No More Learning

Italy and Sicily, are to Pliny so many proofs of 13, &c. ). Beyond Germany, he says, immense
the manifold divine activity of nature (c. 93). islands had been discovered, Scandinavia, Eningia,
Some of the wonders he adduces are however more &c. He also believed the northern coast of the
than apocryphal. On the tides (of the influence earth to have been explored from the east as far
of the sun and moon upon which he was well as the Caspian sea (which he regarded as an inlet
aware), currents and marine springs, he has some of the northern ocean) in the time of Seleucus and
remarks which show that his official duties in Antiochus. More than one voyage had also been
Spain did not keep him from a careful observation made between Spain and Arabia (ii. 67, 68). He
of natural phaenomena (c. 97). The wonderful evidently considered India the most eastern country
qualities and phaenomena of various waters and of the world (vi. 17). The third and fourth book's
fountains (nam nec aquarum natura a miraculis are devoted to Europe, the countries of which he
cessat, c. 103), supply him with details, many of takes up in a somewhat curious order. He begins
them curious and probably true, others requiring with Spain, specifying its provinces and conventus,
the credulity of Piiny for their belief. From the and giving lists of the towns, the position of some
wonders of water he passes to those of firo (c. of which he defines, while the greater number are
104, &c. ), and then, by a rather curious arrange- merely enumerated in alphabetical order ; men-
ment, closes the book with some statements re- tioning the principal rivers, and noting the towns
1
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men.
upon them. He gives a few notices of the inhabit. It is unnecessary to follow him in detail through
ants of the different provinces, but no clear or the rest of this part of his work. It is carried on
comprehensive account of the population of the in much the same style. When treating of Africa
country generally, or any intelligible views even he mentions (apparently without disbelief) the
of its physical characteristics. After a similar monstrous races in the south, soine without articu-
account of Gallia Narbonensis, Pliny proceeds to late language, others with no heads, having mouths
Italy. His account of this country is, on the and eyes in their breasts. He accedes to the
whole, the best of the kind that he has given. opinion of king Juba, that the Nile rises in a
Following the division of Augustus, he enumerates mountain of Mauritania, and that its inundations
the different provinces, going round the coast. are due to the Etesian winds, which either force
The extent of coast line was of course favourable the current back upon the land, or carry rast
for defining the positions of places situated on or quantities of clouds to Aethiopia, the rain from
near it. Where the coast or river does not give which swells the river. Of the races to the north
him a convenient method of defining the position and east of the Pontus and on the Tanais he has
of places, he simply enumerates them, usually in preserved a very large number of names. With
alphabetical order. He has been at considerable regard to India he has some accounts which show
pains to specify a number of distances between that amid the conflicting, and what even Pliny
mouths of rivers, headlands, and other salient or calls incredible statements of different writers, a
important points, but his numbers can scarcely ever good deal of accurate information had reached the
be relied on. Many are egregiously wrong. This Romans. It is to be regretted that Pliny was
may be partly the fault of copyists, but there can deterred by the nature of these accounts from giving
be little doubt that it is mainly the fault of Pliny us more of them. It would have been interesting
himself, from his misunderstanding the data of the to know what Greeks who had resided at the
authors from whom he copied. In connection with courts of Indian kings (vi. 17) told their country-
the more important sections of Italy he enumerates We could have spared for that purpose most
in order the races which successively inhabited of the rough and inaccurate statements of distances
them, and where the occasion presents itself men- which he has taken the trouble to put in. Some in-
tions not only the towns which existed in his own tercourse which had taken place with the king of
time, but those which bad been destroyed. The Taprobane in the reign of the emperor Claudius
Tiberis and Padus, especially the latter, he enables Pliny to give a somewhat circumstantial
describes with considerable care. After the pro-account of the island and people. Though of very
vinces on the western coast of Italy, he takes the small value as a systematic work, the books on geo-
islands between Spain and Italy, and then returns graphy are still valuable on account of the extensive
to the mainland.
collection of ancient names which they contain, as
Leaving Italy he proceeds to the provinces on well as a variety of incidental facts which have
the north and east of the Adriatic sea, and those been preserved out of the valuable sources to which
south of the Danube-Liburnia, Dalmatia, Noricum, Pliny had access.
