refentments would prove j for a 
 generous and great mind can ill brook an injury 
 when it is joined with contempt. But though he 
 could pafs it over, yet cannot I : on the contrary, 
 I mall look upon it as a wrong and indignity done 
 to myfelf, and refent it as one offered to my 
 friend j that is, with double warmth. But after 
 all, why this air of threatening ? rather let me end 
 in the fame itile I began, by earneftly conjuring 
 you fo to aft in this affair, that neither Attilius 
 may have reafon to imagine (what I fnould greatly 
 lament) that I neglect his intereft j nor that I may 
 have occafion to charge you with being carelefs of 
 mine : and I certainly mail not, if you have the 
 fame regard for the latter, as I have for the former. 
 Farewel. 
 
 LET-
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 
 
 L E T T E R IX. fo TACITUS. 
 
 WHEN you recommend Julius Nafo to me, 
 re/peeling the office for which he is a can- 
 didate, you are recommending me to myfelf. 
 However, I forgive you : you would have received 
 the fame recommendation from me, had you been 
 at Rome, and I ablent: in the caufe of a friend, 
 one is apt to think nothing is immaterial. Never- 
 thelefs I advife you to addrefs your folicitations to 
 others j alluring yourfelf I will take an equal 
 (hare with you in all your applications on his be- 
 half j and fupport them with my belt and warmeft 
 endeavours. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER X. 70ALBINUS. 
 
 I Was lately at Alfium a , where my wife's mo- 
 ther has a villa which once belonged to b Ver- 
 ginius Rufus. The place renewed in my mind 
 the forrowful remembrance of that great and ex- 
 cellent man. He was extremely fond of this re- 
 tirement, and ufed to call it the neft of his old age ', 
 Where-ever I turned my eyes, I miffed my wor- 
 thy friend. I fdt an inclination to fee his mo- 
 nument; 
 
 * Now Alzia, not far from Como. 
 
 fc See an accouut of him in B. 2. Let. I.
 
 ji8 THE LETTERS , Book Vfc 
 
 nument; but I repented of my curiofity: for, I 
 had the mortification to find it remained Mill 
 unfinifhed, not from any difficulty of the work 
 itfelf^ which is very plain, or rather indeed mean; 
 but through the neglect of him, to whofe care 
 the erection was entrufted. I could not fee, 
 'without a concern mixed with indignation, the 
 remains of a man, whofe fame filled the whole 
 world, lie for ten years after his death without an 
 infcription, or a name. He had however di- 
 rected that divine and immortal achievement of 
 his life to be recorded upon his tomb in the fol- 
 lowing lines: 
 
 Here Rufus lies, who Vmdex y c arms withftood. 
 Not for himfelf, but for his country's good. 
 
 But a faithful friend is fo rarely to be found, and 
 the dead are fo foon forgotten, that we mail be 
 under the neceffity of extracting our own fepul- 
 chres, and anticipate the office of our heirs. For* 
 who has 1 not reafon to fear that what has hap- 
 pened to Verginius, may be his own cafe ? an in- 
 dignity which is of fo much the more public 
 notoriety as it falls upon a man of his illuftrious 
 virtues. 
 
 c See p. 64. note \ 
 
 LET-
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 
 
 LETTER XL fo MAXIMUS. 
 
 HO W happy a day did I lately pafs ! when 
 having been called by the ? Prasfeft of 
 Rome, to his affiftance in a certain caufe, I had the 
 pleafure to hear Fufcus Salinator and Numidius 
 Quadratus, plead on oppofite fides. They arc 
 both of them young men of extraordinary hopes, 
 and poffefs talents, whkh will one day, I am per- 
 fuaded, render them an ornament not only to the 
 prefcnt age, but to literature itfelf. They dif- 
 covered, in the courfe of this trial, that they were 
 actuated by principles of Uriel: probity, and inflexi- 
 ble courage : and I had great fatisfaction in re- 
 marking, that their garb b was decent, their elo- 
 cution diftincl:, their voice manly, their memory 
 ftrong c , and that their elevated genius was guided 
 
 by 
 
 * An officer fomevvhat 3n the nature of the lord-mayor 
 kmong us. Ho preceded all other city magistrates, having 
 power to receive appeals from the inferiour courts, and to de- 
 cide almoft all caufes within the limits of Rome, or a hundred 
 miles round. 
 
 b See Note (a) Let. III. B. II. p. 71. 
 
 c Strength of memory feems to have been a quality in ftngu- 
 lar elteem among the Romans, Pliny often mentioning it when 
 he draws the characters of his friends, as in the number of 
 their molt mining talents. Quinftilian confiders it as the 
 meafure of genius ; tantum ingenii, fays he, quantum memories. 
 The extraordinary perfection in which forne of the ancients are 
 faid to have poflclTed this important faculty, is almoft incredi- 
 ble. Our author fpeaks in a former letter, of a Greek philo- 
 fbpner of his acquaintance, who after having delivered a long 
 
 harangue
 
 320 THE LETTERS Book vf; 
 
 by an equal folidity of judgement. To this I will 
 add, that I took fmgular pleafure in obferving, that 
 while they looked upon me as their guide and mo- 
 del, they appeared in the opinion Of the audience 
 as my imitators and rivals. It wisa day (I cannot 
 but repeat it again) which afforded me the mofi 
 exquifite happinefs, and which I fhall ever mark 
 with the fairefl: d white. What indeed could be 
 cither more delightful to me on the public account, 
 than to fee two fuch noble youths building their 
 fame and glory upon the polite arts j or more 
 defirable upon my own, than to be marked 
 
 Out 
 
 harangue extempore, would immediately repeat it again, with- 
 out loiing a fingle word. Seneca fays, he could in his youth 
 repeat two thoufand names exactly in the fame order they 
 \vere read to him; and that to try the ftrerigthof his memory, 
 the audience who attended the fame profeffor with himfelf, 
 would each of them give him a verfe, which he would inftantly 
 repeat, beginning with the laft, and fo on to the firlt, to the 
 amount of two hundred. He tells a pleafant ftory upon this 
 o'ccafion, of a certain poet, who having recited a poem in; 
 public, a perfon who was prefent claimed it for his own, and in 
 proof of its being Ib, immediately repeated it word for word ; 
 which the real author was not capable of doing. [Sen. controv. 
 1. i. fub init.j Numberlefs inltances might be collected from 
 the ancients, to the fame purpofe ; to mention only a few more : 
 It is faid of Themiftocles, that he made himfelf mafter of the 
 Perfian language in a year's time ; of Mithridatcs, that he 
 underftood as many languages as he commanded nations, that 
 is, no lefs than twenty-two; of Cyrus, that he retained the 
 names of every fingle foldier in his army. [Quint. 1. ii. 2.] 
 But the fineft compliment that ever was paid to a good me- 
 mory, is what Tally fays of Julius Caefar, in his oration for 
 LJgarius, that he never forgot any thing but an injury. 
 
 d Alluding to a cuftom of the Romans, who marked the 
 fortunate days in their calendar with white, and the unfortu- 
 nate with black.
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 3*t 
 
 out as a worthy example to them In their pur- 
 fuits of virtue ? may the Gods ftill grant me the 
 continuance of that pleafure ! And may every 
 man who thinks me deferving .of his imitation, far 
 exceed the model he has chofen ! Fareweh 
 
 LETTER XII. 
 
 MOST certainly you ought to have no referve 
 in recommending to me fuch perfons whom 
 you judge worthy of your patronage j for, nothing 
 is more agreeable to your character than to be as 
 extenfively beneficial as pofilble ; nor to mine, than 
 to intereft myfelf in every thing in which you are 
 concerned. Be aflured therefore I mail give all the 
 afliftance in my power to Vedlius Prifcus, efpecially 
 in what relates to my peculiar province; I mean 
 the Centumviral court. 
 
 You defire me to forget thofe letters which you 
 wrote to me, you fay, in the opennefs of your 
 heart j but believe mej there is none I remember 
 with more fatisfa&ion. They are very pleafing 
 proofs of the ihare I enjoy of your affection, fince 
 you ufe the fame free expoftulations with me, that 
 you would with your own fon. And; to confefs 
 the truth, they are fo much the more agreeable, 
 as I had nothing to accufe myfelf of upon your 
 
 account ; 
 a His wife Calphurnia's gtandfather, 
 
 VOL. I. X
 
 312 THE LETTERS Book VI. 
 
 account} for, I had very exactly performed your 
 requeiis. I intreat you again and again, ftiil to 
 rebuke me with the fame freedom, whenever you 
 imagine (and I truft it will be only imagination) 
 that I fail in my good offices towards you: It will 
 afford me the pleafure of receiving a ftrong mark 
 of your affectionate regard ; and you. that of being 
 convinced I did not deferve the reproach. Fare- 
 wel. 
 
 LETTER XilJ. 
 
