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Subject Area: Political Theory
Subject Area: History

LXXIX: To the Emperor Trajan - Marcus Tullius Cicero, Letters of Marcus Tullius Cicero [1909]

Edition used:

Letters of Marcus Tullius Cicero: with his Treatises on Friendship and Old Age, trans. E.S. Shuckburgh. And Letters of Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, trans. William Melmoth, revised by F.C.T. Bosanquet (New York: P.F. Collier, 1909).

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LXXIX

To the Emperor Trajan

Julius Largus, of Ponus1 (a person whom I never saw nor indeed ever heard his name till lately), in confidence, Sir, of your distinguishing judgment in my favour, has entrusted me with the execution of the last instance of his loyalty towards you. He has left me, by his will, his estate upon trust, in the first place to receive out of it fifty thousand sesterces2 for my own use, and to apply the remainder for the benefit of the cities of Heraclea and Tios,3 either by erecting some public edifice dedicated to your honour or instituting athletic games, according as I shall judge proper. These games are to be celebrated every five years, and to be called Trajan’s games. My principal reason for acquainting you with this bequest is that I may receive your directions which of the respective alternatives to choose.

[1 ]A province in Asia, bordering upon the Black Sea, and by some ancient geographers considered as one province with Bithynia. M.

[2 ]About $2,000. M.

[3 ]Cities of Pontus near the Euxine or Black Sea. M.