Going Back to School: Roman Masculinity and Fatherhood, Pliny the Younger, Ep. 2.18

Name: Pliny the Younger Date:  61 – 113 CE Region:   Como / Rome [modern Italy] Citation:  Letters 2.18

 Roman men could form loving, parental bonds with their friends' children.

To: Mauricus

From: Pliny

What can be a more fun favor for me to do for you, than to find a tutor for your brother’s kids? For now, thanks to you, I can go back to school & return to the best days of my life: I get to sit in on classes with the youngins, as I used to, and I get to experience their respect for me in their studies. (2) Recently, I entered the noisy classroom where they were all chatting amongst each other with their peers, and as soon as I entered the room, they quieted down. I’m only mentioning this to show off their good behavior, not my own, and because I don’t want to you worry about your brother’s kids not getting a good education. (3) I’ll observe the teachers and I’ll tell you what I think about them in a letter that is so detailed that you’ll think you’ve heard them teaching yourself. (4) I’m going to do this with concern and care, because I owe this to you and to the memory of your brother. For what’s more important for these kids—I would say *your* kids, because I know how much you love them as your own—than that they get the education that is worthy of their father, and worthy of you, their uncle? And I’ll do this for you, even if you haven’t asked me to. (5) I know that when I find the perfect tutor for these kids, I’ll make whoever isn’t chosen angry, but I don’t care. Let them be mad. This is for your brother’s kids, and I’ll deal with it calmly as if they were my own.

C. PLINIUS MAURICO SUO S.

1 Quid a te mihi iucundius potuit iniungi, quam ut praeceptorem fratris tui liberis quaererem? Nam beneficio tuo in scholam redeo, et illam dulcissimam aetatem quasi resumo: sedeo inter iuvenes ut solebam, atque etiam experior quantum apud illos auctoritatis ex studiis habeam. 2 Nam proxime frequenti auditorio inter se coram multis ordinis nostri clare iocabantur; intravi, conticuerunt; quod non referrem, nisi ad illorum magis laudem quam ad meam pertineret, ac nisi sperare te vellem posse fratris tui filios probe discere. 3 Quod superest, cum omnes qui profitentur audiero, quid de quoque sentiam scribam, efficiamque quantum tamen epistula consequi potero, ut ipse omnes audisse videaris. 4 Debeo enim tibi, debeo memoriae fratris tui hanc fidem hoc studium, praesertim super tanta re. Nam quid magis interest vestra, quam ut liberi - dicerem tui, nisi nunc illos magis amares - digni illo patre, te patruo reperiantur? quam curam mihi etiam si non mandasses vindicassem. 5 Nec ignoro suscipiendas offensas in eligendo praeceptore, sed oportet me non modo offensas, verum etiam simultates pro fratris tui filiis tam aequo animo subire quam parentes pro suis. Vale.

--Pliny the Younger, Ep. 2.18

Pliny the Younger was an Italian born noble and nephew of the famous natural historian Pliny the Elder. He is best known for publishing his private correspondence, in which he flouts his connections with other illustrious Romans (including the Emperor Trajan and the author Tacitus). Two of the most famous examples of these are his “eyewitness” account of the explosion of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE and his letter to the emperor Trajan regarding the treatment of Christians.

 

Two Letters of Pliny About Miscarriage, Epist. 4.21 and 8.10

Two Letters from Pliny About Miscarriage

Name: Pliny the Younger Date:  61 – 113 CE Region:   Como / Rome [modern Italy] Citation:  Letters 4.21, 8.10

From: Pliny

To: Velius Cerialis

What a terrible thing happened to the Helvidian sisters! Both died giving birth to daughters. I am overcome with grief, but I try to be brave. But I grieve because childbirth has taken away two supremely honorable girls in the flower of their youth. I’m upset for their babies, who lost their mothers as soon as they were born. I’m upset for the women’s noble spouses.

I’m also upset for personal reasons. For even though he has passed, I deeply cherish their father, as you can see in my works and in my deeds. Now only one of his three children is left alive—one son alone continues the family tree that only a short while ago had many branches.

