Part 15 (2/2)
XX -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN
Mv lieutenant, Servilius Pudens, came to Nicomedia,[1016] Sir, on the 24th of November, and by his arrival freed me, at length, from the anxiety of a very uneasy expectation.
XXI -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN
YOUR generosity to me, Sir, was the occasion of uniting me to Rosia.n.u.s Geminus, by the strongest ties; for he was my quaestor when I was consul. His behaviour to me during the continuance of our offices was highly respectful, and he has treated me ever since with so peculiar a regard that, besides the many obligations I owe him upon a public account, I am indebted to him for the strongest pledges of private friends.h.i.+p. I entreat you, then, to comply with my request for the advancement of one whom (if my recommendation has any weight) you will even distinguish with your particular favour; and whatever trust you shall repose in him, he will endeavour to show himself still deserving of an higher. But I am the more sparing in my praises of him, being persuaded his integrity, his probity, and his vigilance are well known to you, not only from those high posts which he has exercised in Rome within your immediate inspection, but from his behaviour when he served under you in the army. One thing, however, my affection for him inclines me to think, I have not yet sufficiently done; and therefore, Sir, I repeat my entreaties that you will give me the pleasure, as early as possible, of rejoicing in the advancement of my quaestor, or, in other words, of receiving an addition to my own honours, in the person of my friend.
XXII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN
IT is not easy, Sir, to express the joy I received when I heard you had, in compliance with the request of my mother-in-law and myself, granted Coelius Clemens the proconsuls.h.i.+p of this province after the expiration of his consular office; as it is from thence I learn the full extent of your goodness towards me, which thus graciously extends itself through my whole family. As I dare not pretend to make an equal return to those obligations I so justly owe you, I can only have recourse to vows, and ardently implore the G.o.ds that I may not be found unworthy of those favours which you are the repeatedly conferring upon me.
XXIII -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN
I RECEIVED, Sir, a dispatch from your freedman, Lycormas, desiring me, if any emba.s.sy from Bosporus[1017] should come here on the way to Rome, that I would detain it till his arrival. None has yet arrived, at least in the city[1018] where I now am. But a courier pa.s.sing through this place from the king of Sarmatia,[1019] I embrace the opportunity which accidentally offers itself, of sending with him the messenger which Lycormas despatched hither, that you might be informed by both their letters of what, perhaps, it may be expedient you should be acquainted with at one and the same time.
XXIV -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN
I AM informed by a letter from the king of Sarmatia that there are certain affairs of which you ought to be informed as soon as possible.
In order, therefore, to hasten the despatches which his courier was charged with to you, I granted him an order to make use of the public post.[1020]
XXV -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN
THE amba.s.sador from the king of Sarmatia having remained two days, by his own choice, at Nicea, I did not think it reasonable, Sir, to detain him any longer: because, in the first place, it was still uncertain when your freedman, Lycormas, would arrive, and then again some indispensable affairs require my presence in a different part of the province. Of this I thought it necessary that you should be informed, because I lately acquainted you in a letter that Lycormas had desired, if any emba.s.sy should come this way from Bosporus, that I would detain it till his arrival. But I saw no plausible pretext for keeping him back any longer, especially as the despatches from Lycormas, which (as I mentioned before) I was not willing to detain, would probably reach you some days sooner than this amba.s.sador.
XXVI -- To THE EMPEROR TRAJAN
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