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SELECT LETTERS 
 
 PLINY THE YOUNGER. 
 
fW SELECT LETTERS 
 
 PLINY THE YOUNGER, 
 
 WITH NOTES 
 
 ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND 
 LAWS OF THE ANCIENT ROMANS, 
 
 Ifor tfje use of Schools* 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY PERKINS, MARVIN, & CO. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: HENRY PERKINS. 
 
 1835. 
 

 
 .<*> 
 
 Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1S35, 
 
 By Perkins, Marvin, & Co. 
 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The want of a convenient edition of the 
 works of the younger Pliny for the use of 
 schools, is a fact familiar to teachers, and 
 which, by many, it is believed has been re- 
 garded with surprise and regret. The popu- 
 larity of this author is sufficiently evinced by 
 the number of editions which the translation 
 has passed through, both in England and this 
 country ; while the high moral tone of his 
 writings, the beauty of his style, and the in- 
 formation which can be derived from him 
 respecting the domestic manners of the an- 
 cient Romans, fit him, in a peculiar manner, 
 for the perusal of youth. The object aimed 
 at in the present selection, has been to ex- 
 hibit the author's powers on a variety of 
 subjects, and thus to render the work as 
 
interesting as possible to the student, to 
 whom the reading of the whole would prove 
 a tedious task. The notes are intended 
 solely for the explanation of the texts. Ver- 
 bal criticism has been dispensed with, and is, 
 in fact, rendered unnecessary by the omission 
 of the few passages, which are of suspicious 
 integrity, or the explanation of which would 
 be attended with any difficulty. It is hoped 
 that in its present form, the work may prove 
 acceptable both to instructors and their 
 pupils. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page. 
 Dedication, 9 
 
 Comparison of Town and Country Life, 9 
 
 A Roman Dinner, 11 
 
 Another Dinner, 12 
 
 Pleasures of the Country, . 13 
 
 Anecdotes of Marcus Regulus, . . . * 14 
 
 A Philosopher's Mode of Life, 16 
 
 Anecdotes of Arria, 20 
 
 Character of the Poet Martial, 23 
 
 A Schpol at Corno 25 
 
 Reasons for Undertaking the Course of Corellia, 27 
 
 Suppression of Public Games at Vienna, 29 
 
 Singular Fountain, 31 
 
 An Unexpected Legacy, 33 
 
 A Roman Villa, 35 
 
 Duties of an Historian, 38 
 
 Death of a Friend's Daughter, 41 
 
 An Eruption of Vesuvius, 43 
 
 The same continued, 47 
 
 Self-Denial in Sickness, 51 
 
 A Plan of Study, 53 
 
 Pleasures of Friendship, 56 • 
 
 Advantages of Sickness, .57 
 
 Fidelity Rewarded with Honor, 58 
 
 Fountain and River Clitumnus, 60 
 
 An Inundation of the Tiber, 62 
 
nn CONTENTS. 
 
 A Wonderful Lake, 63 
 
 A Character, 65 
 
 Ancient Glories of Greece, 66 
 
 Two Ways to be Happy, 69 
 
 A Lesson to Parents, 69 
 
 In Behalf of a Servant, 70 
 
 On the same subject, 71 
 
 True and False Generosity, 71 
 
 Story of a Dolphin, 72 
 
 Philosophic Retirement, .75 
 
 The same in Winter, 77 
 
 An Engineer Wanted in Bithynia, 77 
 
 The Emperor's Answer, 78 
 
 A Fire Company Wanted at Nicomedia, 79 
 
 The Emperor's Answer, 80 
 
 An Aqueduct at. Nicomedia, 80 
 
 The Emperor's Answer, 81 
 
 A Canal at Nicomedia, -.82 
 
 The Emperor's Answer, 83 
 
 Inconvenience of Interest Laws, 83 
 
 The Emperor's Answer, 84 
 
 The Canal at Nicomedia, 84 
 
 The Emperor's Answer, .85 
 
 An Aqueduct at Sinope, 86 
 
 The Emperor's Answer, 86 
 
 Notes, 89 
 
C. PLINI1 C^CILII 
 
 SECUNDI 
 
 EPISTOL^ 
 
 SELECTS. 
 
 LIBER I. 
 
 1. C. PLINIUS SECUNDUS SEPTICIO SUO S. 
 
 Frequenter hortatus es, ut epistolas, si quas 
 paullo accuratius scripsissem, colligerem publi- 
 caremque. Collegi, non servato temporis ordine, 
 (neque enim historiam componebam,) sed ut 
 quseque in manus venerat. Superest, ut nee te 
 consilii, nee me poeniteat obsequii. Ita. enim 
 net, ut eas, qua? adhuc neglectse jacent, re- 
 quiram: et si quas addidero, non supprimam. 
 Vale. 
 