Pannonia, Moesia ; and in the fourth book takes The fire following books (vii. -xi. ) are devoted
up the Grecian peninsula. His account of this to zoology. The seventh book treats of man, and
is a good example of his carelessness, indistinctness, opens with a preface, in which Pliny indulges his
and confusion as a geographer. After the provinces querulous dissatisfaction with the lot of man, his
on the western side of northern Greece (Epeirus, helpless and unhappy condition when brought into
Acarpania, &c. ), he takes the Peloponnesus, and the world, and the pains and vices to which he is
then comes back to Attica, Boeotia, and Thessaly. subject. After bespeaking some measure of belief
His account excludes the Peloponnesus from Hellas for the marvellous accounts that he will have to
or Graecia, which begins from the isthmus, the give, and suggesting that what appears incredible
first country in it being Attica, in which he includes should be regarded in its connection with a great
Megaris (iv. 7). His notices are of the most whole (naturae vero rerum vis atque majestas in
meagre description possible, consisting of hardly any- omnibus momentis fide caret, siquis modo partes ejus
thing but lists of names. All that he says of Attica ac non totam complectatur animo), he enumerates
does not occupy twenty lines. After Thessaly come a number of the most astonishing and curious races
Macedonia, Thrace, the islands round Greece, the reported to exist upon the earth :-cannibals, men
Pontus, Scythia, and the northern parts of Europe. with their feet turned backwards ; the Psylli,
Of the existence of the Hyperboreans he thinks it whose bodies produce a secretion which is deadly
impossible to doubt, as so many authors affirmed to serpents ; tribes of Androgyni ; races of en-
that they used to send offerings to Apollo at Delos chanters ; the Scia podae, whose feet are so large,
(iv. 12). Nor does he express any distrust when that when the sun's heat is very strong they
recounting the stories of races who fed upon horses' lie on their backs and turn their feet upwards to
hoofs, or of tribes whose ears were large enough to shade themselves; the Astomi, who live entirely
serve as a covering for their bodies. His account upon the scents of fruits and flowers; and various
of Britain, which he makes lie over against Ger- others almost equally singular. Haec, he remarks,
many, Gaul, and Spain, is very meagre. From atque talia ex hominum genere ludilria sibi, nobis
Britain he proceeds to Gallia, in his account of miracula, ingeniosa fecit natura. He then proceeds
· which he mixes up Caesar's division according to to a variety of curious accounts respecting the ge
braces with the division according to provinces neration and birth of children, or of monsters in
(Ukert, Geographie der Griechen und Römer, ii. 2. their place. An instance of a change of sex he
p. 238), and so, not unnaturally, is indistinct and affirms to have come within his own knowledge
contradictory. After Gallia he comes back to the (vii. 4). The dentition, size, and growth of
northern and western parts of Spain and Lusitania. children, examples of an extraordinary precocity,
This sketch will give the reader an idea of the and remarkable bodily strength, swiftness, and
clumsy manner in which Pliny treats geography. I keenness of sight and hearing, furnish him with
9


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PLINIUS.
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man.
some singular details. He then brings forward a instances he has transformed the symbolical animals
variety of examples (chiefy of Romans) of persons sculptured at Persepolis into real natural pro-
distinguished for remarkable mental powers, moral ductions. With his usual proneness to ramble off
greatness, courage, wisdom, &c. , preserving some into digressions, his account of the sheep furnishes
interesting anecdotes respecting the persons ad. him with an opportunity for giving a variety of
duced. Then follow some notices of those most details regarding different kinds of clothing, and
distinguished in the sciences and arts, and of the novelties or improvements introduced in it (viii.
persons remarkable for their honours or good for. 48 or 73).
