a fellow-student and an intimate friend of the younger Pliny, was the son of an illustrious Roman eques, and his mother belonged to one of the most distinguished families in Nearer Spain (Plin. Ep. 2.13). If we may trust the testimony of his friend, Voconius was a distinguished orator, and possessed great skill in composition. Several of Pliny's letters are addressed to him. (Ep. 1.5, 2.1, 9.28.)'