 WAS ever man fb ve&ed and oppreflfed as my 
 friend Varenusj who has been obliged to 
 enter into a frefh defence, and, as it were to petition 
 again for what he had, with much difficulty and 
 contention, already obtained a ? The Bithynians 
 have had the confidence not only to complain to 
 the confuls of the decree of the fenate; but alfo 
 to inveigh againft it to the emperor, who happened 
 to be abfent when it pafled. Casfar b referred 
 them again to the fenate, where they Hill perfifted 
 in their remonftrances. Claudius Capito ventured 
 to be counfel for them; and I will add, with more 
 irreverence than true courage, as he undertook to 
 arraign the juftice of a decree of the fenate, in the 
 face of that auguft affembly. Fronto Catius re- 
 plied to him with great force and fpiritj as in- 
 
 deed 
 * See B. 5. let. 20. b Trajan.
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 323 
 
 deed the whole body of the fenate conduced 
 themfelves in this affair with wonderful dignity : 
 For even thofe who bppofed the petition of Va- 
 renus, when it was firft brought before the houfe, 
 thought that after it had been granted, it ought not 
 to be reverfed. While the queftion indeed vras un- 
 der debate, they juftly fuppofed that every member 
 was at liberty to give his fentiments; but when 
 once determined by the majority, they looked up- 
 on it to be then the common concern of each fe- 
 nator to fuppOrt. This was the general opinion of 
 the whole houfe, Acilius Rufus only excepted, and 
 feven or eight more who perfevered in their for- 
 mer vote : in which fmall party there were fome 
 whofe occafional folemnity, or rather affectation of 
 folemnity, appeared extremely ridiculous. You 
 will judge from hence, what a warm battle we are 
 likely to have, fmce this prelude, as I may call it, 
 has occafioned fo much contention. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XIV. ft tfL AURICUS. 
 
 TN compliance with your earned invitation, t 
 content to make yOu a vifit at your Formiart 
 viiia, but upon conditiori that you put yourfelf to 
 no inconvenience upon my account j a condition 
 which I fhall alfo ftrifUy obferve on my part. It 
 h not the pleafures of your fea and your coaft, 
 X 2 it
 
 3 2 4 THE LETTERS Book Vt. 
 
 it is your company, it is retirement, it is freedom, 
 that I defire to enjoy ; otherwife I might as well 
 remain in Rome : for, there is no medium worth 
 accepting, between giving up one's time wholly to 
 the difpofal of others, or referving it intirely in 
 one's own power j at leaft for rnyfelf^ I declare I 
 can relifh no mixtures of any kind. FareweK 
 
 LETTER XV. 
 
 T Believe you were not prefent at a very droll 
 ^ circumftance which lately happened: I was 
 not indeed a witnefs to it myfelf, however, I had an 
 early account of what pafied* Pafiienus Paulus, an 
 eminent Roman knight, and particularly confpi- 
 cuous for his literary abilities, has a genius for 
 Elegiac Poetry j a talent which runs in the family, 
 for Propertius was his relation as well as his coun- 
 tryman. He was lately reciting a poem which 
 opened thus : 
 
 Prifcus, at thy command 
 
 Whereupon Prifcus, who happened to be prefent 
 as a particular friend of the poet's, cry'd out -.to 
 be is miftaken, I did not command him. Think what 
 a roar of laughter this occafioned. The intellects 
 of Prifcus, you muft know, are thought to be fome- 
 whatdiforderedj however, as he enters into the com- 
 a moa
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 325 
 
 mon offices of life, is called to confultations, and 
 publicly acls as a lawyer, this behaviour was the 
 more remarkable and ridiculous: and in faft, 
 Paulus was a good deal difconcerted by his friend's 
 abfurdity. You fee, it is necefTary for thofe who 
 are folickous to recite their works in public, to 
 take care that the audience, as well as the author, 
 Jhould DC of found intellects. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XVI. .Sfr TACXTV*. 
 
 TT'O UR requeft that I would fend you an ac- *&-< 
 -* count of my uncle's death, in order to tranf-^ ^ 
 mit a more exact relation of it to pofterity, ' 
 merits my acknowledgments j for, if the glorious 
 circumftances which occafioned this accident mall 
 be celebrated by your pen, the manner of his exit will 
 be rendered for ever illuftrious. Notwithftanding he 
 perifhed by a misfortune, which, as it involved at the 
 fame time a moft beautiful country in ruins, and de- 
 flroyed fo many populous cities, feems to promife 
 him an everlafting remembrance $ notwithftanding 
 he has himfelf compofed many works which will 
 defcend to the lateft times; yet I am perfuaded, the 
 mentioning of him in your immortal writings, will 
 greatly contribute to eternize his name. Happy I 
 deem thofe to be, whom the gods have diftin- 
 guifhed with the abilities either of performing 
 fuch actions as are worthy of being related, or 
 of relating them in a manner worthy of be- 
 X 3 ing
 
 325 THE LETTERS Book VI, 
 
 ing read; but doubly happy are they who 
 are blefled with both thefe uncommon. endow- 
 ments : and in that number my uncle, as his 
 own writings, and your hiftory will prove, may, 
 juftiy be ranked. It is with extreme willing- 
 nefs, therefore, I execute your commands ; and 
 I fhould indeed have claimed the tafk if you had 
 not enjoined . it. He was at that time with 
 the fleet under his command at * Mifenurru 
 On the 24th of Auguft, about one in the after- 
 noon, my mother defired him to obferye a cloud 
 which appeared of a very unufual fize and fhape. 
 He had juft returned from enjoying the benefit of 
 the fun, and after bathing in cold water, and taking 
 a flight repaft, was retired to his ftudy ; he imme- 
 diately arofe and went out upon an eminence, from 
 whence he might more diftinctly view this very fin- 
 gular phcenomenon. It was not at that diftance dif- 
 cernible from what mountain this cloud ifliied, 
 but it was found afterwards to proceed from 
 Vefuvius h . I cannot give you a more exact de- 
 fcription of its figure, than by refembling it to 
 that of a pine-trees for, it mot up a great height 
 
 in 
 
 * In the gulph of Napier. 
 
 b About fix miles diftant from Naples. This dreadful 
 eruption happened A. D. 79, in the firlt year of the emperor 
 Titos. Martial has a pretty epigram upon this fubjeft, in 
 w oh he giv^;^ us a view of Veiuvius, as it appeared before 
 this terrible connacration broke out ; 
 
 Hi e
 
 Book VI. O F P L I N Y. 327 
 
 in the form of a tall trunk, which fpread at the top 
 into a fort of branches ; occafioned, I fuppofe, 
 either that the force of the internal vapour which 
 impelled the cloud upwards, decreafed in ftrength 
 as it advanced, or that the cloud being prefled 
 back by its own weight, expanded itfelf in the 
 manner I have mentioned : it appeared fometimes 
 bright, and fometimes dark and fpotted, as it was 
 cither more or lefs impregnated with earth and 
 cinders. This uncommon appearance excited my 
 uncle's philofophical curiofity to take a nearer view 
 of it. He accordingly ordered a light vcflel to be 
 prepared, and offered me the liberty, if I thought 
 
 proper, 
 
 Hie eft pampineis viritlis Fefuvzus umlris, 
 
 Prejferat btc madidos nobilis uva locus. 
 Hac jvga> quam Nifa edits, plus Bacchus ama<vit ; 
 
 Hoc nuper Satyri mvnte dedere chores. 
 Hate Venefh fides, LacedtzmoKe gratiar illi ', 
 
 Hie locus Herculeo nomine clarus erat : 
 CttnSa jaeent jflammis, ff trijli m erf a f twill a \ 
 
 Ne: vdleut fuperi Loc Lcuijje fell. Lib. 4. Ep. ^.4. 
 
 Here verdant vines o'erfpread Vefuvio's fides ; 
 The gen'rous grape here pour'd her purple tides. 
 This Bacchus lov'd beyond his native fccne ; 
 Here dai.cing fatyrs joy'd to trip the green. 
 Far more than Sparta this in Venus' grace; 
 And great Alcid.es o$ce reudwn'd the pl^ce j 
 Now flaming embers fpread dire wafte around, 
 And Gods regret that Gods can thus confound, 
 
 Jt feems probable, that this was the firft eruption of mount 
 Vefuvius, at leaft of any confequence ; as it is cej-tain, we have 
 no particular accounts of any preceding one. 'Dio, indeed, 
 and other ancient authors fpeak of a prior eruption ; but ftill, 
 they defcribe it as covered with trees and yiues, fo that tha 
 foregoing muft have been incohfiderable. 
 
 X 4
 
 THE LETTERS Book VI. 
 
 proper, to attend him. I rather chofe to continue 
 the employment in which I was engaged ; for, it 
 happened, that he had given me a certain writing to 
 copy. c As he was going out of the houfe with his 
 tablets in his hand, he was met by the mariners be- 
 longing to the gallies ftationed at Retina, from 
 which they had fled in the utmoft terrour ; for, that 
 port being fituated at the foot of Vefuvius, they 
 had no other way to efcape than by fea. They 
 conjured him therefore not to proceed and expofq 
 his life to imminent and inevitable danger. In 
 compliance with their advice, he changed his 
 original intention, and inftead of gratifying his 
 philqfophical fpirit, he refigned it to the more 
 magnanimous principle of aiding the diftrefled. 
 With this view, he ordered the fleet immediately to 
 put to fea, and went himfelf on board with an in- 
 tention of affifting not only Retina, but the feveral 
 other towns which flood thick upon that beau- 
 tiful coaft. Haftening to the place therefore 
 from whence others fled with the utmoft terrour, 
 he fleered his direct courfe to the point of 
 danger, and with fo much calmnefs and pre- 
 fence of mind, as to be able to make and dic- 
 tate 
 
 * The manufcript and printed copies vary extremely from 
 each other as to the reading of this paiTage. The conjecture 
 of Cortes feems the molt fatisfa&ory, as it coires neareft the 
 moft approved mamifcripts, and belt falls in with the context; 
 it is therefore adopted in the tranfiation.
 