It will be a great balm for my grief if fate keeps this one remaining child—a son—strong and healthy, and if he becomes equal to his father and grandfather [in character].   Now that he is an only child, I am even more worried about his health and character. You know what a softy I am to those I care about, and you know how much I worry for them. It shouldn’t surprise you, then, how much I worry about the one I have the most hope for. Goodbye.

C. Plinius Velio Ceriali suo s.

Tristem et acerbum casum Helvidiarum sororum! Utraque a partu, utraque filiam enixa decessit. Afficior dolore, nec tamen supra modum doleo: ita mihi luctuosum videtur, quod puellas honestissimas in flore primo fecunditas abstulit. Angor infantium sorte, quae sunt parentibus statim et dum nascuntur orbatae, angor optimorum maritorum, angor etiam meo nomine. Nam patrem illarum defunctum quoque perseverantissime diligo, ut actione mea librisque testatum est; cui nunc unus ex tribus liberis superest, domumque pluribus adminiculis paulo ante fundatam desolatus fulcit ac sustinet. Magno tamen fomento dolor meus acquiescit, si hunc saltem fortem et incolumem, paremque illi patri illi avo fortuna servaverit. 

Cuius ego pro salute pro moribus, hoc sum magis anxius quod unicus factus est. Nosti in amore mollitiam animi mei, nosti metus; quo minus te mirari oportebit, quod plurimum timeam, de quo plurimum spero. Vale.   

From: Pliny

To: Fabatus, my grandfather-in-law

The heights of your desire to see us give you great-grandchildren will make you even more devastated to hear that your granddaughter has had a miscarriage. She girlishly did not know that she was pregnant, and failed to do things that would protect pregnancy, as well as did some things she shouldn’t have. But she has paid for her sin enough; she put herself in grave danger.

Although you are upset that in your old age you have been bereft of potential great-grandchildren, you ought to still thank the gods that they spared the life of your granddaughter, and they will soon give us another chance.

For although this one didn’t work out, this pregnancy gives us hope for others in the future.

And so now I’ll tell you the same thing I’m telling myself—things I’m reminding myself, things I’m saying in encouragement. For your desire for great-grandchildren is no less ardent than my desire for children, and these children, I reckon, will have a clear path to political office, thanks to you and me. Their names will be proclaimed far and wide, and they will walk in their ancestors’ footsteps. If only they would be born soon and change our grief into joy. Farewell.

 

C. Plinius Fabato Prosocero suo s.

Quo magis cupis ex nobis pronepotes videre, hoc tristior audies neptem tuam abortum fecisse, dum se praegnantem esse puellariter nescit, ac per hoc quaedam custodienda praegnantibus omittit, facit omittenda. Quem errorem magnis documentis expiavit, in summum periculum adducta. Igitur, ut necesse est graviter accipias senectutem tuam quasi paratis posteris destitutam, sic debes agere dis gratias, quod ita tibi in praesentia pronepotes negaverunt, ut servarent neptem, illos reddituri, quorum nobis spem certiorem haec ipsa quamquam parum prospere explorata fecunditas facit. 

Isdem nunc ego te quibus ipsum me hortor moneo confirmo. Neque enim ardentius tu pronepotes quam ego liberos cupio, quibus videor a meo tuoque latere pronum ad honores iter et audita latius nomina et non subitas imagines relicturus. Nascantur modo et hunc nostrum dolorem gaudio mutent. Vale.

Pliny the Younger [Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus; 61 – 113 CE, modern Italy] was an Italian born noble and nephew of the famous natural historian Pliny the Elder. He is best known for publishing his private correspondence, in which he flouts his connections with other illustrious Romans (including the Emperor Trajan and the author Tacitus). The most famous examples of these are his “eyewitness” account of the explosion of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE and his letter to the emperor Trajan regarding the treatment of Christians.

"I Love Her As My Own..." Pliny the Younger Ep. 6.32 And Roman Masculinity

I Love Her as My Own

Name: Pliny the Younger Date:  61 – 113 CE Region:   Como / Rome [modern Italy] Citation:  Letters 6.32

From: Pliny 

To: My Dear Quintilianus 

Greetings,

Although you are very fiscally responsible, you have raised your daughter to act according to her station as child of yours and as the granddaughter of Tutilius. The fact of the matter is that she is going to marry Nonius Celer, a very socially prominent man who requires a certain elevated lifestyle due to his political obligations. Your daughter therefore ought to have lifestyle fitting for a husband of such stature, including clothes and servants. These will not increase her social standing, but they will reveal it and enhance it.  

