Pliny, not the naturalist
Whose curious nose got him embalmed,
While studying too closely Vesuvius,
which was busy preserving Pompei
And not interested in the inquisitive old gentleman,
But his nephew and heir,
Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, you recall,
The deft careerist and imperial administrator,
Queried, cautious, the Emperor.
Was it their acts or just their name
That made the Christians guilty?
Yet fairly pointing out that after
A simple ceremony of chants antiphonal, 
It was the custom of these Christians
"To take food of an ordinary, harmless kind."
Unlike, he must have had in mind,
The Capocratians, who, it was reported,
(See, for example, Clement of Alexandria)
Were somewhat confused on doctrine and liturgy
And partook of a eucharist of fresh baby blood
And then a "love feast...whenever they will and
				with whom they will."
Pliny makes clear these Christians in Bithynia
Are not extravagant in their meals or worship.

Politic to ask, but in the press of business
And given the slowness of the mails from Bithynia to 
					Rome and back,
With seasoned judgment, proceeds to execution.
"You have followed the right course of procedure, 
					my dear Pliny."
The Emperor and Pliny are both pleased.
The Christians, of course, are not.
Whether removed by noose, fire, sword or cross,
The record is silent,
No more word than of their names.
Potters, shoemakers, slaves, cooks, masons unknown.
They were a small disturbance to the state,
But enough for Pliny, who worried.
We remember Pliny and his gift while living
"Of 500,000 sesterces for the maintenance of
			the boys and girls of the city,
"And also 100,000 for the upkeep of the library."
An administrator of the sort we all can admire.