 Book VI. O F P L I N Y. 323 
 
 tate his obfervations upon the appearance and pro- 
 grefs of that dreadful fcene. He was now fo 
 near the mountain, that the cinders, which 
 grew thicker and hotter the more he advanced, 
 fell into the fhips, together with pumice-ftones, 
 and black pieces of burning rock : they were 
 likewife in danger not only of being a-ground by 
 the fudden retreat of the fea, but ajfo from the 
 vaft fragments which rolled down from the moun- 
 tains, and obftruded all the (hore. Here he flop- 
 ped to confider whether he Ihould return back; 
 to which the pilot advifing him, Fortune, faid he, 
 befriends the brave; fleer to Pomponianus. Pom- 
 ponianus was then at d Stabiae, feparated by a 
 gulf, which the fea, after feveral infenfible wind- 
 ings, forms upon that fhore. Pomponianus had 
 already fent his baggage on board ; for, tho' he 
 was not at that time in actual danger, yet being 
 within the view of it, and indeed extremely near, 
 he was determined, if it fhould in the leafl in- 
 creafe, to put to fea as foon as the wind fhould 
 change. It was favourable, however, for carrying 
 my uncle to Pomponianus, whom he found in the 
 greateft confternation : and embracing him with 
 tendernefs, he encouraged and exhorted him to 
 keep up his fpirits. The more to diffipate his 
 
 fears, 
 
 d Now called Cajtel t Mar di Stabia, in the gulph of 
 Naples.
 
 THE LETTERS Book VI. 
 
 fears, he ordered his fervants, with an air of uncon- 
 cern, to carry him to the baths ; and after having 
 bathed, he fat down to fupper with great, or at leaft 
 (what is equally heroic) with all the appearance 
 of chearfulnefs. In the mean while, the fire from 
 Vefuvius flamed forth from feveral paits of the 
 mountain with great violence 5 which the darknefs 
 of the night contributed to render ftill more, 
 vifible and dreadful. But my uncle, in order 
 to calm the apprehenfions of his. friend, afiured 
 him it was only the conflagration of the villages, 
 uhich the country people had abandoned: after 
 this, he retired to reft, and it is moft certain, he 
 was fo little difcompofed as to fall into a deep 
 fteep j for, being corpulent, and breathing hard, 
 the attendants m the antichamber actually heard 
 him fnore. ' The court which led to his apartment 
 being now almoft filled with ftones and afhes, it 
 would haye been impofiible for him, if he had 
 continued there any longer, io have made his 
 way out; it was thought proper therefore to 
 awaken him. He got up, and joined Pomponianus 
 and the reft of the company, who liad not been 
 ftiffteiently unconcerned to think of going to bed. 
 They confulted together whether it wculd be moft 
 prudent to trad to the houfes, which now. jfhobk 
 from fide to fide with frequent and violent con- 
 cuffions - 3 or flee to the open fields, where the cal- 
 cined-
 
 I. OF PLINY. 33* 
 
 cined ftones and cinders, tho' levigated indeed, yet 
 fell in large mowers, and threatened them with in r 
 ftant deftrucYion. In this diftrefs they refolved for. 
 the fields, as the lefs dangerous fituation of the two: 
 a refolution which, while tha reft of the company 
 were hurried into by their fears, my uncle embraced 
 upon cool and'deliberate confideration. They went 
 out then, having pillows tied upon their heads 
 with napkins j and this was their whole defence 
 againft the ftorm of ftones that fell around them. 
 It was now day every where elfe, but there a deep- 
 er darknefs prevailed than in the blacked night; 
 which however was in fome degree diffipated by 
 torches and other lights of various kinds. They 
 thought it expedient to go down farther upon the 
 more in order to obferve if they might fafely put out 
 \o fea; but they found the waves ftili run extreme- 
 ly high and boiflerous. There rry uncle, having 
 drunk a draught or two of cold water, laid 
 himfelf down upon a fail-cloth which was fpread 
 for him j when immediately the flames, preceded 
 by a fh'ong fmell of fulphur, difperfed the 
 reft of the company, and obliged him to rife. 
 He raifed himfelf up with the affiftance of 
 two of his fervants, and inftantly fell down 
 deadj fuffocated, I conjecture, by fome grols 
 and noxious vapour, as having always had weak 
 lungs, and being frequently fubje<5t to a difficulty of 
 breathing. As foon as it was light again, which
 
 332 THE LETTERS Book VI. 
 
 was not till the third day after this melancholy ac- 
 cident, his body was found entire, and without any 
 marks of violence, exactly in the fame pofture in 
 which he fell, and looking more like a man afleep 
 than dead. During all this time my mother 
 and I who were at Mifenum { But as this has no 
 connection with your hiftory, fo your inquiry went 
 no farther than concerning my uncle's death : with 
 that therefore I will put an end to my letter. Suf- 
 fer me only to add, that I have faithfully related 
 to you what I was either an eye-witnefs of myfelf^ 
 0r received immediately after the accident happen- 
 ed, and before there was time to. vary the truth. 
 You will choofe out of this narrative fuch circum- 
 pances as fhall be moft fuitable to your purpofe : 
 for, there is a great difference between writing a let- 
 ter, and compofing a hiftory ; between addreff.ng a 
 friend, and addreffing the public. Farewel, 
 
 LETTER XVII. ft RESTITUTUS. 
 
 I Cannot forbear venting my diipleafure be- 
 fore you in a letter, fmce I have no opportu- 
 $ity of doing fo in perfon, againft a certain beha- 
 viour which, gave me fome offence in an aflembly 
 -where I was lately prefent. The company was en- 
 tertained with a recital of a very finished perfor- 
 mance : but there were two or three perfoos among 
 
 the 
 
 * See this account continued, let. 20. of this book*
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 333 
 
 the audience, men of great genius in" their own, 
 and a few of their friends eftimation, who fate like 
 fo many deaf and dumb mutes, without moving 
 a lip or .a hand, or once rifmg from their feats, 
 even to fhift their pofture. But to what purpofe, 
 in the name of good fenfe, all this wonderoUs air 
 of wifdom and folemnity, or rather indeed (to 
 give it its true appellation) of this faftidious gra- 
 vity ? Is it not downright folly, or even madnefs, 
 thus to lofe a whole day merely to commit a piece 
 of rudenefs, and leave him an enemy, whom you 
 vificed as a friend ? Is a man confcious that he 
 pofiefles a fuperiour power of eloquence than the 
 perfon whom he attends on fuch an occafion ? fo 
 much the rather ought he to guard againil every 
 appearance of envy, as a paffion that always im- 
 plies a mortifying fenfe of inferiority. But what- 
 ever a man's talent may be, whether greater or 
 equal, or lefs than his friend's, ftill it is his intereft 
 to give him the approbation he deferves: if 
 greater or equal j becaufe the higher his glory rifes 
 whom you equal or excel, the more confiderable 
 yours muft necefiarily be : if lefs ; becaufe if one 
 of more exalted abilities does not meet with ap- 
 plaufe, neither poffibly can you. For my own 
 part, I refpeft and honour all who difcover any 
 degree of merit in the difficult and laborious art 
 of oratory j for Eloquence is a high and haughty 
 dame, who fcorns to refide with thofe that defpife 
 
 her.
 
 THE LETTERS Book VI; 
 
 her. But perhaps you are not of this opinion i 
 yet who more reveres this glorious talent, or is 
 a more candid judge of it than yoiirfelf? In con- 
 fidence of* which, I have ventured to declare to 
 you the late indignation I felt, as not doubting 
 you would have joined with me in the fame fenti- 
 hients. Farewel: 
 
 LETTER XVIII. 5ft SABJNUS. 
 
 I WILL endeavour, as you defire, to under- 
 take the caufe of the Firmiani a , tho' I have 
 at prefent many affairs upon my hands 5 for, I 
 fhould be extremely glad to oblige fo illuflri- 
 ous a colony by my good offices, as well as 
 to render you an acceptable fervice. How in- 
 deed can I refufe any thing to you, who profefs 
 to have fought my friendlhip as your fupport 
 and ornament ; efpecially when your requeft is on 
 behalf of your country ? For what can be more 
 honourable than the jntreaties of a patriot, or more 
 efficacious than thofe of a friend ? You may engage 
 for me therefore to your, or rather as I mould now 
 call them our, friends the Firmiani. And tho' their 
 own illuftrious character did not perfuade me that 
 theydeferve my care and patronage ; yet I couldnot 
 but conceive a very high opinion of their merit, from 
 
 feeing; 
 
 * Inhabitants of a city in Italy called Firmo, in the rnar 
 quifate of Mcona.
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. jjj 
 
 feeing a man of your diftingui died virtues choote 
 to refide among therru 
 
 LETTER XIX. To NEPOS. ' 
 
 ARE you informed that the price oflands i$ 
 confiderably rilen j efpecially of thofe which 
 lie about R.ome? This fudden advance was oc- 
 cafioned by a practice which has been much com- 
 plained of, and which drew from the fenate, at 
 the laft afifembly for the election- of magiftrates, 
 a very laudable decree, whereby the candidates are 
 prohibited from giving the electors any treat, prefent, 
 or money whatfoever. The two. former of thelc 
 abufes were pra&ifed with as little referve as 
 difcretionj the latter, tho' carried on with more 
 fecrecy, was however equally notorious. Out- 
 friend Homulus, taking advantage of this favour- 
 able difpofition of the fenate, inftead of delivering 
 his fentiments upon the point in debate, moved 
 that the confuls fhould acquaint the emperor, that it 
 was the unanimous defire of the houfe to have this 
 abufe reformed; and addrefs him to interpofe his 
 vigilance and authority for the removal of this 
 grievance, as he already had of every other. The 
 emperor was accordingly pleafed to comply, and 
 publifhed an edicl: to reftrain thofe infamous 
 largefies; directing that no perfon fhall be ad- 
 mitted as a candidate who has not a third part of his 
 
 eftate
 
 336 THE LETTERS Book VI. 
 
 cftate inland; deeming it highly indecent, (as no 
 doubt it is) that thdfe who afpire to dignities in the 
 ftate, fhould look upon Rome and Italy, rather like 
 travellers who are paffing thro' it, than as their pro- 
 per country, and in which the principal part of their 
 pofTefiions lay. This edidl has occafioned a general 
 ftruggle among thofe who aim at any office, to 
 buy up every thing which they hear is to be 
 fold ; By which means the value of lands is great- 
 ly increafed. If therefore you are incliried to dif- 
 pofe of any part of your eftate here, or of making 
 purchafes elfewhere, you have now a good oppor- 
 tunity; for, in order to buy in Italy, thefe candi- 
 dates are obliged to fell their eftates in the pro- 
 vinces. FareweL 
 
 LETTER XX. To CORNELIUS TACITUS. 
 