tune, in connection with which he does not forget In the ninth book he proceeds to the different
to point out how the most prosperous condition is races inhabiting the water, in which element he
frequently marred by adverse circumstances. He believes that even more extraordinary animals are
then mentions a number of instances of great lon- produced than on the earth, the seeds and germs of
gevity. Men's liability to discase draws from him living creatures being more intermingled by the
some pettish remarks, and even some instances agency of the winds and waves, so that he assents
which he mentions of resuscitation from apparent to the common opinion that there is nothing pro-
death only lead to the observation : haec est conditio duced in any other part of nature which is not
mortalium ; ad has et ejusmodi occasiones fortunae found in the sea, while the latter has many things
gignimur, uti de homine ne morti quidem debcat peculiar to itself. Thus he finds no difficulty in
credi (vii. 52). Sudden death he looks upon as believing that a live Triton, of the commonly re-
an especially remarkable phaenomenon, and at the ceived form, and a Nereid, had been seen and heard
same time the happiest thing that can happen to a on the coast of Spain in the reign of Tiberius, and
The idea of a future existence of the soul that a great number de Nereids had been
he treats as ridiculous, and as spoiling the greatest found on the beach in the reign of Augustus, to say
blessing of nature-death (c. 55 or 56). It inust nothing of sea-elephants and sea-goats. The story
have been in some peculiar sense, then, that he be of Arion and the dolphin he thinks amply confirmed
lieved in apparitions after death (c. 52 or 53). by numerous undoubted instances of the attach-
The remainder of the book is occupied with a di- ment shown by dolphins for men, and especially
gression on the most remarkable inventions of men, boys. It seems that these creatures are remark-
and the authors of them. He remarks that the ably apt at answering to the name Simon, which
first thing in which men agreed by tacit consent they prefer to any other (c. 8). Pliny, however,
was the use of the alphabet of the Ionians ; the rightly terms whales and dolphins beluae, not pisces,
second the employment of barbers ; the third though the only classification of marine animals is
marking the hours.
one according to their integuments (ix. 12 or 14,
The eighth book is occupied with an account of 13 or 15). His account of the ordinary habits of
terrestrial animals. They are not enumerated in the whale is tolerably accurate ; and indeed, gene-
any systematic manner. There is, indeed, some rally speaking, the ninth book exhibits much less
approximation to an arrangement according to size, of the marvellous and exaggerated than some of
the elephant being the first in the list and the the others. He recognises seventy-four different
dormouse the last, but mammalia and reptiles, kinds of fishes, with thirty of Crustacea (14 or 16).
quadrupeds, serpents, and snails, are jumbled up The eagerness with which pearls, purple dye, and
together. For trustworthy information regarding shell-fish are sought for excites Pliny to vehement
the habits and organisation of animals the reader objurgation of the luxury and rapacity of the age
will commonly look in vain : a good part of almost (c. 34). On the supposed origin of pearls, and the
every article is erroneous, false, or fabulous. Pliny's mode of extracting the purple dye, he enters at
account is, of course, filled with all the most extra considerable length (c. 34–41). Indeed, as he
ordinary stories that he had met with, illustrating sarcastically remarks: abunde tractata est ratio qua
the habits or instinct of the different animals. The se virorum juxta feminarumque forma credit amplis-
elephant he even believes to be a moral and reli- simam fieri
gious animal, and to worship the sun and moon The tenth book is devoted to an acconnt of
(viii. 1). His entertaining account of the elephant birds, beginning with the largest — the ostrich.
