The death of Pliny the Elder paragraph 2 Flashcards
iam navibus cinis incidebat, calidior et densior, quo propius accederent; iam pumices etiam lapidesque nigri et ambusti et fracti igne; iam vadum subitum et litora ruina montis obstantia.
Now ash was falling onto the ship, hotter and thicker the nearer they approached; now even pumice-stones and black stones both scorched and cracked by fire (were falling); now (there was) sudden shallow water and debris from the mountain blocking the way to the shore.
haesitat paulisper an retro navigaret; mox gubernatori ut ita faceret moneti ‘fortes’ inquit ‘fortuna adiuvat: Pomponianum pete!’ Pomponianus erat Stabiis diremptus sinu medio (nam mare sensim circumactis curvatisque litoribus infunditur); ibi periculum, quamquam nondum appropinquabat, tamen valde conspicum erat; Pomponianus igitur sarcinas posuerat in naves, certus fugae si contrarius ventus resedisset.
He hesitates for a moment (wondering) whether to sail back; soon he says to the helmsman (who was) advising that he should do so, ‘Fortune favours (lit. helps) the brave; make for Pomponianus!’ Pomponianus was at Stabii, separated (from Herculaneum) by the intervening bay [for the sea gradually runs into the sweeping and curving shore]; there the danger, although not yet arrived, was nevertheless clearly obvious; therefore Pomponianus had placed his luggage into boats, resolved on flight if the headwind should subside.
quo tum secundissimo avunculus meus invectus, amplectitur trepidantem consolatur hortatur, utque timorem eius sua securitate leniret, iubet ferri in balineum.
Then, my uncle, having sailed with this very favourable wind, embraces, cheers and encourages the trembling man, and so that he might calm his fear by his own composure, he orders that he be taken into a bath.
lotus recumbit cenat, aut hilaris aut (quod est aeque magnum) similis hilari.
Having bathed, he reclines, he dines, either cheerful, or [what is equally important] seeming to be cheerful.
interea e Vesuvio monte pluribus locis latissimae flammae altaque incendia relucebant, quorum fulgor et claritas tenebris noctis excitabatur.
Meanwhile, from several places on Mount Vesuvius very broad flames and tall fires were blazing, of which the glare and brightness were emphasising the darkness of the night.
ille in remedium formidinis dictitabat ignes agrestium trepidatione relictos desertasque villas per solitudinem ardere.
As a remedy for fear, he kept saying that the fires had been left behind through the panic of country folk and that deserted houses were burning throughout the abandoned are (lit. [the area of] solitude).
tum se quieti dedit et quievit verissimo quidem somno; nam meatus animae, qui illi propter amplitudinem corporis gravior et sonantior erat, ab eis qui limini obversabantur audiebatur.
Then, he gave himself to rest, and he rested in a very real sleep indeed; for the passage of his breathing, which for him was rather heavy and noisy on account of the corpulence of his body, was heard by those who were observed near to his door.
sed area ex qua cubiculum adibatur ita iam cinere mixtisque pumicibus completa surrexerat, ut si longior in cubiculo mora esset, exitus negaretur.
But the courtyard, from which his bedroom was approached, had now risen so much, filled with ash and pumice mixed (with it), that if there had been a longer delay in the bedroom, a way-out would have been impossible.
excitatus procedit, seque Pomponiano ceterisque qui pervigilaverunt reddit.
Awakened, he came out and restored himself to Pomponianus and the others, who had stayed awake all night.
inter se consulunt, utrum intra tecta maneant an in aperto vagentur.
They debate among themselves whether they should stay under cover or roam around in the open air.
nam crebris ingentibsque tremoribus tecta nutabant, et quasi emota sedibus suis nunc huc nunc illuc abire aut referri videbantur.
For the buildings were rocking with frequent and huge shocks, and, as if torn away from their foundations, they seemed to go away and to be brought back, now in this direction, now in that one.
sub dio rursus casus pumicum metuebatur, quamquam levium exesirumque, quod tamen periculorum collatio elegit; et apud illum quidem ratio rationem, apud alios timorem timor vicit.
Under the open sky, on the other hand, the fall of pumice was to be feared, although (it was) light and porus, yet a comparison of the dangers chose this (as the better alternative); and with him indeed argument outweighed argument, (but) with other fear (outweighed) fear.
cervicalia capitibus imposita linteis constringunt; id munimentum contra incidentia fuit.
With linen cloths they tie down pillows on their heads; that was a protection against falling objects.