 THE letter which, in compliance with your 
 requeft, I wrote to you concerning the death 
 of my uncle, has raifed, it feems, your curiofity 
 * know what terrours and dangers attended me 
 while I continued at Mifenum; for there; I think, 
 the account in my former broke off: 
 
 Tbo y my JhocVdJoul recoils, my tongue {hall tell b . 
 
 My uncle having left us, I continued the employ- 
 ment which prevented my going with him, till it was 
 
 time 
 Virg. Pitt's Tranflation.
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 337 
 
 time to bathe. After which I went to fupper, and 
 then fell into a fhort and unquiet fleep. There had 
 been during many days before fome fhocks of an 
 earthquake, which the lefs alarmed us as they are 
 frequent in Campania ; but they were fo particu- 
 larly violent that night, that they not only fhook 
 every thing about us, but feemed indeed to threaten 
 total deftruction. . My mother flew to my cham- 
 ber, where me found me rifing in order to awaken 
 her. We went out into a fmall court belonging 
 to the houfe, which feparated the fea from the 
 buildings. As I was at that time but eighteen 
 years of age, I know not whether I mould call my 
 behaviour in this perilous conjuncture, courage 
 or raihnefs ; but I took up Livy, and amufed my- 
 felf with turning over that author, and even mak- 
 ing extracts from him, as if I had been perfectly 
 at my eale. While we were in this iituation, 
 a friend of my uncle's, who was juft come 
 from Spain to pay him a vifit, joined us, and 
 obferving me fitting by my mother with a book 
 in my hand, reproved her patience, and my 
 fecurity : neverthelefs I ftill went on with my 
 author. It was now morning, but the light was 
 exceedingly faint and languid ; the buildings all 
 around us tottered, and tho' we ftood upon open 
 ground, yet as the place was narrow and con- 
 fined, there was no remaining without imminent 
 danger : we therefore refolved to leave the town* 
 VOL. I. Y The
 
 338 THE LETTERS Book VL 
 
 The people followed us in the utmoft confter- 
 nation, and (as to a mind diftra&ed with terror, 
 every fuggeftion feems more prudent than its own) 
 prefled in great crowds about us in our way out. 
 Being advanced at a convenient diftance from the 
 houfes, we flood ftill, in the midft of a moil hazard- 
 ous and tremendous fcene. The chariots which 
 we had ordered to be drawn out, were fo agitated 
 backwards and forwards, tho* upon the mod 
 level ground, that we could not keep them fteady, 
 even by fupporting them with large ftones. 
 The fea feemed to roll back upon itfelf, and to 
 be driven from its banks by the convulfive motion 
 of the earth ; it is certain at -leaft the fhore was 
 confiderably enlarged, and feveral fea - animals 
 'were left upon it. On the other fide a black and 
 dreadful cloud burfting with an igneous ferpen- 
 tine vapour, darted out a long train of fire, refem- 
 bling flafhes of lightening, but much larger. 
 Upon this our Sjsanifli friend, whom I mentioned 
 above, addrefilng himfelf to my mother and me 
 with great warmth and earneftnefs : If your bro- 
 ther and your uncle, faid he, is Jafe, he certainly 
 ivi/has you may lye Jo too ; but if he perijhed, it was 
 his defire* no doubt, that you might both furvive- 
 him : Why therefore do you delay your ejcape a mo- 
 ment? We could never think of our own fafety, 
 we replied, while we were uncertain of his: upon 
 which our friend left us, and withdrew from the 
 
 danger
 
 Book VI. O F P L I N Y. 339 
 
 danger with the utmofl precipitation. Soon after- 
 wards, the cloud feemed to defcend, and cover 
 the whole ocean i as indeed, it entirely hid the 
 ifland of 1 Caprea, and the promontory of Mi- 
 fenum. My mother conjured me to make 
 my efcape at any rate, which as I was young I 
 might eafily effect; as . for herfelf, fhe faid, her 
 age and corpulency rendered all attempts of 
 that fort impoffible; however fhe would willingly 
 meet death, if fhe could have the fatisfaction of 
 feeing that fhe was not the occafion of mine. 
 But I absolutely refufed to leave her, and tak- 
 ing her by the hand I led her on : .fhe com- 
 plied with great reluctance, and not without 
 many reproaches to herfelf for being the oc- 
 cafion of retarding my flight. The aflies now 
 began to fall upon us, tho' in no great quan- 
 tity. 1 turned my head, and obferved behind 
 us a thick fmoke, which came rolling after 
 us like a torrent. I propofed, while we had yet 
 any light, to turn out of the high road, left fhe 
 mould be prefTed to death in the dark, by the 
 crowd that followed us. We had fcarcely flepped 
 out of the path, when darknefs over-fpread us, 
 not like that of a cloudy night, or when there is 
 no moon, but of a room when it is fhut up, and 
 all the lights extinct. Nothing then was to be 
 Y 2 heard 
 
 * An ifiand near Naples, now called Capri,
 
 340 THE LETTERS Book VI. 
 
 heard but the fhrieks of women, the fcreams of 
 children, and the cries of men , fome calling for 
 their children, others for their parents, others for 
 their hulbands, and only diftinguifhing each 
 other by their voices; one lamenting his own 
 fate, another that of his family; fome wiihing 
 to die, from the very fear of dying; fome lift- 
 ing their hands to the gods ; but the greater part 
 imagining that the laft and eternal night was 
 come, which was to deftroy both the d gods and 
 the world together. Among thefe there were fome 
 who augmented the real terrors by imaginary 
 ones, and made the frighted multitude falfly be- 
 lieve that Mifenunn was actually in flames. At 
 length a glimmering light appeared, which we 
 imagined to be rather the forerunner of an ap- 
 proaching burft of flames, (as in fact it was) 
 than the return of day; however, the fire fell at 
 a diftance from us : then again we were immerfed 
 in thick darknefs, and a heavy fhower of afhes 
 rained upon us, which we were obliged every 
 now and then to fhake off, otherwife we (hould 
 have been overwhelmed and buried in the heap. 
 I might boaft, that during all this fcene of horrour, 
 not a figh, or expreflion of fear, efcaped from me, 
 
 had 
 
 d The Stoic and Epicurean Philofophers held, that the world 
 was to be deftroyed by fire, and alj things fall a^ain into ori-, 
 ginal chaos; no: excepting even the national gods themfelves 
 from the deftru&ion of this general conflagration.
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 341 
 
 had not my fupport been founded on that mife- 
 rable, though flrong confolation, that all mankind 
 were involved in the fame calamity, and that I 
 imagined I was perifhing with the world itfclf. 
 At laft this terrible darknefs was diffipated by 
 degrees, like a cloud or fmoke ; the real day re- 
 turned, and even the fun appeared, tho* very 
 faintly, and as when an eclipfe is coming on. 
 Every object that prefented itfelf to our eyes 
 (which were extremely weakened) feemed chang- 
 ed, being covered with white " afhes, as with 
 a deep fnow. We returned to Mifenum, where 
 we refrefhed ourfelves as well as we could, and 
 paITed an anxious night between hope and fear ; 
 rho' indeed, with a much larger lhare of the latter : 
 for, the earth ftill continued to make, while feveral 
 enthufiaftic perfons ran wildly among the people, 
 throwing out terrifying predictions, and making a 
 kind of frantic fport of their own and their friends 
 wretched fituation. However, my mother and I, 
 notwithstanding the danger we had parted, and that 
 which ftill threatened us, had no intention of 
 leaving Mifenum, till we mould receive fome ac- 
 
 .count of my uncle. 
 
 And now, you will read this narrative without 
 
 any view of inferting it in your hiflory, of 
 
 Y 3 which. 
 
 ?vlr. Addifon in his account of mount Vefuvio obferves, 
 that the air of the place is fo very much impregnated with 
 ialt-petre, that one can fcarce find a ftone which has not the 
 top white with it. Travels, 182.
 
 342 THE LETTERS Book VI. 
 
 which it is by no means worthy ; and indeed you 
 muft impure it to your own requeft, if it mould 
 appear not to deferve even the trouble of a letter. 
 Farewe!. 
 
 LETTER XXI. ft CANINIUS. 
 