 2. C. PLTNIUS MINUTIO FUNDANO SUO S. 
 
 Mirum est, quam singulis diebus in urbe 
 ratio aut constet aut constare videatur luribus 
 1 
 
10 C PLIN1I EPIST. 
 
 cunctisque non constet. Nam, si quern inter- 
 roges, Hodie quid cgisti ? respondeat, Officio 
 togcD vii^ilis interfui ; sponsalia aut nuptias 
 frequentavi ; ille mc ad signandum test amentum, 
 ille in advocationem, ille in consilium rogavit. 
 Haec quo die feceris, necessaria ; eadem, si 
 quotidie fecisse te reputes, inania \identur, rnulto 
 magis quum secesseris. Tunc enira subit re- 
 cordatio, Quot dies qudm frigidis rebus ab- 
 stimsi ! Quod evenit mihi, postquam in Lauren- 
 tino meo aut lego aliquid, aut scribo, aut etiam 
 corpori vaco, cujus fulturis animus sustinetur. 
 Nihil audio, quod audisse, nihil dico, quod 
 dixisse poeniteat : nemo apud mc quemquam 
 sinistris sermonibus carpit ; neminem ipse re- 
 prehendo, nisi unum me, quum parum commode 
 scribo : nulla spe, nullo timore solicitor, nullis 
 rumoribus inquietor. Mecum tantum et cum 
 libellis loquor. Rectam sinceramque vitam ! 
 dulce otium, honestumque, ac p?ene omni negotio 
 pulchrius ! O mare, 6 littus, verum secrctumque 
 muscDiim ! quam multa invenitis, quam multa 
 dictatis ! Proindc tu quoque strepitum istum 
 inanemque discursum, et multum incptos labores, 
 ut primum fuerit occa.sio, reliuquc, teque studiis 
 vel otio trade. Satius est enim, ut Attilius 
 
LIBER PRIMUS. ] 1 
 
 noster eruditissime simul et facetissime dixit, 
 otiosum esse, quam nihil agere. Vale. 
 
 3. C. PLINIUS SEPTICIO CLARO SUO S. 
 
 Heus tu ! promittis ad ccenam, nee venis ! 
 Dicitur jus, ad assem impendium reddes, nee id 
 modicum. Paratae erant lactucae singulae, 
 cochleae ternse, ova bina, alica cum mulso et 
 nive, (nam hanc quoque computabis, iramo hanc 
 in primis, quae perit in ferculo,) olivae Baeticae, 
 cucurbitae, bulbi, alia mille non minus lauta. 
 Audisses comoedum, vel lectorem, vel lyristen, 
 vel, quae mea liberalitas, omnes. At tu apud 
 nescio quern, ostvea, echinos, Gaditanas, ma- 
 luisti. Dabis poenas, non dico quas. Dure 
 fecisti : invidisti, nescio an tibi, certe mihi, sed 
 tamen et tibi. Quantum nos lusissemus, risisse- 
 mus, studuissemus ! Potes apparatius ccenare 
 apud multos : nusquam hilarius, simplicius, 
 incautius. In summa, experire : et nisi pqstea 
 te aliis potius excusaveris, mihi semper excusa. 
 Vale. 
 
12 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 LIBER II. 
 
 1. C. PLINIUS AVITO SUO S. 
 
 Longum.est altius repetere, nee refert, quem- 
 admodum accident, ut homo minime familiaris 
 coenarem apud quendam, ut sibi videbatur, 
 lautum et diligentem ; ut mihi, sordidum simul 
 et sumtuosum. Nam sibi et paucis optima 
 quasdam ; ceteris, vilia et miuuta ponebat. 
 Vinum etiam parvulis lagunculis in tria genera 
 descripserat, non ut potestas eligendi, sed ne jus 
 esset recusandi : et aliud sibi et nobis, aliud 
 minoribus amicis, (nam gradatim amicos habet,) 
 aliud suis nostrisque libertis." Anirnadvertit, qui 
 mihi proximus recumbebat, et, an probarem, 
 interrogavit. Negavi. ' Tu ergo,' inquit, * quam 
 consuetudincm sequcris ? ' ' Eaclcm omnibus 
 pono. Ad cccnam enim, non ad notam, invito : 
 cunctisque rebus czecquo, quos mensd et toro 
 aquavi: ' Etidmne Ubcrtos ? ' ' Etiam. Can- 
 victores enim time, non Ubcrtos, jnrfo.' Et ille, 
 1 Magno tibi constat: ' Minime.' < Qui fieri 
 potest ? ' Potest : quia scilicet libcrti mei non- 
 idem, quod ego, bibunt, sed idem ego, quod liberti.' 
 Et hercule, si guke temperes, non est onerosum, 
 
