Letter 10001: Your filial piety, most sacred emperor, prompted your desire to succeed your father as late as possible, but the...
Pliny the Younger→Trajan|c. 112 AD|Pliny the Younger|Human translated
grief deathimperial politicsmonasticism
To Trajan.
Your filial piety, most sacred emperor, prompted your desire to succeed your father as late as possible, but the immortal gods have hastened to bring your talents to the guidance of the state which has fallen to your care. * I pray therefore that prosperity may wait upon you, and through you upon the human race - in other words, I pray that whatever befalls may be worthy of your reign. It is my earnest wish that both in public and private life strength and cheerfulness, most excellent emperor, may be yours.
[Note: Nerva, who had adopted Trajan three months previously, died on 28th January, 98 A.D. Trajan received the news of his accession at Cologne, and did not immediately return to Rome.]
L To Trajan.
Your filial piety, most sacred emperor, prompted your desire to succeed your father as late as possible, but the immortal gods have hastened to bring your talents to the guidance of the state which has fallen to your care. * I pray therefore that prosperity may wait upon you, and through you upon the human race - in other words, I pray that whatever befalls may be worthy of your reign. It is my earnest wish that both in public and private life strength and cheerfulness, most excellent emperor, may be yours.
(*) Nerva, who had adopted Trajan three months previously, died on 28th January, 98 A.D. Trajan received the news of his accession at Cologne, and did not immediately return to Rome.
C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
Tua quidem pietas, imperator sanctissime, optaverat, ut quam tardissime succederes patri; sed di immortales festinaverunt virtutes tuas ad gubernacula rei publicae quam susceperas admovere. Precor ergo ut tibi et per te generi humano prospera omnia, id est digna saeculo tuo contingant. Fortem te et hilarem, imperator optime, et privatim et publice opto.
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To Trajan.
Your filial piety, most sacred emperor, prompted your desire to succeed your father as late as possible, but the immortal gods have hastened to bring your talents to the guidance of the state which has fallen to your care. * I pray therefore that prosperity may wait upon you, and through you upon the human race - in other words, I pray that whatever befalls may be worthy of your reign. It is my earnest wish that both in public and private life strength and cheerfulness, most excellent emperor, may be yours.
[Note: Nerva, who had adopted Trajan three months previously, died on 28th January, 98 A.D. Trajan received the news of his accession at Cologne, and did not immediately return to Rome.]
Human translation — Attalus.org
Latin / Greek Original
C. PLINIUS TRAIANO IMPERATORI
Tua quidem pietas, imperator sanctissime, optaverat, ut quam tardissime succederes patri; sed di immortales festinaverunt virtutes tuas ad gubernacula rei publicae quam susceperas admovere. Precor ergo ut tibi et per te generi humano prospera omnia, id est digna saeculo tuo contingant. Fortem te et hilarem, imperator optime, et privatim et publice opto.