 TH O' I am an admirer of the ancients, 
 yet I am far from defpifing, as fome 
 affec~b, the genius of the moderns ; nor can I 
 fuppcfe, that nature in thefe latter ages is fo 
 worn out, as to be incapable of any valuable 
 production. On the contrary, I have lately had the 
 pleafure of hearing Verginius Romanus read to a 
 few felecl friends, a Comedy fo happily formed in 
 the fpirL of the ancients, that it may hereafter 
 be confidercd as a model. I know not whe- 
 ther the author is in the number of your acquain- 
 tance; I am fure at lead he ought to be, as he 
 is greatly diftinguimed by the probity of his man- 
 ners, the elegance of his genius, and the va- 
 riety of his compcfitions. He has written fome 
 very agreeable pieces of the burlefque kind in 
 Iambics, with much delicacy, wit, and humour, and 
 I will add too, even eloquence ; for every fpecies 
 of compofition, which is perfed in its kind, 
 may with propriety be termed eloquent. He 
 has alfo publifned fome Comedies after the man- 
 ner of Menander and other approved authors 
 S of
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 343 
 
 of that age, which deferve to be ranked with 
 thofe of Plautus and Terence. He has now, for 
 the firft time, attempted the f ancient Comedy, 
 but in fuch a manner, as to fhew he is a perfect 
 matter in this way. Strength and majefty, deli- 
 cacy and foftnefs, elegance and wit, are the dif- 
 tinguifhing graces of this performance. He places 
 virtuous characters in the moft amiable point of 
 view, and expofes vicious ones with the warmeft 
 indignation : whenever he makes ufe of feigned 
 names, it is with great propriety, as he employs 
 real ones with equal juftnefs. In refpect only to 
 myfelf, I fhould fay he has erred thro' an excefs 
 of friendfhip, if I did not know that fi6tion is 
 the privilege of poets. In a word, I will infift 
 upon his letting me have the copy, that I may fend 
 it to you for' your perufal, or rather that you may 
 get it by heart ; for I am well perfuaded, when 
 you have once taken it up, you will not eafily lay 
 it down. Farewel. 
 
 Y 4 LET- 
 
 f With regard to the various changes and revolutions which 
 the Grecian Comedy had undergone, it was diftinguifhed into 
 three kinds, viz. the ancient, which was founded upon real 
 fails, and perfans pointed out by their proper names; the middle* 
 where the fubjeft was real, but the names fictitious; the ne t w t 
 wherein boih the names and the action are imaginary. Of 
 the//)/ model was Ariftophanes ; upon whofe general manner, 
 it is probable, Romanus formed his Comedy nere mentioned; 
 but as he appears to have introduced both true and invented 
 names in the drama in queftion, it fcems to have been of the 
 mixed kind.
 
 344 THE LETTERS Book VI. 
 
 LETTER XXII. ft TIRO. 
 
 AN affair has lately been tranfacted here, which 
 nearly concerns thofe who fhall hereafter 
 be appointed governours of provinces, as well as 
 every man who too incautioufly trufts his friends. 
 Luftricus Bruttianus having detected his lieute- 
 nant Montanus Atticinus in feveral flagrant delin- 
 quencies, accufed him to the emperor. Attici- 
 nus, on the other hand, added to his guilt by 
 inftituting a groundlefs profecution againft the 
 friend whofe confidence he had abufed. A hear- 
 ing was appointed, and I was elected one of the 
 afieffors at this trial. Both parties pleaded their 
 own caufe, and in a fummary way confined them- 
 felves flri6tly to the articles of the charge: a me- 
 thod by much the fnorteft of difcovering the 
 truth. Bruttianus, as a proof of the unreferved 
 confidence he had repofed in his friend, and that 
 nothing but abfolute nectflity could have extorted 
 from him this complaint, produced his will, 
 written by the hand of Atticinus. He then pro- 
 ceeded to open the charge, and clearly proved him 
 guilty of the moft infamous conduct. Atticinus, 
 after fome vain efforts to juftify himfel with- 
 drew ; but his defence appeared as weak, as his 
 accufation was wicked. It was proved that he had 
 bribed a flave belonging to the fecretary of Brutti- 
 anus,
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 345 
 
 anus, and by that means got into his pofiefiion his 
 regifter-book, which he crazed, and then made 
 this his villainous act the foundation of a charge 
 againft his friend. The emperor's conduct in this 
 trial was extremely noble: without collecting the 
 voices with refpect to Bruttianus, he proceeded im- 
 mediately to take them only in relation to Attici- 
 nus; who was accordingly condemned to banifh- 
 ment. Bruttianus was acquitted not only with a 
 very full and honourable teilimony of his integrity, 
 but with the credit of having behaved in this affair 
 with great firmnefs. And indeed, after having 
 vindicated his own character in few words, he 
 fupported his charge againft Atticinus with much 
 fpirit; and approved himfelf no lefs a man of 
 fortitude than of honefly. I fend you this ac- 
 count not only as a caution for your behaviour 
 in the government you have obtained, and as a 
 hint to depend upon yourfelf as much as poffible, 
 without relying too far upon your friends; but 
 that you may be afTured, if you fhould happen to 
 be impofed upon in the execution of your office 
 (which Heaven avert) you will readily meet 
 with juftice here. However, that you may fland 
 in no need of it, let me entreat you to exert 
 the utmoft circumfpection and vigilance; for the 
 fatisfaction of being redrefled, cannot compen- 
 fate the mortification of having been deceived. 
 J^arewel. 
 
 LET-
 
 THE LETTERS Book VI. 
 
 LETTER XXIII. 7* TRIARIUS. 
 
 IConfent to undertake the caufe which you fo 
 earneftly recommend to me-, but glorious, 
 and honourable as it may be, I will not be your 
 counfel without a fee. Is it poffible, you will fay, 
 that my friend Pliny fhould be fo mercenary? 
 It is ; and I infill upon a reward which will do 
 ine more honour than the moft difmterefted pa- 
 tronage. I requeft you then, and indeed I make 
 it a previous condition, that Cremutius Rufo may 
 be joined with me as counfel in this caufe. This 
 is a practice which I have frequently obferved with 
 refpecl: to feveral diftinguifhed youths; as I take 
 infinite pleafure in prefenting young men of merit 
 to the bar, and introducing them to the notice of 
 fame. But if ever I owed this good office to any 
 man, it is certainly to Rufo, not only upon account 
 of his family, but his warm affedion to me; and it 
 would afford me a very fingular fatisfaction to have 
 an opportunity of feeing him draw the attention of 
 the audience in the fime court and the fame caufe 
 with myfelf. This I now afk as an obligation to 
 me; but when he has pleaded in your caufe, you 
 will efteem it as a favour done to you : for, I will 
 be anfwerable that he fhall acquit himfelf in a man- 
 ner equal to your willies, as well as to my hopes 
 and the importance of the trial. He is a youth 
 
 of
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 347 
 
 of a moft excellent difpofition : and when once I 
 mall have produced his merit to public obfer- 
 vation, we fhall foon fee him exert the fame ge- 
 nerous office in bringing forward the talents of 
 others; as indeed no man without the fupport and 
 encouragement of friends, and having proper op- 
 portunities thrown in his way, is able to rife at 
 once from obfcurity, by the force of his own un- 
 afiifted genius. 
 
 LETTER XXIV. Z**MACER. 
 
 HOW much does the fame of human actions 
 depend upon the ftation of thbfe who per- 
 form them ! The very fame conduct fhall be ei- 
 ther greatly magnified, or entirely overlooked, as 
 it happens to proceed from a perfon of confpicu- 
 ous or obfcure rank. I was failing lately upon 
 our a lake, with an old man of my acquaintance, 
 who deiired me_to obferve a villa fituated upon its 
 banks, which had a chamber hanging over the 
 water. From that room, faid he, a woman of our 
 city threw herfelf and her hufband. Upon enquir- 
 ing into the caufe, he informed me, <c That her 
 " hufband having been long afflicted with an ulcer 
 " in thofe parts which modefty conceals, (he pre- 
 " vailed with him at laft to let her infpect the 
 " fore, alluring him at the fame time, that me 
 
 " would 
 
 a The lake Larius.
 
 348 THE LETTERS Book VI. 
 
 " would mod fmcerely give him her opinion whe- 
 f{ ther there was a poffibility of its being cured. 
 cc Accordingly upon viewing the ulcer, fhe found 
 " there were no hopes, and therefore advifed him to 
 " put an end to his life: to which fhe not only en- 
 cf couraged him by her example, but was actually 
 * c the means of his death; for tying herfelf to her 
 Cf hufband, fhe plunged with him into the lake." 
 Tho' this happened in the very city where I was 
 born, I never heard it mentioned before; and yet 
 that this aclion is lefs taken notice of than that 
 famous one of Arria's b , is not becaufe it was lefs 
 remarkable, but becaufe the perfon who performed 
 1 it was of inferior rank. Farewel, 
 
 LETTER XXV. To HISPANUS. 
 
 YOU inform me, that Robuftus, a Roman 
 knigh't of great diftinction, accompanied 
 my friend Attilius Scaurus as far as a Ocriculum, 
 but has never been heard of fince. In compli- 
 ance, therefore, with your defire, I mall fend for 
 Scaurus in order to fee if he can give us any- 
 light in tracing him; tho* I fear, indeed, it 
 will be to no purpofe. I fufpect an accident of 
 the fame unaccountable kind has attended Robuf- 
 tus, as formerly happened to my townfman Me- 
 
 tiljus 
 
 b See an account cf her, B. 3, Let. 16. 
 
 a Now Otricoli, in Ombria or the duchy of Spoleto.
 
 Book VI. O F .P L I N Y. 349 
 
 tilius Crifpus. I procured a company for him in 
 the army, and gave him when he fet out, 40,000 
 * fefterces for his equipage : but I never received 
 any letter from him afterwards, or could learn 
 what became of him. Whether he was murdered 
 by his fervants, or together with them, is uncer- 
 tain ; however, neither he nor they ever appeared 
 more. I wilh we may not find it thus with refpeft 
 to Robuftus; neverthelefs, I will fend for Scaurus. 
 I cannot refufe this office either to your generous 
 requeft, or the very laudable entreaties of that moft 
 excellent youth his fon, who difcovers as much 
 good fenfe in the method, as he does filial affection 
 in the zeal of his enquiry : and may we have the 
 fame fuccefs in finding his father, as he has had 
 in difcovering the perfon that accompanied him ! 
 Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XXVI. ft SERVIANUS. 
 