LIBER SECUNDUS. 13 
 
 quo utaris ipse, communicare cum pluribus. Ilia 
 ergo reprimenda, ilia quasi in ordinem redigenda 
 est, si sumtibus parcas, quibus aliquanto rectius 
 tua continentia, quam aliena contumelia, consu- 
 las. Quorsum hsec ? Ne tibi optima? indolis 
 juveni quorundam in mensa luxuria specie 
 frugalitatis imponat. Convenit autem amori in 
 te meo, quoties tale aliquid inciderit, sub exemplo 
 proemonere, quid debeas fugere. Igitur memen- 
 to, nihil magis esse vitandum, quam istam 
 luxuriae et sordium novam societatem : quae 
 cum sint turpissima discreta ac separata, turpius 
 junguntur. Vale, 
 
 2. C. PLINIUS CANINIO SUO S. 
 
 Studes ? an piscaris 1 an venaris ? an simul 
 omnia? Possunt enirn omnia simul fieri ad 
 Larium nostrum. Nam lacus piscem, feras 
 silvee, quibus lacus cingitur, studia altissimus 
 iste secessus, affatim suggerunt. Sed sive omnia 
 simul, sive aliquid facias, non possum dicere, 
 Invideo : angor tamen non et mihi licere, quae 
 sic concupisco, ut segri vinum, balinea, fontes. 
 Nunquamne hos arctissimos laqueos, si solver© 
 negatur, abrumpam? Nunquam, puto Nam 
 1* 
 
14 C PLINIl EP1ST. 
 
 veteribus negotiis nova accrescunt, nee tamen 
 priora peraguntur : tot nexibus, tot quasi catenis 
 majus in dies occupationum agmen extenditur. 
 Vale. 
 
 3. C. TLINIUS CALVISIO suo s. 
 
 Assem para, et accipe auream fabulam : fabu- 
 las immo. Nam me priorum nova admonuit: 
 nee refert, a qua potissimum incipiam. Verania 
 Pisonis graviter jacebat; hujus dico Pisonis, 
 quern Galba adoptavit. Ad hanc Regulus venit. 
 Primum impudentiam hominis, qui venerit ad 
 aegram, cujus marito inimicissimus, ipsi invisis- 
 simus fuerat. Esto, si venit tantum : at ille 
 etiam proximus toro sedit : quo die, qua hora 
 nata esset, interrogavit. Ubi audivit, componit 
 vultum, intendit oculos, movet labra, agitat 
 digitos, computat, nihil, nisi ut diu miseram 
 expectatione suspendat. ' llabes,' inquit, ' cli- 
 mactericum tempus, sed evades. Quod ut tibi 
 magis liqueat, aruspicem consulam, quern sum 
 frequenter cxpertus.' Nee mora : sacrificium 
 facit, adfirmat, exta cum siderum significatione 
 congruere. Ilia, ut in periculo, credula, poscit 
 codicillos : legatum Regulo scribit : mox ingra- 
 
LIBER SECUJNDUS, 15 
 
 vescit : clam at moriens ; O hominem nequam, 
 perfidum, ac plus etiam quam perjurum ! ' qui 
 sibi per salutem filii pejerasset. Facit hoc 
 Regulus non minus scelerate quam frequenter, 
 quod iram deorum, quos ipse quotidie fallit, in 
 caput infelicis pueri detestatur. Velleius Blsesus, 
 ille locuples consularis, novissima valetudine 
 conflictabatur : cupiebat mutare testamentum. 
 Regulus, qui speraret aliquid ex novis tabulis, 
 quia nuper captare eum cceperat, medicos hor- 
 tari, rogare, quoquo modo spiritum homini pro- 
 rogarent. Postquam signatum est testamentum, 
 mutat personam, vertit alloquutionem, iisdemque 
 medicis, Quousque miser um cruciatis ? quid in- 
 videtis honam mortem, cui dare vitam non 
 potestis? Moritur Blsesus : et tanquam omnia 
 audisset, Regulo ne tantulum quidem. Suf- 
 ficiunt duse fabulae. An scholastica lege 
 tertiam poscis 1 Est unde fiat. Aurelia, ornata 
 femina, signatura testamentum, sumserat pul- 
 cherrimas tunicas. Regulus quum venisset ad 
 signandum, Rogo, inquit, lias mihi leges. Au- 
 relia ludere hominem putabat ; ille serio instabat. 
 Nee multa : coegit mulierem aperire tabulas, ac 
 sibi tunicas, quas erat induta, legare : observavit 
 scribentem, inspexit an scripsisset. Et Aurelia 
 
