Epilogue

Gaius Pliny to his friend Romatius Firmus, greetings.

You and I were born in the same township, were schoolmates together, and have been friends since childhood. Your father was a good friend of my mother and my uncle, and a friend to me as well—given the difference in our ages. These are compelling reasons why I ought to help you advance in your career. The fact that you hold the office of decurion in Comum shows that you have a fortune of 100,000 sesterces. In order that we may have the pleasure of seeing you not only as a decurion, but as a Roman knight, I am giving you 300,000 ­sesterces, to enable you to qualify for equestrian rank.

We’ve been friends long enough to guarantee that you will not forget this favor. I don’t have to urge you to enjoy the equestrian dignity which this gift will allow you to attain, because I’m sure you will do so from your own innate nature. People ought to guard an honor all the more carefully, when, in so doing, they are taking care of a gift bestowed by the kindness of a friend.

Farewell.

—Pliny, Ep. 1.19.