 I A M extremely rejoiced to hear, that you de- 
 fign your daughter for Fufcus Salinatorj and 
 congratulate you upon it. His family is a Patri- 
 cian j and both his father and mother are perfons 
 of the moft exalted merit. As for himfelf, he is 
 ftudious, learned and eloquent, and with all the 
 
 innocence 
 
 b About 320!. Some editions read it 400,003 fefterces, 
 which is about 3,200 1. of our money. 
 
 * Thofe families were filled patrician, whofe anceftors had 
 been members of the fenate in the earlieft times of the regal 
 cr consular government.
 
 350 THE LETTERS Book VI. 
 
 innocence of a child, unites the fprightlinefs of 
 youth to the wifdom of age. I am not, believe me, 
 deceived by my affection, when I give him this 
 character j for tho* I love him beyond meafunr, 
 (as his kind offices and regard to me well drfe?ve) 
 yet partiality has no fhare in my judgment} on 
 the contrary, the ftronger my affection for him is, 
 the more rigoroufly 1 weigh his merit. I will 
 venture then to afllire you (and I fpeak it upon 
 my own experience) you could not have wifhed 
 for a more accompliihed fon-in-law. May he 
 foon prefent you with a grandfon, who fhall be 
 the exact copy of his father ! and with what plea- 
 fure fhall I receive from the arms of two fuch 
 friends, their children or grand- children, whom I 
 fhall claim a fort of right to embrace as my own ! 
 Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XXVII. fo SEVERUS. 
 
 YO U defire me to confider what turn you 
 Ihould give to your fpeech in honour of the 
 emperor, upon your being appointed conful a elect. 
 It is much eafier, amidft that variety of topics 
 
 which 
 
 * The confuls, tho' they were chofen In Auguft, did not 
 enter upon their office till the firft of January, during which 
 interval they were ftiled Confuhs dejignatit confuis eleft. It 
 was ufual for them upon that occaiion to compliment the em- 
 peror, by whofe appointment, after the diflblution of the re- 
 publican government, they were chofen.
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 351 
 
 which the virtues of this illtiftrious prince fc abun- 
 dantly fupply, to find materials for encomium, 
 than to felect them. However, I will fend you 
 my opinion, or (what I rather choofe) I will give 
 them to you in perfon, after having laid before 
 you the difficulties which occur to me. I am 
 doubtful then whether I Ihould advife you to pur- 
 fue the method, which I obferved myfelf on the 
 fame occafion. When I was conful elect, I avoid- 
 ed running into the ufual ftrain of compliment, 
 which how far foever (as far certainly it would have 
 been) from adulation, might yet bear the fem- 
 blance of it. Not that I affected an uncommon 
 fpirit of freedom; bu: as well knowing the fen- 
 timents of our amiable- prince, and being tho- 
 roughly perfuaded, that the higheft eulogy I could 
 offer to him, would be to fhew the world I was 
 under no neceffity of paying him any. When J 
 reflected what unbounded praifes had been heaped 
 upon the very word of his predecefibrs, nothing, 
 I was perfuaded, could more diflinguifh a prince 
 of his real virtues, from thofe infamous emperors, 
 than to addrefs him in a different manner. And 
 this I thought proper to obferve in my fpeech, 
 left it might be fufpected I pafTed over his glo- 
 rious acts, not out of judgment, but inattention. 
 Such was the method I then obferved j but I 
 am fenfible that the fame meafures are neither 
 
 agree- 
 
 b Trajan.
 
 THE LETTERS Book VI. 
 
 agreeable, nor indeed expedient to every man alike. 
 Befides, the propriety of a certain mode of acl> 
 ing depends no only upon perfons, but time and 
 circumftancesj and as the late enterprize of our 
 illuftrious Prince affords materials for panegyric, no 
 lefs juft than recent and glorious, I doubt (as I 
 faid before) whether I mould perfuade you in 
 the prefent inftance to adopt the fame plan as I did 
 myfelf. In this however, I am clear, that it is 
 proper to offer it to your confideration. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XXVIII. ft QUADRATUS. 
 
 I Was not ignorant of the reafon which prevent- 
 ed your coming into Campania to receive me. 
 But abfent, as you were, might I have judged by 
 the vaft quantity of provifions of all forts, with 
 which I was fupplied by your orders, I mould 
 have imagined you had conveyed yourfelf hither 
 with your whole magazine of good fare. I muft 
 own I was fo arrant a clown, as to take all that 
 was offered me j however it was in compliance with 
 the felicitations of your people, and fearing you 
 would chide both them and me if I refuied. But 
 for the future, ifjoa will not obferve fome meafure, 
 / muft. And accordingly I affured your fervants, 
 if ever they brought me fuch profufion again, 
 I would abfolutely return the whole. You will tell 
 
 me.
 
 Book VI. OF PLItfY. 353 
 
 me, I know, that I mould confider every thing 
 belonging to you, as mine. I am fenfible that I 
 ought ; and therefore I would ufe them with the 
 fame moderation as my own. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XXIX. to QUADRATIC. 
 
 AVidius Quietus, whofe affeftion, and (which 
 I equally valued) whofe approbation I had 
 the happinefs to enjoy, ufed frequently to cite 
 this maxim, among many others, of his friend 
 Thrafea's : I'baf " there are three fort of caufes 
 " which it becomes a man of honour to under- 
 cc take; thofe of our friends, thofe of perfons who 
 are deftitute of any other advocate to plead their 
 " claim, and thofe which relate to public example." 
 Why we mould engage in the caufe of our friends* 
 requires no explanation} but to defend the 
 deftitute, mews both a firm and humane heart j 
 as to rife in caufes of the exemplary kind, is a 
 proof of being actuated by a principle of pa* 
 triotifm ; nothing being of more confequence to 
 fociety, than whether a good or an evil precedent 
 prevails. To thefe caufes I will add (perhaps in 
 the fpirit of ambition, however I will venture to 
 add) thofe alfo of a public nature, which are ren- 
 dered confpicuous by the fplendid rank of the 
 perfon arraigned ; for it is reafonable, no doubt, 
 that the honour which is derived to the orator's 
 own reputation by appearing as an advocate in 
 VOL. I. Z impeachments
 
 354 THE" LETTERS Book VI. 
 
 impeachments of that kind, fhould fometimes en- 
 ter into his motives for vindicating the conduct of 
 an illuftrious client. Thefe are the limits (fince 
 you require my fentiments) which I would pre- 
 fcribe to a young man of your refpectable ftation 
 and modeft virtues. 
 
 For the reft; practice, I know, is generally 
 deemed, and in fact is, the belt mafter in the art 
 of pleading : and I have feen many who with 
 moderate parts, and no literature, have, by that 
 fmgle advantage, made a good figure. Never- 
 thelefs, the obfervation of Pollio (or at lead what 
 I have been told was his) is certainly true, as I 
 know by experience ; " By being an able advo- 
 Cf cate," faid he, " I obtained much practice ; 
 " as, on the other hand, much practice rendered 
 " me a lefs able advocate.'* The reafon is, that 
 a talent for oratory, by being too repeatedly ex- 
 ercifed, finks into a mere mechanical habit; and 
 the frequent pleader, inftead of a juft confi- 
 dence, is apt to fall into a carelefs reliance upon 
 the ftrength of his powers. Nor is the being 
 accuftorned to public fpeaking, a circumftance ab- 
 folutely neceflary in order to acquire a reputation 
 of eloquence : the great modefty of Ifocrates, 
 which, together with the weaknefs of his voice,, 
 prevented him from appearing at the bar, did not 
 obftruct his attaining the character of a confum- 
 mate orator. 
 J
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 355 
 
 Let me farther recommend it to you, to read 
 and compofe, and meditate much, that you may 
 always pofiefs a fund of fuitable matter, when you 
 choofe to appear as an advocate in the courts of 
 juftice; and it never will be your choice, I am well- 
 perfuaded, but when it becomes you to act in that 
 charaifiier: a refraction which I have always laid 
 down to myfelf. I muft confefs, however, that I 
 have been concerned in fome caufes, not fo much 
 from choice as neceflity : but to comply with ne- 
 cefllty is, in fome degree, to comply with reafon. 
 The fad is, I have occafionally been appointed 
 counfel by the fenatej however, it was in caufes 
 which fell within Thrafea's third rule, that is, of 
 the exemplary kind. I was advocate for the 
 province of Bcetica, againft Basbius Mafia; where 
 the queftion being, whether the impeachment 
 Ihould be received, it pafled in the affirma- 
 tive. ' I appeared for them a fecond time againft 
 Cscilius Claflicusj and the point in debate was, 
 whether the provincial officers who acted under 
 him in his proconfullhip, Ihould be deemed 
 accomplices ? It was determined they Ihould ; 
 and they were puniftied accordingly. I was 
 counfel againft Marius Prifcus, who having 
 been convicted of bribery, endeavoured to take 
 advantage of the lenity of the law in that cafe, 
 the penalty of which was by no means adequate 
 to his enormous guilt: but he was fentenced to 
 Z 2 baiiilh-
 
 3 5 6 THE LETTERS Book VI. 
 
 banifhment. I defended Julius BaiTus in an affair 
 in which he had acted imprudently, 'tis true, but not 
 in the le^aft with any ill intention : the matter was 
 referred to the ordinary judges, and he was per- 
 mitted in the mean while to retain his feat in the 
 fenate. I pleaded likewife not long fmce, on be- 
 half of Varenus, who petitioned for leave to 
 produce witnefles alfo on his parti which was 
 granted him. And now I will only wifh, that I 
 may, for the future, be enjoined to plead fuch 
 caufes by authority, in which it would become me 
 to appear by choice. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XXX. To FABATUS. 
 