16 C PLINII EPIST. 
 
 quidern vivit : ille tamen istud tanquam moritu- 
 ram coegit. Et hie hereditates, hie legata, quasi 
 mereatur, accepit ! [Sed quare irascor] in ea 
 civitate, in qua jampridem non minora praemia, 
 immo majora, nequitia et improbitas, quam pudor 
 et virtus habent ? Adspice Regulum, qui ex 
 paupere et tenui ad tantas opes per flagitia pro- 
 cessit, ut ipse mihi dixerit, quum consuleret, 
 quam cito sestertium sexcenties impleturus esset, 
 invenisse sese exta duplicia, quibus portendi, 
 millies et ducenties habiturum. Et habebit, si 
 modo, ut coepit, aliena testamenta, quod est 
 improbissiraum genus falsi, ipsis, quorum sunt 
 ilia, dictaverit. Vale. 
 
 LIBER III. 
 
 1. C. PLINIUS MACRO SUO S. 
 
 Pergratum est mihi, quod tarn diligenter libros 
 avunculi mei lectitas, ut habere omnes velis, 
 quacrasque, qui sint omnes. Fungar indicis 
 partibus, atque etiam, quo sint ordine scripti, 
 notum tibi faciam. Est enim hrec quoque studi- 
 
LIBER TERTIUS. . 17 
 
 psis non injucunda cognitio. DE JACULA- 
 TIONE EUUESTRI UNUS. Hunc, quum 
 prsefectus alee militaret, pari ingenio curaque 
 composuit. DE VITA POMPONII SECUN- 
 DI DUO, a quo singulariter amatus, hoc me- 
 morise amici quasi debitum munus exsolvit. 
 BELLORUM GERMANISE VIGINTI, qui- 
 bus omnia quae cum Germanis gessimus bella 
 collegit. Inchoavit, quum in German ia- militaret, 
 somnio monitus. Adstitit enim quiescenti Drusi 
 Neronis effigies, qui Germanise latissim'e victor 
 ibi periit : commendabat memoriam sui, ora- 
 batque, ut se ab injuria oblivionis adsereret. 
 STUDIOSI TRES, in sex volumina propter 
 amplitudinem divisi : quibus oratorem ab incu- 
 nabulis instituit et perficit. DUBII SERMO- 
 NIS OCTO : scripsit sub Nerone, novissimis 
 annis, quum omne studiorum genus paullo 
 liberius et erectius periculosum servitus fecisset. 
 A FINE AUFIDII BASSI TRIGINTA 
 UNUS. NATURiE HISTORIARUM TRI- 
 GINTA SEPTEM, opus diffusum, eruditum, 
 nee minus varium quam ipsa natura. Miraris, 
 quod tot volumina, multaque in his tarn scru- 
 pulosa, homo occupatus absolvent 1 Magis 
 miraberis, si scieris, ilium aliquamdiu caussas 
 
18 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 actitasse ; decessisse anno sexto et quinqua- 
 gesimo : medium tempus distentum impeditum- 
 que qua officiis maximis, qua amicitia principum 
 egisse. Sed erat acre ingenium, incredibile 
 studium, surama vigilantia. Erat sane somni 
 paratissimi, nonnunquam etiam inter studia in- 
 stantis et deserentis. Ante lucem ibat ad 
 Vespasianum imperatorem : nam ille quoquc 
 noctibus utebatur : inde ad delegatum sibi 
 officium. Reversus domum, quod reliquum erat 
 temporis, studiis reddebat. Post cibum socpe 
 (quem interdiu levem et facilem veterum more 
 sumebat) aestate, si quid otii, jacebat in sole : 
 liber legebatur : adnotabat excerpebatque. Ni- 
 hil enim legit, quod non excerperet. Dicere 
 etiam solebat, nullum esse librum tarn malum, 
 ut non aliqua parte prodesset. Post solem 
 plerumque frigida lavabatur. Deinde gustabat, 
 dormiebatque minimum. Mox, quasi alio die, 
 studebat in ccBnae tempus. Super banc liber 
 legebatur, adnotabatur, et quidem cursim. 
 Memini quendam ex amicis, quum lector quae- 
 dam perperam pronuntiasset, revocasse et repeti 
 coegisse : huic avunculum meum dixisse, Intel- 
 lexer as ncmjje ? quum illc adnuisset, Cur ergo 
 revocabas 1 decern amplius versus hac tud inter* 
 
