To the Emperor Trajan It is a rule, Sir, which I inviolably observe, to refer myself to you in all my doubts; for who is more capable of guiding my uncertainty or informing my ignorance? Having never been present at any trials of the Christians, I am unacquainted with the method and limits to be observed either in examining or punishing them. Whether any difference is to be made on account of age, or no distinction allowed between the youngest and the adult; whether repentance admits to a pardon, or if a man has been once a Christian it avails him nothing to recant; whether the mere profession of Christianity, albeit without crimes, or only the crimes associated therewith are punishable-in all these points I am greatly doubtful. In the meanwhile, the method I have observed towards those who have been From The Loeb Classical Library, reprinted by permission. denounced to me as Christians is this: I interrogated them whether they were Christians; if they confessed it I repeated the question twice again, adding the threat of capital punishment; if they still persevered, I ordered them to be executed. For whatever the nature of their creed might be, I could at least feel no doubt that contumacy and inflexible obstinacy deserved chastisement. There were others also possessed with the same infatuation, but being citizens of Rome, I directed them to be carried thither. These accusations spread (as is usually the case) from the mere fact of the matter being investigated and several forms of the mischief came to light. A placard was put up, without any signature, accusing a large number of persons by name. Those who denied they were, or ever had been, Christians, who repeated after me an invocation to the Gods, and offered adoration, with wine and frankincense, to your image, which I had ordered to be brought for that purpose, together with those of the Gods, and who finally cursed Christ-none of which acts, it is said, forced into performing these I thought those who are really Christians can be it proper to discharge. Others who were named by that informer at first confessed themselves Christians, and then denied it. True, they had been of that persuasion but they had quitted it, some three years, others many years, and a few as much as twenty-five years ago. They all worshipped your statue and the images of the Gods, and cursed Christ. They affirmed, however, the whole of their guilt, or their error, was, that they were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, adultery, never to falsify their word, nor but never to commit any fraud, theft or deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food-but food of an ordinary and innocent kind. Even this practice, however, they had abandoned after the publication of my edict, by which, according to your orders, I had forbidden political associations. I judged it so much the more necessary to extract the real truth, with the assistance of torture, from two female slaves, who were styled deaconnesses: but I could discover nothing more than depraved and excessive superstition. I therefore adjourned the proceedings, and betook myself at once to your counsel. For the matter seemed to me well worth referring to you, especially considering the numbers endangered. Persons of all ranks and ages, and of both sexes, are, and will be, involved in the prosecution. For this contagious For this contagious superstition is not confined to the cities only, but has spread through the villages and rural districts; it seems possible, however, to check and cure it. 'Tis certain at least that the temples, which had been almost deserted, begin now to be frequented; and the sacred festivals, after a long intermission, are again revived; while there is a general demand for sacrificial animals, which for some time past have met with but few purchasers. From hence it is easy to imagine what multitudes may be reclaimed from this error, if a door be left open to repentance. -MELMOTH-HUTCHINSON. THE EMPEROR'S REPLY 1 TRAJAN [Pliny's Letters, X, 97] Acknowledgment of the gods of the Roman state amounted to evidence of allegiance to the Roman government. Trajan, Emperor from 99 to 117, is willing to 'From The Loeb Classical Library, reprinted by permission. make every concession possible, but feels that he must insist upon such acknowledgment, not for religious reasons but for reasons of state. This rescript to Pliny contains the outlines of the policy followed by the government towards Christianity for more than a century thereafter. To Pliny The method you have pursued, my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those denounced to you as Christians is extremely proper. It is not possible to lay down any general rule which can be applied as the fixed standard in all cases of this nature. No search should be made for these people; when they are denounced and found guilty they must be punished; with the restriction, however, that when the party denies himself to be a Christian, and shall give proof that he is not (that is, by adoring our Gods) he shall be pardoned on the ground of repentance, even though he may have formerly incurred suspicion. Informations without the accuser's name subscribed must not be admitted in evidence against anyone, as it is introducing a very dangerous precedent, and by no means agreeable to the spirit of the age. -MELMOTH-HUTCHINSON. lest innocent men be troubled and false accusers seize occasion for robbery. If the provincials are clearly willing to appear in person to substantiate suits against Christians, if, that is, they come themselves before your judgment seat to prefer their accusations, I do not forbid them to prosecute. But I do not permit them to make mere entreaties and protestations. Justice demands that if any one wishes to bring an accusation, you should make due legal enquiry into the charge. If such an accusation be brought and it be proved that the accused men have done anything illegal, you will punish them as their misdeeds deserve. But, in Heaven's name, take the very greatest care that if a man prosecute any one of these men by way of false accusation you visit the accuser, as his wickedness deserves, with severer penalties. -BERNARD W. HENDERSON. INDEX OF AUTHORS AND TITLES Abode of Sleep, The (Statius), 563 Address to Nero (Lucan), 504 Æsop at Play (Phædrus), 458 Agricola (Tacitus), selection from, 597 Amores (Ovid), selections from, 449-451 Annals (Ennius), selections from, 2 Apology for Philosophy (Cicero), 225 Apology for Satire (Horace), 378 Archias, Defence of (Cicero), selection from, Argonautica (Valerius Flaccus), selection from, Ariovistus (Cæsar), 108 Arria's Life and Death (Pliny), 615 Art of Poetry (Horace), selection from, 382 As a Soldier (Horace), 377 At His Brother's Grave (Catullus), 268 Atalanta (Ovid), 414 Atys (Catullus), 272 Augustus, note on, 276; Monumentum Ancyr- Augustus Regent (Horace), 358 Bacchanalian Revels, The (Livy), 60 Banquet of the Newly Rich, The (Petronius), Battle of Lake Trasimene, The (Livy), 435 Beauty Unadorned (Propertius), 442 Cæcina, note on, 214; letter to Cicero, 214 Cæsar and the Loyalists (Cicero), 211 Carpe Diem (Horace), 389 Cato, note on, 68; On Agriculture, 68 Catullus, note on, 265; selections from, 265-274 Choice of Words, The (Quintilian), 591 Civil War (Cæsar), selection from, 202 Complimenting the Prince, On (Pliny), 599 192 Connoisseur, The (Petronius), 567 Conspiracy of Catiline, The (Sallust), 174 Contrast, The (Tacitus), 597 Council of State, A (Juvenal), 500 Court Gossip, The, 507 Culture and Vocation (Quintilian), 588 Dædalus and Icarus (Ovid), 408 Defence of Archias (Cicero), selection from, Defence of Milo (Cicero), 192 Defence of Sestius (Cicero), selection from, 141 Delights of Poetry, The (Cicero), 260 Dialogue on Orators (Tacitus), selection from, |