 WE have the higheft reafon, moft certainly, 
 to celebrate your birth day as our own, 
 fmce the felicity of ours is deriyed from you, to 
 whofe kind attentions it is owing, that we are gay 
 here, and at our eafe in Rome a .r- Your Camil- 
 lian b villa in Campania has fuffered by the injuries 
 of time, and is falling into decay ; however, the 
 moft valuable parts of the building either remain 
 entire, or are but (lightly damaged, and I wait 
 here to fee it put into thorough repair. 
 
 a There is great obfcurity in the beginning of this letter, 
 which none ct' the commentators have been able fufficiently to 
 enlighten. The difficulty arifes from its evidently referring 
 to certain articles in a letter which Fabatus, the grandfather of 
 Calphurnia, Pliny's wife, had written to him, the purport of 
 which can only be guefied. 
 
 k So called, becaufe it formerly belonged to Camillus. 
 
 Tho'
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 357 
 
 Tho' I flatter myfelf I have many friends, yet 
 fcarce any, I doubt, of the fort you enquire after, 
 and which the affair you mention demands. All 
 mine He among thofe whofe employments engage 
 them in town ; whereas the conduct of country 
 bufmefs requires a perfon of a robnft conftitution, 
 and enured to labour, who will not look upon 
 the office as mean, and can fubmit to a folitary 
 life. The opinion you have of Rufus is fuitable to 
 a perfon who was diftinguimed by the friendmip of 
 your fonj but of what fervice he can be to us up- 
 on the prefent occafion, I know not] tho' I am 
 well perfuaded he will rejoice to have it in his 
 power to render us any. Farewel, 
 
 LETTER XXXI. Tc CORNELIANHS. 
 
 T Received lately the mod exquifite fatisfaction at 
 * a Centumcellas, (as it is now called) being 
 fummoned thither by Cnsfar b to attend a Council. 
 Could any thing indeed afford a higher gratification, 
 than to behold the emperor exhibiting not only his 
 affability, but his juftice and his wifdom, even in re- 
 tirement, where thofe virtues are moft obfervable ? 
 Various were the matters brought in queftion be- 
 fore him, and which proved, in fo many different 
 inftances, the eminent abilities of the judge. The 
 Z 3 affair 
 
 * Suppofed to be Civil a Vtuki*. 
 
 * Trajan.
 
 358 THE LETTERS Book VI, 
 
 affair of Claudius Arifton came on firft. He is an 
 Ephefian nobleman, of great munificence and un- 
 ambitious popularity ; whofe virtues having render- 
 ed him obnoxious to a fet of people of far different 
 characters, they had inftigated an informer againft 
 him, of the fame infamous ftamp with them- 
 felves: but he was honourably acquitted. The 
 next day the charge againft Gallita, accufed of 
 adultery, was heard. Her hufband, who, is a 
 military tribune, was upon the point of offering 
 himfelf as a candidate for certain honours at Rome j 
 but fhe had difgraced both him and herfelf by an 
 intrigue with a c centurion. The hufband in- 
 formed the conful's lieutenant, who wrote to the 
 emperor concerning it. Csefar, having examined 
 the proofs, broke the centurion, and fentenced 
 him to banifhment. It remained that fome pu- 
 nifhment fhould be inflicted likewife upon the 
 other party, as it is a crime of which both muft 
 neceflarily be equally guilty. But the hufband 's 
 affection for his wife inclined him to drop that 
 part of the profecution, not without fome fufpi- 
 cion of connivance ; for he continued to live with 
 her even after he had commenced this profecution, 
 contenting himfelf, it fhould feem, with having 
 removed his rival. But he was ordered to pro- 
 ceed in the fuit , and tho' he complied with great 
 
 reluctance,, 
 
 e An officer in the Roman legions, fomewhat refembling a, 
 Captain in our companies.
 
 Book VI. O F P L I N Y. 359 
 
 reluctance, it was neceffary, neverthelefs, that fhe 
 fhould be condemned. Accordingly fhe was fen- 
 tenced to the punifhment ordained by the * Julian 
 law. The emperor thought proper to fpecify, 
 in his decree, the name and office of the cen- 
 turion, that it might appear he patted it in vir- 
 tue of military difciplinej left it fhould be 
 imagined he claimed a particular cognizance 
 in every caufe of the fame nature. The third 
 day was employed in examining an affair which 
 had occafioned much and various fpeculation, 
 relating to the will of Julius Tiro, part of which 
 was plainly genuine, the other part, it was al- 
 ledged, was forged. The perfons accufed of 
 this fraud were Sempronius Senecio, a Roman 
 knight, and Eurythmus, Casfar's freed-man and 
 c procurator. The heirs jointly petitioned the em- 
 peror, when he was in f Dacia, that he would re- 
 ferve to himfelf the trial of this caufe j to which 
 he confented. At his return from that expedi- 
 tion, he appointed a day for the hearing; and 
 when fome of the heirs, as in refpect to Eu- 
 rythmus, offered to withdraw the fuit, the em- 
 peror nobly replied, He is not Polydetus z nor am 
 Z 4 I Nero. 
 
 d This law was made by Auguftus Caefar ; but it no where 
 clearly appears what was the peculiar puniftimentit inflidled. 
 
 c An officer employed by the emperor to receive and re- 
 gulate the public revenue in the provinces, 
 
 f Comprehending Tranfylvania, Moldavia, and Walachia. 
 
 i Polydetus was a freed-man, and great favourite of Nero.
 
 360 THE LETTERS Book VI, 
 
 / Nero. However he indulged the petitioners 
 with an adjournment; and the time being expired, 
 he now fat to hear the caufe. Two of the heirs 
 appeared, and defired, that either their whole num- 
 ber might be compelled to plead, as they had all 
 joined in the information, or that they alfo might 
 have leave to defift. Casiar delivered his opinion 
 with great dignity and temper; and, when the coun- 
 fel on the part of Senecio and Enrythmus faid, that 
 unlefs they were heard in defence of their clients the 
 latter would remain under the fufpicion of guilt; / 
 am not concerned^ replied the emperor whatjufyicions 
 they may lie under y 'tis I that amfufyeffed-, and then 
 turning to us who were of the council, Adrvife we, 
 faid he, how to aft in this matter, for you fee they 
 complain that I "do not give them leave to withdraw 
 their fuit. At length, by the advice of the Council^ 
 he ordered notice to be given to the heirs, that they 
 ihould either go on with the caufe, or each of them 
 juftify their reafons for withdrawing the charge ; 
 otherwife that he would pafs fentence upon them 
 as h calumniators. 
 
 Thus you fee in what honourable and important 
 occupations we employed our time at Centumcella? ; 
 
 which 
 
 t Memmius, or Rhemmius (the critics are not agreed which) 
 was author of a law, by which it was enafted, That whofoever 
 was convi&ed of calumny and falfe accufation, mould be ftig- 
 matized with a mark in his forehead: and by the law of the 
 twelve tables, falfe accufers were to fuffer the fame punifh- 
 jnent as would have been inflicted upon the perfon unjultly ac- 
 cufed, if the crime had been proved.
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 3 6i 
 
 which however was diverfified with amufcments ot 
 the moft agreeable kind. We were every day in- 
 vited to Casfar's table, which, for fo great a prince, 
 was fpread with much plainnefs and fimplicity. 
 There we were entertained either with interludes, 
 or pafi"ed the night in the moft pleafing conver- 
 fation. When we took our leave of the Emperor, 
 he fent each of us prefents j fo ftudious is he, 
 upon all occafions, to indulge the benevolence 
 of his heart ! As for myfelf, I was not only 
 charmed with the dignity and wifdom of the 
 judge, the honour done to his council^ the eafe and 
 imreferved freedom of the converfation, but alfo 
 with the agreeable fituation of the place; This 
 delightful villa is furrounded by the moft verdant 
 meadows, and commands a fine view of the fea, 
 which flows into a fpacious harbour in the form 
 of an amphitheatre. The left-hand of this port 
 is defended by exceeding ftrong works, and they 
 are now actually employed in carrying on the 
 fame on the oppofite fide. An artificial ifland, 
 which is rifmg in the mouth of the haven, will 
 break the force of the waves, and afford a 
 fafe channel to mips on each fide. In the con- 
 ftruftion of this wonderful inftance of art, flones 
 of a moft enormous fize are tranfported hither 
 in a large fort of pontoons, and being piled 
 one upon the other, are fixed by their own weight, 
 ^nd gradually accumulating in the manner of a 
 
 natural
 
 362 THE LETTERS BookVI. 
 
 natural mound. It already lifts its rocky back 
 above the ocean, while the waves which beat upon 
 it, being tofied to an immenfe height, foam with 
 a prodigious noife, and whiten all the fea around. 
 To thefe (tones are added large blocks, which, 
 when the whole fliall be compleated, will give it 
 the appearance of an ifland juft emerged from the 
 ocean. This haven is to be called by the name of 
 its great founder ! , and will prove of infinite benefit, 
 by affording a very fecure retreat to fhips on that 
 extenfive and dangerous coaft. Farewel, 
 
 LETTER XXXII. fo QUINTILIAN. 
 
