Traianus
Plinio
Ep.
10.97
Actum
quem debuisti, mi Secunde, in excutiendis causis eorum qui Christiani ad te
delati fuerant secutus es. Neque enim in universum aliquid quod quasi certam
formam habeat constitui potest. Conquirendi non sunt; si deferantur et arguantur,
puniendi sunt, ita tamen ut qui negaverit se Christianum esse idque re ipsa
manifestum fecerit, id est supplicando dis nostris, quamvis suspectus in
praeteritum, veniam ex paenitentia impetret. Sine auctore vero propositi libelli
in nullo crimine locum habere debent. Nam
et pessimi exempli nec nostri saeculi est.
Trajan to Pliny
Ep.
10.97
You have followed the correct
course, my favored one, in your investigation of the cases of persons charged
with being "Christ-niks"; for it is impossible to construct a
universal principle applied as a fixed standard. These people should not be
hunted down; if they are brought before you and the charge against them is
proven, they must be punished. But in the case of anyone who denies that he is a
"Christ-nik," and makes it clear that he is not by offering
supplications to our gods, he shall be acquitted as a result of his recanting,
however suspect his former conduct may be. But anonymous accusations shall not
be introduced into the proceedings. They set a bad precedent and are not in the
spirit of our age.