and the lion will give somewhat favourable samples As to the phoenix even Pliny is sceptical ; but
of the style in which he discusses natural history he has some curious statements about eagles, and
(viii. 1-11, 16). The reader of the seventh book several other birds. The leading distinction which
will be prepared to find in the eighth the most ex- he recognises among birds is that depending on
traordinary and impossible creatures figuring by the the form of the feet (z. 11 or 13). Those, also,
side of the lion and the horse. Thus we have the which have not talons but toes, are subdivided
achlis, without joints in its legs (c. 16) ; winged into oscines and alites, the former being distin-
horses armed with horns (c. 30); the mantichora, guished by their note, the latter by their different
with a triple row of teeth, the face and ears of a sizes (c. 19 or 22). He notices that those with
man, the body of a lion, and a tail which pierces crooked talons are usually carnivorous ; that those
like that of a scorpion (ib. ); the monoceros, with which are heavy feed on grain or fruits; those that
the body of a borse, the head of a stag, the feet of fly high, on flesh (c. 47). The validity of augury
an elephant, the tail of a boar, and a black horn on he does not seem to question. Though he had
its forehead two cubits long (c. 31); the catoblepas, found no difficulty in winged horses (viii
. 21),
whose eyes are instantly fatal to any man who he regards as fabulous winged Pegasi with horses'
meets their glance (c. 32); and the basilisk, pos- heads. The substance of the bird when hatched
sessed of powers equally remarkable (c. 33). Pliny he states to be derived from the white of the egg,
certainly was not the man to throw out the taunt: the yolk serving as its food (c. 53). From his
mirum est quo procedat Graeca credulitas (viii
. 22 account of eggs he digresses into a general dis-
or 34). He cites Ctesias with as much confidence cussion of the phaenomena of generation in animals
as Aristotle ; and it is not unlikely that in some of all kinds (c. 62, &c. ), in connection with which
;
a
а
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he has several most extraordinary statements, as, | eighteenth book opens with an apology, in Pliny's
e. gr. , that the spinal marrow of a man may turn peculiar style, on behalf of the earth, the benign
into a serpent (c. 66), and that mice can generate parent of all, whom men have unjustly blamed for
by licking each other. The genemtion and fe- the mischievous use which they themselves have
cundity of these little creatures he regards as made of some of her products. The rest of the
especially astonishing ; and what becomes of them book is occupied with an account of the different
all he cannot think, as they are never picked up sorts of grain and pulse, and a general account of
dead, or dug up in winter in the fields (c. 65). agriculture. This and the preceding are by far
He then proceeds to some statements as to the the most valuable of the botanical books of the
relative acuteness of the senses in different ani- | Iistoria Naturalis, and exhibit a great amount of
rals, and other miscellaneous matters. The reading, as well as considerable observation.
reciprocal enmities and attachments of different The next eight books (xx. xxvii. ) are devoted,
animals are frequently touched upon by him. generally speaking, to medical botany, though the
The first part of the eleventh book is occupied reader must not expect a writer like Pliny to
with an account of insects. The phaenomena of adhere very strictly to his subject. Thus, a great
the insect kingdom Pliny regards as exhibiting part of the twenty-first book treats of flowers,
the wonderful operations of nature in even a more scents, and the use of chaplets ; and some of the
surprising manner than the others. He, however, observations about bees and bee-hives are a little
only notices a few of the most common insects. foreign to the subject. Indeed, the 20th and
On bees he treats at considerable length. He finds part of the 21st book are rather a general account
space, however, to mention the pyralis, an insect of the medical, floral and other productions of
which is produced and lives in the fire of furnaces, gardens (see c. 49, end). Then, after giving an
but dies speedily if too long away from the flame account of various wild plante, and some general
(c. 36). The remainder of the book (c. 37 or botanical remarks respecting them, Pliny returns
44, &c. ) is devoted to the subject of comparative to the subject of medicines. The classification of
anatomy, or at least something of an approximation these is chiefly according to the sources from
to that science. Considerable ingenuity has been which they are derived, whether garden or other
shown by those from whom Pliny copies in bring- cultivated plants (xx. —xxii. ), cultivated trees
ing together a large number of coincidences and (xxiii. ), forest trees (xxiv. ), or wild plants (xxv. );
differences, though, as might have been expected, partly according to the diseases for which they are
there are many errors both in the generalisations adapted (xxvi. ). Cuvier (l. c. ) remarks that almost
and in the particular facts.
all that the ancients have told us of the virtues of
Botany, the next division of natural history their plants is lost to us, on account of our not
taken up by Pliny, occupies by far the largest knowing what plants they are speaking of. If we
portion of the work. Including the books on might believe Pliny, there is hardly a single
medical botany, it occupies sixteen books, eight on human malady for which nature has not provided
general botany (xii. -xix. ), and eight more on a score of remedies.