 TH O* your defires, I know, are extremely 
 moderate, and the education which your 
 daughter a has received, is fuitable to your for- 
 tune, and that of Tutilius her grandfathers yet as. 
 
 fhe : 
 
 1 Trajan. 
 
 a This letter has been generally fuppofed to be addreffed, 
 to the famous Quindfilian, author of that excellent treatife 
 upon oratory, which is Hill extant. But there are very ftrong 
 reafons to believe, that either there is ibme error in the title, 
 or that it is addreffed to another perfonofthe fame name. 
 Quindlilian in the opening of his fixth B. de Inft. Orat. takes 
 occafion to mention his family, where he is lamenting to his 
 friend Viftorius the lofs of his eldeft fon, which had juft then 
 happened. He takes notice- at the fame time of the deaths of. 
 his wife and younger fon; and after fome very pathetic re- 
 fleftions, clofes the whole with this obfervation : Nos mijeri, 
 Jicut facilitates patrimonii noftri, itd hoc opus aliis paramus, aliis 
 rtLnquemus. This preface may be confidered then as the re- 
 
 tifter of his family. But he does not give the leall hint of a 
 aughter : which feems difficult to be accounted for upon any 
 other reafon than that he never had one. For if fhe was dead, 
 
 it
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 363 
 
 ftie is going to be married to a perfon of fuch 
 diftinction as Nonius Celer, whole ftation requires 
 a certain fplendid mode of living, it will be necef- 
 fary to confider the rank of her hufband in her 
 cloaths and equipage : circumftances, which tho* 
 they do not augment real dignity, yet certainly 
 adorn and grace it. But as I am fenfible your re- 
 venue is not equal to the greatnefs of your mind, 
 J claim to myfelf a part of your expence, and like 
 another father, prefent the young lady with fifty 
 thoufand feflerces b . The fum mould be larger, 
 but that I am well perfuaded the fmallnefs of the 
 prefent, is the only confideration that can prevail 
 with your modefty not to refufe it. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XXXIII. ?o ROMANUS. 
 
 W, throw your tajks afide, thejovereign 
 Jaid*: 
 
 Thus whether you are engaged in reading or writ- 
 ing, away with your books and papers, and take 
 up my divine oration, as thofe Cyclops did the 
 
 arms 
 
 it is highly natural to imagine he would have deplored the lofs 
 of her among that of the reft of his children. If {he was 
 living, how could he lament the neceffity of leaving his patri- 
 mony to Jlrangers? or if me was unworthy of his tendernefs, 
 why does he not complain of that unhappinefs among his other 
 misfortunes ? Vid. Tradudt. de Quincl. par 1'Abbe G^doyn, 
 in the preface. 
 
 b About 400!. of our money. 
 
 * JEn. 8. Pitt's Tranf. the fpeech of Vulcan, to his Cyclops, 
 when he direcis them to prepare arms for ^neas.
 
 $64, THE LETTERS Book VI. 
 
 arms of ^neas. Now tell me, could I introduce 
 my fpeech to you with an air of more importance ? 
 But in good earneft, I put it into your hands as 
 the bed of my performances b - 3 for it is myielf 
 only that I pretend to emulate. It was fpoken in 
 defence of Accia Variola : and the dignity of the 
 perfon interefted, together with the fmgularity 
 of tne occafion, and the majefly of the tribunal, 
 confpired to render it extremely remarkable. Fi- 
 gure to yourfelf a lady ennobled, not only by her 
 birth but her marriage to a perfon of Prastorian 
 rank, difinherited by her father and fuing for her 
 patrimony in the centumviral court, within eleven 
 days after this old man, feized with a fit of love 
 at fourfcore years of age, had introduced a mo- 
 ther-in-law to his daughter. Imagine the fotem-. 
 nity of a court of juftice, compofed of one hun- 
 dred and eighty judges, (for that is the number 
 of which it confifted) ; friends innumerable at- 
 tending on both parties ; the benches infinitely 
 thronged, and a wide circle of people encompaf- 
 jfing the judges, at the fame time that numbers 
 prefled round the tribunal ; even the very galleries 
 lined with men and women, hanging over with 
 the greateft earneftnefs, (who though they might 
 fee tolerably well, it was fcarce poflible for 
 them to hear a word -,) reprefent to yourfelf, 
 
 in 
 
 & Sidonius Apollinaris fays, that Pliny acquired more ho- 
 nour by this fpeech, even than by his incomparable panegyric 
 upon Trajan.
 
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 
 
 in fhort, fathers, daughters, and mothers-in-law, 
 all warmly interefting themfelves in the event of 
 this important trial. The opinions of the judges 
 were divided, two of the courts being for us, 
 and two againft us. It is fomewhat remarkable, 
 that the fame queftion debated before the fame 
 judges, and pleaded by the fame advocates, and 
 at the fame time, fhould happen to receive fo 
 different a decifion, that one would almoft ima- 
 gine it was more than accident 6 . However, in 
 the final event, the mother-in-law, who claimed 
 under the will a fixth part of the inheritance, loft 
 her caufe. Suberinus d was alfo excluded his pre- 
 tenfions j who tho' he had been difmherited by his 
 father, and had not dared ro vindicate his own pa- 
 trimony, had yet the fmgular affurance to claim the 
 effects of his father-in-law. 
 
 I have been thos particular in giving you a 
 detail of the circumftances which attended this 
 caufe, not only that my letter might inform you 
 of what you could not learn by my Ipeechj but 
 alfo (for I will honeftly confefs the artifice) in order 
 to your reading it with more pleafure, by being 
 
 thus 
 
 c It fhould feem by this pafTage, that the Centumviral 
 Court (confifting of 140 judges) was divided into 4 clafles, 
 each clafs fitting in their juridical capacity, upon the bench, 
 at the fame time; and that when the queftion concerned the 
 validity of a teftamentary devife, if thefe clafTes were equally 
 divided in opinion, the claimant under the will loft the legacy. 
 
 d This Suberinus (the commentators fuppofe) was fon to 
 the woman whom Accia's father had married in his old age.
 
 366 THE LETTERS BookVf 4 
 
 thus introduced, as it were, into the audience. 
 Complicate^ as this pleading is, I do not defpair of 
 its recommending itfelf to you, as much as if it 
 had the grace of brevity. The abundance of mat- 
 ter; the juft order in which it is arranged; the little 
 narratives that are interfperfed throughout ; to- 
 gether with the feveral kinds of flile which diverfify 
 the compofition; will always give it an air of no- 
 velty. I will even venture to fay to you (what 
 I durft not to any one elfe) that a fpirit of 
 animated and fublime eloquence breaks out in 
 many parts of it; as in others it affumes the clofe 
 and argumentative manner. I was frequently 
 obliged to intermix dry computations with the 
 elevated and pathetic, and to defcend from the 
 orator almoft to the accountant; fo that you will 
 fometimes imagine the fcene was changed from the 
 folemnity of the centumviral tribunal, to the fa- 
 miliarity of a private confultation. I gave a loofe 
 to my indignation, my refentment, and my com- 
 pafiionj and in fleering thro' this illuftrious caufe, 
 was governed by turns with every varying guft of 
 the paffions. In a word, my particular friends 
 look upon this fpeech (and I will venture to re- 
 peat it again) as my beft performance, efteeming 
 it the e Ctefiphon of my orations : whether with 
 reafon or not, you will eafily judge, who have 
 
 them 
 
 e An oration of Demofthenes in defence of Cteiiphon^ 
 elteemed the bell ot that noble orator's fpeeches.
 
 Book VI. OF PLINY. 367 
 
 them all fo perfectly in your memory, as to be 
 able while you are reading it to make the com- 
 parifon, without the trouble of turning to my for- 
 mer fpeeches. Farewel. 
 
 LETTER XXXIV. 5ft MAXIMUS. 
 
 YOU were perfectly in the right to promife a 
 combat of gladiators to our good friends 
 ihe citizens of Verona a j not only as they have- 
 long diftinguimed you with their peculiar efl-eem 
 and veneration, but as it was from that city you 
 received the amiable object of your moll tender 
 affection, your late excellent wife. And fmce you 
 owed fome honourable memorial or public repre- 
 fentation to her memory, what other fpectacle could 
 you have exhibited more proper to the b occafion ? 
 Befides, you were fo unanimoufiy requeued by the 
 corporation, that to have refufed, would have had 
 the appearance rather of obftinacy than firmnefs. 
 The readinefs with which you granted their peti- 
 tion, 
 
 * In the territories of the republic of Venice. 
 
 b It was an opinion which unhappily prevailed in the an- 
 cient pagan world, that the ghofts of the deceafed were ren- 
 dered propitious by human blood. This abfurd and cruel no- 
 tion gave rife to thefe barbarous gladiatorial combats, which 
 at firit were only exhibited at funeral obfequies, and none but 
 criminals were appointed to tiioic mortal encounters. But in 
 procefs of tirae, they became part of the public entertain- 
 ments, and perfons were trained up to the-fole purpofe of thefe 
 inhuman (hews."
 
 368 THE LETTERS BookVL 
 
 tion, and the c magnificent manner in which you 
 executed the object of it, is much to your honour; 
 for a greatnefs of foul is feen in thefe fmaller in- 
 ftances, as well as in matters of higher moment. 
 I am forry the African panthers, which you had 
 largely provided for this purpofe, did not arrive 
 time enough ; but tho' they were delayed by the 
 tempeftuous feafbn, the obligation to you is equally 
 the fame, fince it was not your fault that they were 
 not exhibited. Farewel. 
 
 e The amphitheatre in which thefe fhews were exhibited, is 
 ftill to be feen in Verona, the infide whereof is the moft entire 
 of. any ancient ftru&ure for the fame purpofe now exifting. It 
 is computed to have been fufficiently fpacious to contain up- 
 wards of three-and-twenty thoufand fpedtators to fit com mo- 
 dioufly. Vid. Wright's Travels. 
 
 END of VOL. t
 
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