LIBER TERT1US. 19 
 
 pellatione perdidimus. Tanta erat parsimonia 
 temporis. Surgebat sestate a ccena, luce ; 
 hieme, intra primam noctis ; et tanquam aliqu& 
 lege cogente. Hsec inter medios labores urbis- 
 que fremitum. In secessu solum balinei tempus 
 studiis eximebatur. Quum dico balinei, de 
 interioribus loquor, Nam dum destringitur ter- 
 giturque, audiebat aliquid aut dictabat. In 
 itinere, quasi solutus ceteris curis, huic uni 
 vacabat. Ad latus notarius cum libro et pugil- 
 laribus,cujus manus hieme manicis muniebantur, 
 ut ne coeli quidem asperitas ullum studiis tempus 
 eriperet : qua ex caussa Romas quoque sella 
 vehebatur. Repeto, me correptum ab eo, cur 
 ambularem. Poteras, inquit, has horas non 
 perdere. Nam perire omne tempus arbitrabatur, 
 quod studiis non impertiretur. Hac intentione 
 tot ista volumina peregit, Electorumque com 
 mentarios centum sexaginta mihi reliquit, opis- 
 thographos quidem et minutissime scriptos : qua 
 ratione multiplicatur hie numerus. Referebat 
 ipse, potuisse se, quum procuraret in Hispania, 
 vendere hos commentarios Largio Licinio qua- 
 dringentis millibus nummum : et tunc aliquanto 
 pauciores erant. Nonne videtur tibi, recordanti 
 quantum legerit, quantum scripserit, nee in 
 
20 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 officiis ullis, nee in amicitia principum fuisse ? 
 rursus, quum audis, quid studiis Iaboris impen- 
 dent, nee scripsisse satis, nee legisse ? Quid 
 est enira, quod non aut illco occupationes im- 
 pedire, aut haEG instantia' non possit efficere ? 
 Itaque soleo ridere, quum me quidam studiosum 
 vocant, qui, si comparer illi, sum desidiosissimus. 
 Ego autem tantum, quern partim publica, partim 
 amicorum officia distringunt ? duis ex istis, 
 qui tota vita Uteris adsident, collatus illi, non 
 quasi somno et inertia? deditus erubescat ? 
 Extendi epistolam, quamvis hoc solum, quod 
 requirebas, scribere destinassem, quos libros 
 reliquisset. Confido tamen, haec quoque tibi non 
 minus grata, quam ipsos libros, futura : quce te 
 non tantum ad legendos eos, verum etiam ad 
 simile aliquid elaborandum, possunt aemulationis 
 stimulis excitare. Vale. 
 
 *Z. C. PLINIUS NEPOTI SUO S. 
 
 Adnotasse videor, facta dictaque virorum 
 feminarumque illustrium alia clariora esse, alia 
 majora. Confirmata est opinio mea hesterno 
 Fanniac sermone. Neptis haec Arriae illius, 
 quae marito et solatium mortis et exemplum fuit. 
 
LIBER TERTIUS. 21 
 
 Multa referebat aviae suae non minora hoc, sed 
 obscuriora : quse tibi existimo tam mirabilia 
 legenti fore, quam mihi audienti faerunt. Mgvo- 
 tabat Csecina Partus, maritus ejus, aegrotabat 
 et filius, uterque mortifere, ut videbatur : filius 
 decessit, eximia pulchritudine, pari verecundia, 
 et parentibus non minus ob alia carus, quam 
 quod filius erat. Huic ilia ita funus paravit, ita 
 duxit exsequias, ut ignoraret maritus. Quin 
 imrao quoties cubiculum ejus intraret, vivere 
 filium, atque etiam commodiorem esse simulabat. 
 Ac persaepe interroganti, quid ageret puer, 
 respondebat, Bene quicvit, libenter cibum sumsit. 
 Deinde quum diu cohibitae lacrymae vincerent 
 prorumperentque, egrediebatur. Turn se dolori 
 dabat. Satiata, siccis oculis, composito vultu 
 redibat, tanquam orbitatem foris reliquisset. 
 Pr33clarum quidem illud ejusdera, ferrum strin- 
 gere, perfodere pectus, extrahere pugionem, 
 porrigere marito, addere vocem immortalem ac 
 paene divinam, pdte, non dolet. Sed tamen 
 ista facienti dicentique gloria et aeternitas ante 
 oculos erant : quo majus est sine praemio aeter- 
 nitatis, sine prasmio gloriae, abdere lacrymas, 
 operire luctum,. amissoque filio, matrem adhuc 
 agere. Scribonianus arma in Illyrico contra 
 2 
 