medicines derived from plants. Pliny's botany is In the twenty-eighth book Pliny proceeds to
altogether devoid of scientific classification. The notice the medicines derived from the human
twelfth book treats of exotics, especially the spice body, and from other land animals, commencing
and scent bearing trees of Indian Arabia, and with what is tantamount to an apology for intro-
Syria. Of the trees themselves Pliny's account is ducing the subject in that part of the work.
extremely unsatisfactory: frequently he merely Three books are devoted to this branch, diversified
names them. The book is chiefly occupied with by some notices respecting the history of medicine
an account of their products, the modes of collect-|(xxix. 1-8), and magic, in which he does not
ing and preparing them, &c. The first part of the believe, and which he considers an offshoot from
thirteenth book is occupied with a general account the art of medicine, combined with religion and
of unguents, the history of their use, the modes of astrology (xxx. 1, &c).
The thirty-first book treats
compounding them, and the plants from which of the medical properties of various waters ; the
they are chiefly derived. Palms and other exotics, thirty-second of those of fishes and other aquatic
chiefly those of Syria, Arabia, and Egypt, taken up creatures.
without any principle of arrangement, are noticed The remaining section of the Historia Naturalis
or described in the remainder of the book. His would doubtless have been headed by Pliny
account of the papyrus (c. 11 or 21–13 or 27) Mineralogy,” though this title would give but a
goes considerably into detail. The fourteenth book small idea of the nature of the contents. In the
is occupied with an account of the vine, and dif- 33d book the subject of metals is taken up. It
ferent notices respecting the various sorts of wines, begins with various denunciations of the wickedness
closing with a somewhat spirited review of the and cupidity of men, who could not be content with
effects of drunkenness. The fifteenth book treats what nature had provided for them on the surface of
of the more common sorts of fruit, the olive, apple, the earth, but must needs desecrate even the abode
fig, &c. The sixteenth passes first to the most of the Manes to ind materials for the gratification
common kinds of forest trees, and then contains a of their desires. Pliny's account of gold and silver
great variety of remarks on general botany, and consists chiefly of historical disquisitions about
other miscellaneous notices, especially on the uses rings, money, crowns, plate, statues, and the other
of wood and timber, into the midst of which there various objects in the making of which the precious
is awkwardly thrust some account of reeds, metals have been used, in which he has presented
willows, and other plants of that kind. The seven- us with a number of curious and interesting no-
teenth book treats of the cultivation and arrange-tices. He also specifies when and how metallic
ment of trees and plants, the modes of propagating products are used as remedies. The mention of
and grafting them, the diseases to which they are bronze (book xxxiv. ) leads him to a digression
subject, with the modes of curing them, &c. The | about statues and statuaries, again chiefly of an
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historical kind, and preserving several interesting / very numerous. The first was published at Ve
and valuable facts (c. 9–19). In the 19th chapter nice 1469, and was rapidly followed by many
he enumerates the chief works of the most cele others ; but the first edition of any great merit
brated statuaries, but the barren inventory is en- was that by Hardouin (Paris, 1685, in 5 vols.
livened by very few remarks which can satisfy the 4to. ; 2nd edition 1723, 3 vols. fol. ), which ex-
curiosity of the artist or the lover of art. The hibits great industry and learning. The edition
introduction of this digression, and the mention of published by Panckoucke (Paris, 1829–1833, in
some mineral pigments, leads Pliny to take up the 20 vols. ) with a French translation by Ajasson de
subject of painting in the 35th book. His account, Grandsngrie is enriched by many valuable notes
however, is chiefly that of the historian and anec- by Cuvier and other eminent scientific and literary
dote collector, not that of a man who understood men of France. These notes are also appended, in
or appreciated the art. The early stages of it a Latin form, in another edition in six volumes
he discusses very summarily; but on its progress (Paris, 1836–38, Panckoucke). The most va-
after it had reached sonie maturity, and the va- lunble critical edition of the text of Pliny is that
rious steps by which it rose in estimation among by Sillig (Leipzig, 1831-36, 5 vols, 12mo. ). The
the Romans, he has many valuable and interest. last volume of this edition contains a collation of a
ing records. In his account of the pigments em MS. at Bamberg of great value (containing, how-
ployed by the ancient painters, he mixes up the ever, only the last six books), which supplies
medical properties of some of them in a way words and clauses in many passages not suspected
peculiarly his own, though not very conducive to before of being corrupt, from which it may be in.
