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12 Trajan Trajan (53–117 ce; emperor 98–117 ce) After the assassination of Domitian in 96, an older statesman named Nerva was brought to the Principate. He proved to be incompetent and was assassinated in 98. Trajan assumed power in 98 and earned the praise of the historian Tacitus, as well as the senator Pliny, an excerpt of whose speech in Trajan’s honor is offered here. 27. PLINY PRAISES TRAJAN FOR HIS MODESTY AND STRONG RULE OVER THE BARBARIANS 1 In this speech from the year 100 ce, Pliny, who has just been appointed consul by Trajan, gushes with praise over the modest way that Trajan assumed the office of emperor and the strong hand he shows at the empire’s borders. The revolt of the praetorians mentioned in this part of the speech concerns the insistence of the praetorians that the assassins of Domitian be executed. The interim emperor Nerva gave in to their request for this execution and also adopted as his son—thereby appointing the next emperor—Trajan, whom the army liked. I must comply with the will of the senate, which has decreed for the public advantage that the consul, by way of an address of thanks, shall remind good princes of what they have done, and bad princes of what they ought to do. This is all the more necessary now because our prince suppresses all private expressions of gratitude, and would prevent also public ones if he were permitted to forbid what the senate has decreed. In both cases, Caesar Augustus, you show 1. Pliny, “Panegyric in Praise of Trajan,” trans. F. P. Garland, in Masterpieces of Eloquence, ed. M. W. Hazeltine et al. (New York: Collier, 1905). Modesty in an emperor was remarkable; see Matt. 20:25-27 // Mark 10:42-44 // Luke 22:24-27 // John 13:13-17. 91 moderation; for, in permitting here the expression of gratitude that you forbid in private, you honor not yourself, but us. Since, then, you have yielded to our wishes, the important thing is not for us to proclaim your merits, but for you to hear them. I have often reflected how good and great the man should be whose beck and nod control the earth and sea, peace and war. But I should never, even if I had power equal to that of the gods, have conceived of a prince like ours. One man becomes great in war, but sinks into obscurity in peace. Another gains distinction in the arts of peace, but not in the profession of arms. One is feared because he is cruel; another loved because he is humble. One loses in public life the renown he gained in private; another loses in private life his public reputation. In short, there has been no prince in the past whose virtues have not been tarnished by vices. But our prince has obtained unprecedented praise and glory. His seriousness is not lessened by his cheerfulness, his gravity by his simplicity, or his dignity by his humanity. He is steady, tall, and stately in mien and bearing; and though he is in the prime of life his hair is becoming gray—a sign of approaching age. These are the marks that proclaim the prince. . . . But though you possessed the proper qualifications, Caesar, you were unwilling to become emperor. You had therefore to be forced. Yet you could not have been forced but for the danger that threatened our country; you would not have assumed the imperial power were it not to save the empire. And I feel sure that the praetorians revolted because great force and danger were necessary to overcome your modesty. Just as the sea is calmer, and the sky clearer, after a storm, so the peace and security we now enjoy under your rule is greater after that uprising. So through all the vicissitudes of life adversity follows prosperity, prosperity adversity. The source of both lies hidden. Indeed the causes of good and evil in general deceive us by false appearances. The revolt of the praetorians was a great disgrace to our age, a grave injury to the commonwealth. The emperor and father of the human race was besieged, taken, and shut up; the power of saving men was taken from the mildest of old men; our prince was deprived of his most salutary power—freedom of action. If only such calamity could induce you to assume the reins of government I should say that it was worth...

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