Pliny, Regulus (entire text)

Question 1

Assem para et accipe auream fabulam, fabulas immo:

Answer 1

Give a penny and receive a golden tale, tales rather

Question 2

nam me priorum nova admonuit, nec refert a qua incipiam.

Answer 2

for a new [tale] reminded me of earlier ones, and it does not matter from which I begin.

Question 3

Verania graviter iacebat. ad hanc Regulus venit. Primum impudentiam

Answer 3

Verania was lying seriously ill. To this woman, Regulus came. Firstly [consider] the shamelessness

Question 4

entiam hominis, qui venerit ad aegram, cuius marito inimicissimus

Answer 4

of this man, who came to a sick woman, to whose husband he had been most hostile

Question 5

imus, ipsi invisissimus fuerat! Esto, si venit tantum; at ille etiam

Answer 5

and most hated to the woman herself! Let it be, if he only came; but that man even

Question 6

proximus toro sedit, quo die qua hora nata esset interrogavit

Answer 6

sat (right) next to her on the bed, he asked her on what day, at what hour she had been born

Question 7

Ubi audivit, componit vultum, intendit oculos, movet labra

Answer 7

When he heard, he composes his expression, stretches his eyes, moves his lips

Question 8

agitat digitos, computat. Nihil. Ubi diu miseram exspectatione suspendit

Answer 8

fiddles his fingers, counts. [He said] nothing. when he had kept the poor woman waiting in suspense for a long time

Question 9

‘habes’ inquit ‘climacterium tempus sed evades.

Answer 9

he said, “You are having a critical time, but you will escape it

Question 10

Quod ut tibi magis liqueat, haruspicem consulam, quem

Answer 10

So that this might be more clear to you, I will consult a soothsayer, whom

Question 11

frequenter expertus sum.’

Answer 11

I have used frequently.’

Question 12

sine mora sacrificium facit, affirmat extra cum siderum

Answer 12

Without delay he makes a sacrifice, he confirms that the entrails agree

Question 13

significatione congruere. Illa, ut in periculo credula

Answer 13

with the meaning of the stars. She, as [those] in danger [are] trusting, demands her will

Question 14

poscit testamentum, legatum Regulo scribit.

Answer 14

[and] writes a legacy for Regulus.

Question 15

Mox ingravescit, clamat moriens hominem scelestum

Answer 15

Soon she grows worse, she shouts, dying, that the man is wicked

Question 16

perfidumque ac plus etiam quam periurum esse, qui

Answer 16

and treacherous and worse even than an oath-breaker, since

Question 17

sibi per salutem filii peierasset

Answer 17

he had sworn falsely to her about the health of his (=Regulus’) son.

Question 18

Facit hoc Regulus non minus scelerate quam frequenter

Answer 18

Regulus does this no less wickedly than frequently,

Question 19

quod iram deorum, quos ipse cotidie fallit, in caput infelicis pueri detestatur

Answer 19

because he calls down the anger of the gods, who he himself cheats daily, onto the head of the unlucky boy.