regularity of arrangement. His chronological no- ferred that the text of the earlier books is still in a
tices of the eras of the art and of the most distin- mutilated state, and that much of the obscurity of
guished painters are extremely valuable, and he Pliny may be traced to this cause. A consider-
notices, usually with tolerable clearness, the great able passage at the end of the last book has been
improvers of the art, and the advances which they supplied by Sillig from this manuscript. It appears
respectively made. The reader will find in this from his preface that Sillig is engaged upon a more
part of the work many interesting anecdotes of the extensive edition of Pliny.
great painters of Greece; but will often wish that The Natural History of Pliny has been translated
instead of a great variety of unimportant details, into almost all languages : into English by Holland
and accounts of trivial processes and mechanical (London, 1601); into German by Denso (1764–
excellences, Pliny had given a more full and satis- 65), and Grosse (1781-88, 12 vols. ); besides trans-
factory account of many of the masterpieces of an- lations of parts by Fritsch and Kiilb; into Italian
tiquity, which he only barely mentions. The ex- by Landino (Ven. 1476), Bruccioli (Ven. 1548),
cellent materials which he had before him in the and Domenichi (Ven. 1561); into Spanish by
writings of several of the ancient artists, and Huerta (Madrid, 1624-29); into French by
others which he might have consulted, might have Dupinet (1562), Poinsinet de Sivry (1771-82),
been worked up, in better hands, into a far more and Ajasson de Grandsagne ; into Dutch (Arnheim,
interesting account. After a short notice of the 1617); into Arabic by Honain Ibn Ishak (Joan-
plastic art, a few chapters at the end of the book nitius). A great deal of useful erudition will be
are devoted to the medical and other properties of found in the Exercitationes Plinianae on the Poly-
various mineral products, the use of bricks, &c. | histor of Solinus, by Salmasius. Another valuable
For the 36th book “ lapidum natura restat," as work in illustration of Pling is the Disquisitiones
“ hoc est praecipua morum insania. " Plinianae, by A. Jos. a Turre Rezzonico. Parma,
Marble and the other kinds of stone and kin 1763–67, 2 vols. fol. (Ajasson de Grandsagne,
dred materials used in buildings, or rather the Notice sur la Vie et les Ouvrages de Pline l'ancien;
admirable and curious works in which they have Bähr, Geschichte der Römischen Literatur, p. 471,
been employed (including a notice of sculpture and &c. )
(C. P. M. )
sculptors), occupy the greater portion of the book, C. PLI'NIUS CAECIPLIUS SECUNDUS,
the remainder of which treats of other minerals, was the son of C. Caecilius, and of Plinia, the sister
and the medicinal and other uses to which they of C. Plinius, the author of the Naturalis Historia.
were applied. The 37th book treats, in a similar His native place was probably Comum, now Como,
manner, of gems and precious stones, and the fine on the Lake Larius, Lake of Como, on the banks of
arts as connected with the department of engraving, which he had several villae (Ep. ix. 7). The year
the whole concluding with an energetic commend of his birth was A. D. 61 or 62, for, in a letter ad-
ation of Italy, as the land of all others the most dressed to Cornelius Tacitus (Ep. vi. 20), in which
distinguished by the natural endowments and the he describes the great eruption of Vesuvius, which
glory of its inhabitants, by the beauty of its situ- happened A. D. 79, he says that he was then in his
ation, and its fertility in everything that can eighteenth year. His father died young, and after
minister to the wants of man.
his death Plinia and her son lived with her brother,
The style of Pliny is characterised by a good who adopted his nephew, Caecilius. Under the
deal of masculine vigour and elevation of tone, republic his name after adoption would have been
though its force is frequently rather the studied C. Plinius Caecilianus Secundus.
vehemence of the rhetorician than the spontaneous The education of Plinius was conducted under
outburst of impassioned feeling. In his fondness the care of his uncle, his mother, and his tutor,
for point and antithesis, he is frequently betrayed Verginius Rufus (Ep. ii. 1). From his youth he
into harshness, and his pregnant brevity not un- was devoted to letters. In his fourteenth year he
commonly degenerates into abruptness and ob- wrote a Greek tragedy (Ep. vii. 4); but he adds,
scurity, though much of this latter characteristic “ what kind of a thing it was, I know not : it was
which is found in his writings is probably due to called a tragedy. " He studied eloquence under
the corrupt state of the text.
