pliny 1 Flashcards
Petis ut tibi avunculi mei exitum scribam, quo verius tradere posteris possis
You ask that I write to you about the death of my uncle, in order that you might pass it on accurately to posterity.
Gratias ago; nam video morti eius si celebretur a te immortalem gloriam esse propositam.
Thank you — for I see that the immortal glory of his death is set forth if he were honored by you.
Quamvis enim pulcherrimarum clade terrarum, ut populi ut urbes memorabili casu, quasi semper victurus occiderit, quamvis ipse plurima opera et mansura condiderit, multum tamen perpetuitati eius scriptorum tuorum aeternitas addet.
For although he died in the destruction of the loveliest of lands, as whole populations and as cities (did) because of a memorable disaster, it will be as if he lives on forever; although he himself composed works both plentiful and destined to endure, nevertheless the immortality of your written words will add much to his legacy.
Equidem beatos puto, quibus deorum munere datum est aut facere scribenda aut scribere legenda, beatissimos vero quibus utrumque.
Indeed I think that fortunate persons are those to whom is given, by gift of the gods, either to do things worth writing about, or to write things worth reading, and indeed, most fortunate are those to whom both are given.
Horum in numero avunculus meus et suis libris et tuis erit.
My uncle will be amongst the number of the latter, both in his own books, and in yours.
Quo libentius suscipio, deposco etiam quod iniungis.
Accordingly I quite freely undertake–even demand–what you have enjoined me (to do)
Erat Miseni classemque imperio praesens regebat.
He (Elder Pliny) was present at Misenum and he was leading over the fleet with imperium.
Nonum kal. Septembres hora fere septima mater mea indicat ei adparere nubem inusitata et magnitudine et specie.
On the ninth day before the first of September at about the seventh hour, my mother indicates to him that a cloud of unusual size and shape is appearing.
Usus ille sole, mox frigida, gustaverat iacens studebatque; poscit soleas, ascendit locum ex quo maxime miraculum illud conspici poterat.
He (Elder Pliny) used the sun, then had a cold bath; he had eaten laying down and he began to study; he asks for his slippers, and he ascends to a place from which that marvel was best able to be seen.
Nubes — incertum procul intuentibus ex quo monte (Vesuvium fuisse postea cognitum est)— oriebatur, cuius similitudinem et formam non alia magis arbor quam pinus expresserit.
A cloud–it was uncertain to those watching from afar from which mountain (afterwards it was known to have been Vesuvius)–was rising up, whose resemblance and shape no other tree other than a pine expresses it.
Nam longissimo velut trunco elata in altum quibusdam ramis diffundebatur, credo quia recenti spiritu evecta, dein senescente eo destituta aut etiam pondere suo victa in latitudinem vanescebat, candida interdum, interdum sordida et maculosa prout terram cineremve sustulerat.
For having been raised high up on a very tall sort of trunk, (the cloud) was spreading out into something like branches, I believe because, having been carried forth by a fresh blast and then forsaken by that diminishing force, or even conquered by its own weight, it was dissipating to the sides, sometimes white, sometimes dirty and speckled, according to the earth or ash it had borne.