22 C. PLINII EPIS-T. 
 
 Claudium moverat : fuerat Pectus in partibu^ 
 et occiso Scriboniano, Romam trahebatur. Erat 
 adscensurus navem : Arria milites orabat, ut 
 simul imponeretur. Nempe enim, inquit, daluri 
 cstis consulari viro scrvulos aliquos, quorum e 
 manu cibum capiat, a quibus vestiatur, a quibus 
 calcietur : omnia vel sola prcestabo. Non im- 
 petravit. Conduxit piscatoriam naviculam, in- 
 gensque navigium minimo sequuta est. Eadem 
 apud Claudium uxori Scriboniani, quum ilia 
 profiteretur indicium, Ego, inquit, te audi am, 
 •cujus in gremio Scribonianus occisus est, et vivis 1 
 Ex quo manifestuin est, ei consilium pulcherri- 
 mae mortis non subitum fuisse. Quin etiam 
 quum Thrasea, gener ejus, deprecaretur, ne 
 mori pergeret, interque alia dixisset, Tu vis ergo 
 filiam tuam, si mihi pereundum fucrit, mori 
 mccum ? respondit, Si tarn diu tantdquc concor- 
 did vixerit tecum, qudm ego cum Pccto, volo. 
 Auxerat hoc responso curam suorum : attentius 
 custodiebatur : sensit, et, Nihil agitis, inquit : 
 potestis enim efficcrc, id male mortar; nc inoriar, 
 non potestis. Dum ha3C dicit, exsiluit cathedra, 
 adversoque parieti caput ingenti impetu impegit, 
 et corruit. Refocillata, Dixcram, inquit, vobis, 
 inventuram me, quamlibet duram, ad mortem 
 
LIBER TERT1US. 23 
 
 mam, si vos facileni negdssetis. Videnturne 
 heec tibi majora illo, Pate, 11011 doht, ad quod 
 per hsBC perventum est? quum interim illud 
 quidem ingeris faraa, hasc, nulla circumfert. 
 Unde colligitur, quod initio dixi, alia esse claii- 
 ora, alia majora. Vale. 
 
 3! C. PLINIUS PRISCO SUO S. 
 
 Audio Valerium Martialem decessisse, et 
 moleste fero. Erat homo ingeniosus, acutus, 
 acer, et qui plurimum in scribendo et salis 
 haberet et fellis, nee candoris minus. Prose- 
 quutus eram viatico secedentem. Dederam hoc 
 amicitise, dederam etiam versiculis quos de me 
 composuit. Fuit moris antiqui, eos qui ve\ sin- 
 gulorum laudes vel urbium scripserant, aut ho- 
 noribus aut pecunia ornare : nostris vero tempo- 
 ribus, ut alia speciosa et egregia, ita hoc in 
 primis exolevit. Nam postquam desiimus facere 
 laudanda, laudari quoque ineptum putamus. 
 Quasris qui sint versiculi quibus gra'tiam retule- 
 rim 1 Remitterem te ad ipsum volumen, nisi 
 quosdam tenerem : tu si placuerint hi, ceteros in 
 libro requires. Alloquitur Musam, mandat ut 
 
24 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 domum meain in Esquiliis quserat, adeat rev- 
 erenter : 
 
 Sed ne tempore non tuo disertam 
 Pulses ebriajanuam, videto. 
 Toios clat letriccB dies Minerva, 
 Dum centum studet auribus virorum 
 Hoc, quod secula posterique possint 
 Arpinis quoque compararc chartis. 
 Seras tutior ibis ad lucernas, 
 Hccc hora est tua, quumfurit Lyarns : 
 Quum regnat rosa, quum incident capilli, 
 Tunc me vel rigidi kg ant Cat ones. 
 
 Meritone eum qui hasc de me scripsit, et tunc 
 dimisi amicissime, et nunc, ut amicissimum, de- 
 functum esse doleo ? Dedit enim mihi quantum 
 maximum potuit, dnturus amplius, si potuisset. 
 Tametsi quid homini potest dari mnjus quarn 
 gloria, et laus, et ccternitas ? At non erunt a3terna 
 quae scripsit. Non crunt fortasse : ille tamen 
 scripsit tanquam essent futura. Vale. 
 
LIBER QUARTUS. 25 
 
 LIBER IV. 
 
 1. C. PLINIUS CORNELIO TACITO SUO S. 
 
 Salvum te in urbem. venisse gaudeo. Venisti 
 autem, si quando alias, nunc maxime mihi de- 
 sideratus. Ipse pauculis adhuc diebus in Tus- 
 culano commorabor, ut opusculum quod est in 
 manibus absolvam. Vereor enim ne, si hanc 
 intentionem jam in fine intermisero, eegre resu- 
 mam : interim ne quid festinationi mese pereat, 
 quod sum prsesens petiturus, hac quasi prsecurso- 
 ria epistola rogo. Sed prius accipe causas 
 rogandi, deinde ipsum quod peto. Proxime 
 quum in patria mea fui, venit ad me salutandum 
 municipis mei filius prsetextatus. Huic ego, 
 ' Studes ' ? inquam. Respondit, ( Etiam.' ( Ubi ? ' 
 ' Mediolani. 9 'Cur non hie?' Et pater ejus 
 (erat enim una, atque etiam ipse adduxerat pue- 
 rum,) ' Quia nidlos hie prceceptores 7iahe?mts.' 
 * Quare nidlos ? Nam vehement er intererat 
 vestra qui patres estis (et opportune complures 
 patres audiebant,) liberos vestros hie potissimicm 
 discere. Ubi enim aut jucundius morarentur 
 quam in patria, aut pudicius continerentur qudm 
 sub ocrdis parentum ? aut minore sumptu qudm 
 2* 
 