Quintilianus and Nicetes Sacerdos (Ep. vi. 6).
The editions of Pliny's Natural History are Ilis acquirements finally gained him the reputation
Pliny says,
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of being one of the most learned men of the age ; | improbable conjecture that Plinius may have written
and his friend Tacitus, the historian, had the same many of his letters with a view to publication, or
honourable distinction. He was also an orator. In that when he was writing some of them, the idea
his nineteenth year he began to speak in the forum of future publication was in his mind. However
(Ep. v. 8), and he was frequently employed as they form a very agreeable collection, and make us
an advocate before the court of the Centum viri acquainted with many interesting facts in the life
(Ep. i. 18-ix. 23), and before the Roman senate, of Plinius and that of his contemporaries.
both on the side of the prosecution, as in the cases The letters from Plinius to Trajanus and the em-
of Baebius Massa and Marius Priscus, and for the peror's replies are the most valuable part of the col-
defence, as in the cases of Julius Bassus and Rufus lection. The first letter in the tenth book is a letter
Varenus (Ep. vi. 29).
of congratulation to Trajanus on his accession to the
lle filled numerous offices in succession. While imperial dignity. Other letters contain requests for
a young man he served in Syria, as tribunus mili- favours to himself or his friends; and many of them
tum, and was there a hearer of the stoic Euphrates are on public affairs, on which he consulted the em-
(Ep. i. 10), and of Artemidorus. He was subse peror during his government in Asia Minor. The
quently quaestor Caesaris, praetor in or about replies of Trajanus are short, and always to the pur-
A. D. 93 (Ep. ii. 11), and consul A. D. 100, in pose in hand ; for instance, in the matter of the
which year he wrote his Panegyricus, which is ad- aqueduct of Nicomedia (x. 46, 47), and the aqueduct
dressed to Trajanus (Ep. iji. 13). In A. D. 103 he of Sinope (x. 91, 92); as to covering over a dirty
was appointed propractor of the province Pontica drain in Amastris, which sent forth a pestilent
(Ep. x. 77), where he did not stay quite two years. stench (x. 99); on the plan for uniting the lake of
Among his other functions he also discharged that Nicomedia to the sea by a canal (x. 50, 51, 69,
of curator of the channel and the banks of the 70); and on the proposal to compel the decuriones
Tiber (Ep. v. 15, and an inscription in Gruter, p. to accept loans of the public money, in order that
454. 3).
the interest might not be lost : the emperor's notions
Plinius was twice married. His second wife of justice would not allow him to accede to such a
was Calpurnia, the granddaughter of Calpurnius proposal.
Fabatus, and an accomplished woman: she was con- The letter on the punishment of the Christians
siderably younger than her husband, who has re- (x. 97), and the emperor's answer (x. 98), have
corded her kind attentions to him, and her affection furnished matter for much remark. The fact of a
in a letter to her aunt Hispulla (Ep. iv. 19). He person admitting himself to be a Christian was
had no children by either wife, born alive. sufficient for his condemnation ; and the punish-
The life of Plinius is chiefly known from his ment appears to have been death (supplicium mi-
letters. So far as this evidence shows, he was a natus : perseverantes duci jussi). The Christians,
kind and benevolent man, fond of literary pursuits, on their examination, admitted nothing further than
and of building on and improving his estates. He their practice of meeting on a fixed day before it
was rich, and he spent liberally. He built a temple was light, and singing a hymn to Christ, as God
at Tifernum, at his own cost, and an aedes to (quasi Deo); their oath (whatever Plinius may
Ceres, on his own property: He contributed, mean by sacramentum) was not to bind them to
or offered to contribute a third of the cost of any crime, but to avoid theft, robbery, adultery,
establishing a school in his patria (probably Co- breach of faith, and denial of a deposit. Two
mum), for the education of the youth there, and he female slaves, who were said to be deaconesses
asked his friend Tacitus to look out for teachers (ministrae), were put to the torture by Plinius,
(Ep. iv. 13). The dedication of a library at the but nothing unfavourable to the Christians could be
same place, and the establishment of a fund for the got out of them: the governor could detect nothing
benefit of youths (annuos sumptus in alimenta in- except a perverse and extravagant superstition
genuorum, Ep. i. 8), are among the instances of his (superstitionem pravam et immodicam). Here-
generosity recorded in his letters. He was a kind upon he asked the emperor's advice, for the con-
master to his slaves. His body was feeble, and tagion of the superstition was spreading ; yet he
his health not good. Nothing is known as to the thought that it might be stopped. The Romans
time of his death.
