Pliny- Regulus

Question 0

Assem para et accipe auream fabulam,

Answer 0

Prepare a penny and recieve an excellent story,

LIT CRIT:
CHIASMUS in “assem” “para” “accipe” “auream”emphasises small price but great story

Antithesis between “assem” and “auream” highlights the importance of the story

Question 1

C. PLINIUS CALVISIO SUO S.

Answer 1

Caius Pliny sends greetings to his friend Calvisius.

Question 2

Fabulas immo;

Answer 2

Or rather, stories;

LIT CRIT:
Repetition of “fabulam”, “fabulas” highlights the importance of the story

Question 3

Nam me priorum nova admonuit

Answer 3

For the new story has reminded me of earlier ones

LIT CRIT:
Juxtaposition between “priorum” and “nova” in “new” and “old” adds vividness and emphasises the importance of the new story

Question 4

Nec refert a qua incipiam

Answer 4

And it does not matter with which I shall begin.

Question 5

Verania graviter iacebat:

Answer 5

Verania was lying gravely ill:

LIT CRIT:
Avoids the word ill but just states “gravely” which emphasises the seriousness of her illness as it is obvious without explicitly stating she is ill

Question 6

Ad hanc regulus venit.

Answer 6

Regulus came to her.

Question 7

Primus, impudientam hominis,

Answer 7

Firstly, the shamelessness of the man,

Question 8

qui venerit ad aegram,

Answer 8

in coming to a sick woman.

Question 9

Cuius marito inimicissimus

Answer 9

To whose husband he had been the greatest enemy

LIT CRIT:
Sibilance in invisissimus and inimicissimus shows regulus as an evil and sly snake

Structural balance of dative, ablative, dative, ablative in “marito inimicissimus, ipsi invisissimus” emphasises Regulus’ evil

Question 10

Ipsi invisissimum fuerat!

Answer 10

And by Verania herself had also been very detested!

LIT CRIT:
Sibilance in invisissimus and inicissimus shows regulus as an evil and sly snake

Structural balance of dative, ablative, dative, ablative in “marito inimicissimus, ipsi invisissimus” emphasises Regulus’ evil

Question 11

Esto, si venit tantum;

Answer 11

It would have been enough if he only had visited her;

LIT CRIT:
“Esto”- “it would’ve been enough” emphasises how regulus has broken boundaries and has been evil

Question 12

at ille etiam proximus toro sedit;

Answer 12

But he even sat very close to her bed

LIT CRIT:
Superlative of “proximus” stresses regulus’ impudence- highlighted by juxtaposition with “etiam” he EVEN

Question 13

quo die, qua hora nata esset interrogavit

Answer 13

He asked her on what day and hour she had been born.

LIT CRIT:
Asyndeton in “quo die, qua hora” quickens pace and adds suspense

Question 14

Ubi audivit,

Answer 14

When he heard

LIT CRIT:
Historic present and asyndeton in this section quickens pace and adds drama and vividness

Question 15

Componit vultum

Answer 15

He fixed his expression,

LIT CRIT:
Historic present and asyndeton in this section quickens pace and adds drama and vividness

Question 16

Intendit oculos,

Answer 16

Strained his eyes,

LIT CRIT:
Historic present and asyndeton in this section quickens pace and adds drama and vividness

Question 17

Movet labra

Answer 17

Moved his lips

LIT CRIT:
Historic present and asyndeton in this section quickens pace and adds drama and vividness

Question 18

Agitat digitos, computat.

Answer 18

Moved his fingers quickly and made calculations.

LIT CRIT:
Historic present and asyndeton in this section quickens pace and adds drama and vividness

Question 19

Nihil.