26 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 domi? Quantulum est ergo collatd pecunid coil" 
 ducere prccccptores ? quodque nunc in Iiabita- 
 tiones, in viatica, in ca quce per eg re cmuntur 
 (omnia autcm peregre cmuntur) impenditis, 
 adjicere mercedibus ? Atquc adeo ego, qui 
 nondum liberos habco, parutus sum jwo repub- 
 licd, nostra, quasi pro flid vel parotic, tertiam 
 partem ejus quod conferre vobis placebit, dare, 
 Totum etiam polliccrer, ?iisi timer cm ne hoc 
 munus meum quandoque ambitu corrumpcrctur : 
 tit accidere mullis in locis video, in quibus prce- 
 ceptores publice conducuntur. Huic vitio una 
 remedio occurri potest, si parentibus solis jus 
 conducendi relinqualur, iisdcmqiu religio rccte 
 judicandi necessitate collationis addatur. Nam 
 qui fortasse de alieno negligcntes, certe de suo 
 diUgentes erunt : ddbuntque operam, ne earn a 
 me pecuniam non nisi dignus aecipiat, si accept u- 
 rus ct cd) ipsis erit. Froindc conseniite, con- 
 spirate, majoremque animum ex meo sumitc, qui 
 cupio esse qudm plurimum quod debeam conferre. 
 Nihil honest ius prcestare liber is vestris, nihil 
 gratius patriot potestis. Edoceantur hie qui hie 
 nascuntur, statimque ab infantid natale solum 
 am are, frequent are consuescant. Atquc utinam 
 tarn claros prccccptores inducatis, ut a fnitimis 
 
LIBER QUARTUS. 27 
 
 oppidis studio. Mnc petantur ! utque nunc liberi 
 vestri aliena in loca, ita mox alieni in liunc locum 
 confluant. Haec putavi altius et quasi a fonte 
 repetenda ; quo magis scires quara gratura mihi 
 foret si susciperes quod injungo. Injungo autem, 
 et pro rei magnitudine rogo, ut ex copia studi- 
 osorum, quae ad te ex admiratione ingenii tui 
 convenit, circumspicias praeceptores quos solici- 
 tare possimus : sub ea tamen conditione, ne cui 
 fidem raeam obstringam. Omnia enim libera 
 parentibus servo. Uli judicent, illi eligant: ego 
 mihi curam tantum et impendium vindico. 
 Proinde si quis fuerit repertus qui ingenio suo 
 fidat, eat illuc ea lege, ut bine nihil q,liud certum 
 quam fiduciam suam ferat. Vale. 
 
 2. C. PLTNIUS GALLO SUO g. 
 
 Et admones et rogas ut suscipiam absentis 
 Corelli33 caus'am contra C. Cssciliura consulem 1 
 designatum. Q,u6d admones, gratias ago : quod 
 rogas, queror. Admoneri enim debeo, ut sciam : 
 rogari non debeo ut faciam quod mihi non facere 
 turpissimum est. An ego tueri Corelli filiam 
 dubitem 1 Est quidem mihi cum isto, contra quern 
 me advocas, non plane familiaritas, sed tamen 
 
28 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 amicitia. Accedit hue dignitas hominis, atque hie 
 ipse cui destinatus est honor : cujus nobis hoc 
 major agenda reverentia est, quod jam illo functi 
 sumus. Naturale est enim cuique, ut ea quae 
 quis adeptus est, ipsa quam amplissima existimari 
 velit. Sed mihi cogitanti adfuturum me Corelli 
 filiae, omnia ista frigida et inania videntur. Ob- 
 versatur oculis ille vir, quo neminem astas nostra 
 graviorem, sanctiorem, subtiliorem denique tulit : 
 quem ego quum ex admiratione diligere co^pis- 
 sem, quod evenire contra solet, magis admiratus 
 sum, postquam penitus inspexi. Inspexi enim 
 penitus : nihil a me ille secretum, non joculare, 
 non serium, non triste, non loetum. Adolescen- 
 tulus eram, et jam mihi ab illo honor, atque 
 etiam (audebo dicere) reverentia, ut a3quali, 
 habebatur. Ille mens in petendis honoribus 
 suffragator et testis; ille in inchoandis deductor 
 et comes ; ille in gerendis consiliator et rector ; 
 ille denique in omnibus officiis nostris quanquam 
 et imbecillus et senior, quasi juvenis et validus 
 conspiciebatur. Quantum ille fama> mea? domi, 
 quantum in publico, quantum etiam apud prin- 
 cipem adstruxit? Nam quum forte de bonis 
 juvenibus apud Nervam impcratorem sermo in- 
 cidisset, et pleriquc me laudibus fcrrent, paulisper 
 