I know that although you are blessed in spirit, you are not blessed in funds. Therefore, I will take it upon myself to provide part of the financial burden, and give “our” girl with $500,000 (for I feel I am like another parent to her). I give such a paltry sum knowing that your pride would not hinder you from accepting it. Take care.   

I Love Her as My Own

C. Plinius Quintiliano suo s.  

Quamvis et ipse sis continentissimus, et filiam tuam ita institueris ut decebat tuam filiam, Tutili neptem, cum tamen sit nuptura honestissimo viro Nonio Celeri, cui ratio civilium officiorum necessitatem quandam nitoris imponit, debet secundum condicionem mariti uti veste comitatu, quibus non quidem augetur dignitas, ornatur tamen et instruitur. Te porro animo beatissimum, modicum facultatibus scio. Itaque partem oneris tui mihi vindico, et tamquam parens alter puellae nostrae confero quinquaginta milia nummum plus collaturus, nisi a verecundia tua sola mediocritate munusculi impetrari posse confiderem, ne recusares. Vale.

Pliny the Younger [Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus; 61 – 113 CE, modern Italy] was an Italian born noble and nephew of the famous natural historian Pliny the Elder. He is best known for publishing his private correspondence, in which he flouts his connections with other illustrious Romans (including the Emperor Trajan and the author Tacitus). The most famous examples of these are his “eyewitness” account of the explosion of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE and his letter to the emperor Trajan regarding the treatment of Christians.

"I Can't Wait to Hold Your Babies!" Pliny the Younger Ep. 6.26 and Roman Masculinity

I Can’t Wait to Hold Your Babies!

Name: Pliny the Younger Date:  61 – 113 CE Region:   Como / Rome [modern Italy] Citation:  Letters 6.26

From: Pliny 

To: His Dear Servianus 

Greetings! 

I am so happy for you, and I congratulate you that you have betrothed your daughter to Fuscus Salinator. He comes from a noble house, has an extremely honorable father, and an equally honorable mother. He himself is very well educated and refined, with childlike honesty, youthful affability, and the austerity of a man much older.  And I’m not letting my feelings for him delude me. 

For I love him abundantly—as much as he deserves, based on the dignity and respect he has shown me—and nevertheless, because I love him, I might judge his character more keenly. And I promise you, as I have found out about him, you too will see that the son-in-law you are getting is better than you could ever have hoped for. 

What else? Hopefully, he will make you a grandfather ASAP—and make a grandchild that’s just like him, too! What a great time it will be, when I can take from your lap his kids—your grandchildren—and cuddle them as if they were my very own!  Take care.      

I Can’t Wait to Hold Your Babies!

C. Plinius Serviano suo s. 

Gaudeo et gratulor, quod Fusco Salinatori filiam tuam destinasti. Domus patricia, pater honestissimus, mater pari laude; ipse studiosus litteratus etiam disertus, puer simplicitate comitate iuvenis senex gravitate. Neque enim amore decipior. Amo quidem effuse — ita officiis ita reverentia meruit— iudico tamen, et quidem tanto acrius quanto magis amo. 

tibique ut qui exploraverim spondeo, habiturum te generum quo melior fingi ne voto quidem potuit. Superest ut avum te quam maturissime similium sui faciat. Quam felix tempus illud, quo mihi liberos illius nepotes tuos, ut meos vel liberos vel nepotes, ex vestro sinu sumere et quasi pari iure tenere continget! Vale.   

Pliny the Younger [Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus; 61 – 113 CE, modern Italy] was an Italian born noble and nephew of the famous natural historian Pliny the Elder. He is best known for publishing his private correspondence, in which he flouts his connections with other illustrious Romans (including the Emperor Trajan and the author Tacitus). The most famous examples of these are his “eyewitness” account of the explosion of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE and his letter to the emperor Trajan regarding the treatment of Christians.