Answer 19

Nothing

LIT CRIT:
Historic present and asyndeton in this section quickens pace and adds drama and vividness

Question 20

Ubi diu miseram exspectatione suspendit,

Answer 20

When he had kept the wretched woman in suspense for a long time,

LIT CRIT:
“Diu” and “exspectatione” emphatically positioned on either side of “miserum” displays how long he kept her waiting and his evilness in doing so

Question 21

‘Habes’ inquit ‘climacterium tempus

Answer 21

He says ‘you have a critical situation

Question 22

Sed evades’

Answer 22

But you will escape it

Question 23

Quod ut tibi magis liqueat,

Answer 23

So that it may become clearer to you,

Question 24

Haruspicem consulam,

Answer 24

I will consult a soothsayer

Question 25

quem frequenter expertus sum.’

Answer 25

Whom I have used frequently.’

Question 26

Sine mora, sacrificium facit,

Answer 26

Without delay, he made a sacrifice

LIT CRIT:
Asyndeton and historic present in this section emphasises the speed at which regulus works

Question 27

affirmat exta cum siderum signifactione congruere

Answer 27

and declared that the entrails agreed with the indication of the stars.

LIT CRIT:
Asyndeton and historic present in this section emphasises the speed at which regulus works

Question 28

Illa, ut in periculo credula

Answer 28

Verania, as you might expect in a dangerous situation [was ready to believe anything]

Question 29

Poscit testamentum

Answer 29

Asked for her will

LIT CRIT:
Historic present in this section and chiasmus of “poscit” “testamentum” “legatum” “scribit” emphasise the importance of the will being signed as regulus has tricked Verania

Question 30

Legatum Regulus scribit.

Answer 30

Wrote a legacy for Regulus.

Question 31

Mox ingravescit,

Answer 31

Soon she grew worse

Question 32

Clamat moriens hominem scelestum

Answer 32

and dying she shouted that the man was wicked

LIT CRIT:
“Hominem” means man as in the species which emphasises regulus’ evil and sub-human nature

Question 33

Perfidumque ac plus etiam quam periurum esse,

Answer 33

Treacherous and even more perjured

Question 34

Qui sibi per salutem filii peieravisset

Answer 34

Since he had sworn falsely to her on the safety of his son.

Question 35

Facit hoc regulus non minus scelerate quam frequenter

Answer 35

Regulus does this as wickedly as he does often,

Question 36

Quod iram deorum

Answer 36

Since he calls down the anger of the gods,

Question 37

quos ipse cotidie fallit,

Answer 37

Whom he cheats daily

Question 38

In caput infelicis pueri detestatur.

Answer 38

On the head of the unfortunate boy

Question 39

Velleius Blasus, ille dives consularis

Answer 39

Velleius Blasus, that wealthy ex-consul

Question 40

Novissima valetudine conflictabatur:

Answer 40

Was afflicted with a terminal illness:

Question 41

Cupiebat mutare testamentum.

Answer 41

He wanted to change his will.

Question 42

Regulus, qui sperabat aliquid ex novo testamento

Answer 42

Regulus, who was hoping for something from the new will,

Question 43

Quia nuper captare eum coeperat,

Answer 43

Because he had recently begun to win his favour

Question 44

Medicos hortari

Answer 44

Encouraged the doctors

Question 45

Et rogare ut quoquo modo vitam hominis prorogarent.

Answer 45

And asked them to prolong the man’s life by whatever means they could.

Question 46

Postquam signatum est testamentum

Answer 46

After the will was signed,

Question 47

Mutat personam,

Answer 47

Regulus changed his tune,

Question 48

Verit adlocutionem eisdemque medicis:

Answer 48

Altered his tone and said to these doctors:

Question 49

“Quousque” inquit “miserum cruciatis?”

Answer 49

How long are you going to torture the wretched man?

Question 50

Cur invidetis bona morte,

Answer 50

Why do you begrudge a good death to a man,

Question 51

Cui dare vitam non potestis?”

Answer 51

To whom you cannot give life?”

Question 52

Moritur Blaesus et,

Answer 52

Blaesus died and,

Question 53

Tamquam omnia audivisset,

Answer 53

As if he had heard everything,

Question 54

Regulo ne tantalum quidem

Answer 54

Did not leave regulus the least amount.