[21] “Sed nihil aliud inveni, quam superstitionem pravam et immodicam.” Pliny, Ep. x. 96.
[22] There is a striking passage, based on Pliny’s reflexions, in Professor Dill’s Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Aurelius, on this longing to be remembered after death, so common to the Roman (pagan) mind.
“The secret of immortality, the one chance of escaping oblivion, is to have your thought embalmed in choice and distinguished literary form, which coming ages will not willingly let die (Plin. Ep. ii. 10. 4, iii. 7. 14).... This longing to be remembered was the most ardent passion of the Roman mind in all ages and in all ranks ... of that immense literary ambition which Pliny represented, and which he considered it his duty to foster, only a small part has reached its goal.... The great mass of these eager littérateurs have altogether vanished, or remain to us as mere shadowy names in Martial, or Statius, or Pliny.” Book ii. chap. i.
[23] It seems most probable that the first nine Books of Pliny’s Letters were put out in “book form” for public use at different periods—and subsequently collected in one volume. The “official” correspondence between Pliny and Trajan was apparently “published” somewhat later. But it is evident that in the days of Symmachus (end of fourth century) the whole had been placed together, and thus made up the ten Books we now possess.
[24] Dr. Mackail, Latin Literature, iii. v.
[25] The purely Christian writings, mainly theological, are not included in this brief summary—able and brilliant as some of these undoubtedly were; other causes, apart from their literary merits, have largely contributed to their preservation.
[26] We might also cite here the well-known “poetic” epistles of Ovid and Horace.
[27] The Epistles of Paul to the Romans and to the Galatians are not quoted, but they are conspicuous examples of great doctrinal teaching embodied in the letter form. In a lesser degree the same remark is applicable to the two Letters to the Thessalonians and the First Epistle to the Corinthians.
[28] The words which occur in “the address” of the Letters of Ignatius to the Christian congregation in the city of Tralles are remarkable. “The holy Church which is in Tralles of Asia I salute ... after the manner of the apostle (ἐν ἀποστολικῷ χαρακτῆρι).” This Bishop Lightfoot explains as a reference of Ignatius to the Epistolary form of his communication, that being a usual form adopted by the apostles.
[29] Hermas, whose writings are usually classed with the works of the “Apostolic Fathers,” does not fall into this category.