PART III

INTRODUCTORY

The correspondence between Trajan and Pliny, and the Imperial Rescript--Genuineness of this piece in Pliny’s Letters 45

I

THE LETTERS OF PLINY

Nerva--Character of Trajan--Story of correspondence here referred to--Pliny’s Letters--Reply of Trajan, which contained the famous Rescript--Tertullian’s criticism of Rescript--Pliny’s Letters--They were no ordinary letters, but were intended for public reading--Pliny’s character--The vogue of writing letters as literary pieces for public reading--Pliny’s Letters briefly examined--The letter here under special consideration--Its great importance in early Christian history 48

II

VOGUE OF EPISTOLARY FORM OF LITERATURE

Letters of public men considered as pieces of literature--After Trajan there were very few Latin writings until the close of the fourth century--In that period some celebrated letters again appear (written by Symmachus and by Sidonius Apollinaris a few years later)--These letters were evidently written as pieces of literature intended for public circulation 63

III

THE NEW TESTAMENT EPISTLES, AND LETTERS OF APOSTOLIC FATHERS

Adoption of favourite letter-form as literary pieces--in Epistles of the New Testament, and in letters of Apostolic Fathers 69