Letter 10009: You have given me an abundance of private and all the public reasons I could desire for asking leave of absence,...
Trajan to Pliny.
You have given me an abundance of private and all the public reasons I could desire for asking leave of absence, but, personally, I should have been quite content to accept the mere expression of your wish, for I have not the slightest doubt that you will return as early as you possibly can to resume your busy post. I give you permission to erect a statue of mine in the place you ask - although I am very loath to accept such honours - so as to avoid appearing to check the flow of your loyalty towards me.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
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