had a horror of secret meetings, especially for re-
The extant works of Plinius are his Panegyricus ligious celebrations, and they had experience of
and the ten books of his Epistolae. The Panegy- their mischief, as in the case of the Bacchanalia
ricus is a fulsome eulogium on Trajanus, in the ex- (Liv. xxxix. 8). They made no distinction between
ordium of which he addresses the patres conscripti, the Christians and others who congregated contrary
but in the course of the Panegyricus the emperor to law: nor did they concern themselves about the
himself is addressed in the second person. It is of particular character of any of these unions: the
some small value for the information which it con- Roman policy was generally opposed to all meetings
tains about the author himself and his times. at irregular times or places (Ep. X. 43). “ It is
The letters of Plinius, contained in ten books, not true," says Dr. Taylor (Elements of Civil Law,
furnish the chief materials for his life, and also con- p. 579), “ that the primitive Christians held their
siderable information about his contemporaries. assemblies in the night to avoid the interruptions
The tenth book consists entirely of letters from of the civil power : but the conrerse of that pro-
Plinius to Trajanus, and from Trajanus to Plinius. position is true in the utmost latitude ; viz. that
The index to Schaefer's edition of Plinius indicates they met with molestations from that quarter, be-
the names of all the persons to whom his extant cause their assemblies were nocturnal. "
It re-
letters are addressed.
mains a question if they would have been permitted
Plinius collected his own letters, as appears from to hold their assemblies in the day time ; and it is
the first letter of the first book, which looks some- not clear that they would. This being premised,
thing like a preface to the whole collection. He the emperor's answer is mild and merciful ; more
speaks of collecting others of his letters. It is not an mild than the practice of his governor had been, more


## p. 423 (#439) ############################################

PLOTINA.
423
PLOTINUS.
)
SCC
WAAVA
avy
or
merciful and just than the proceedings of the In- people, and took them to witness that she always
quisition, and of many religious persecutions among desired to be the same as she was then ; and
Christians themselves : he approves of the go throughout her life her conduct was regulated by
vernor's conduct, as explained in bis letter, and this principle. She also increased the popularity
observes that no general rule can be laid down. of Trajan by repressing the exactions of the pro-
Persons supposed to be Christians are not to be curators. As she had no children, she persuaded
sought for: if they are accused and the charge is her husband to adopt Hadrian, to whom she was
proved, they are to be punished ; but if a man much attached ; but the statement of Dion Cassius,
denied the charge, and could prove its falsity by that her intercourse with Hadrian was of a criminal
offering his prayers to the heathen gods (diis nos- character, is opposed to all that we know of her
tris), however suspected he may have been, he shall character. Plotina survived her husband and died
be excused in respect of his repentance. Charges in the reign of Hadrian, who honoured her memory
of accusation (libelli) without the name of the in- by mourning for her nine days, by building a temple
formant or accuser, were not to be received, as they in her honour, and by composing hymns in her
had been: it was a thing of the worst example, and praise. Hadrian likewise erected in honour of
unsuited to the age.
her a magnificent temple at Nemausus in Gaul.
The first edition of the Epistolae and Panegy. (Dion Cass. Ixviii. 5, lxix. 1, 10; Plin. Paneg.
ricus of Plinius is that of Venice, 1485, 4to.