LIBER QUARTUS. 29 
 
 se intra silentium tenuit, quod illi plurimum 
 auctoritatis addebat ; deinde gravitate, quam 
 noras, Necesse est, inquit, par dies laudem Se- 
 cundum, quia nihil nisi ex consilio meo facit. 
 Qua voce tribuit mihi, quantum petere voto 
 immodicum erat, nihil me facere non sapientis- 
 sime, quum omnia ex consilio sapientissimi viri 
 faccrem. Quinetiam moriens, filise suas (ut ipsa 
 solet prcedicare,) Multos quidem amieos, inquit, 
 tibi in longiore vita paravi, prcecipuos tamen, 
 Secundum et Cornutum. Quod dura recordor, 
 intelligo mihi laborandum, ne qua parte videar 
 hanc de me fiduciam providentissimi viri destitu- 
 isse. Quare ego vero Corellia3 adero promp- 
 tissime ; nee subire offensas recusabo : quanquam 
 non solum veniam me, veriim etiam laudem 
 apud istum ipsum, a quo, ut ais, nova lis fortasse 
 ut feminas intenditur, arbitror consequuturum, 
 si haec eadem in actione, latius scilicet et uberius 
 quam epistolarum angustiae sinunt, contigerit 
 mihi vel in excusationem, vel etiam in commen- 
 dationem meam dicere. Vale. 
 
 3. C. PLINIUS SEMPRONIO RUFO SUO S- 
 
 Interfui Principis optimi cognitioni, in consili- 
 um assumptus. Gymnicus agon apud Viennenses, 
 
30 C. PL1NII EPIST. 
 
 ex cujusdam testamento, celebrabatur. Hunc 
 Trebonius Rufinus, vir egregius nobisque am- 
 icus, in duumviratu suo tollendum abolendumque 
 curavit. Negabatur ex auctoritate publica fe- 
 cisse. Egit ipse causara non minus feliciter 
 quam diserte. Commendabat actionem, quod 
 tanquam homo Romanus et bonus civis in nego- 
 tio suo mature et graviter loquebatur. Quum 
 sententioe rogarentur, dixit Junius Mauricus (quo 
 viro nihil firmius, nihil verius) non esse restitu- 
 endum Viennensibus agon a : adjecit, Yellem 
 etiam Roma tolli posset. Constanter, inquis, et 
 fortiter. Quidni ? Sed hoc Maurico novum 
 non est. Idem apud Nervam imperatorem non 
 minus fortiter. Ccenabat Nerva cum paucis. 
 Veiento proximus, atque etiam in sinu recum- 
 bebat. Dixi omnia, quum hominem nominavi. 
 Incidit sermo de Catullo Messalino, qui, lu- 
 minibus orbatus, ingenio ssevo mala crecitatis 
 addiderat. Non verebatur, non erubescebat, 
 non miserebatur. Saepius a Domitiano non 
 secus ac tela, qurc et ipsa ca^ca et improvida 
 feruntur, in optimum quemque contorquebatur. 
 De ejus nequitia sanguinariisque sententiis in 
 commune omnes super ccenam loquebantur : 
 turn ipse Imperator, Quid putamus passurum 
 
LIBER QUARTUS, 31 
 
 fuisse, si viveret? Et Mauricus, Nobiscum 
 ccenaret. Longius abii, libens tamen. Placuit 
 agona tolli, qui mores Viennensium infecerat, ut 
 noster hie omnium. Nam Viennensium vitia 
 intra ipsos resident, nostra late vagantur. Utque 
 in corporibus, sic in imperio, gravissimus est 
 morbus qui a capite diffunditur. Vale. 
 
 4. C. PLINIUS LICINIO SUO S. 
 
 Attuli tibi ex patria mea pro munusculo qua> 
 stionem, altissima ista. eruditione dignissimam. 
 Fons oritur in monte, per saxa decurrit, excipitur 
 coenatiuncula manu facta : ibi paululum retentus 
 in Larium lacum decidit. Hujus mira natura: 
 ter in die, statis auctibus ac diminutionibus, 
 crescit decrescitque. Cernitur id palam, et cum 
 summa voluptate deprebenditur. Juxta recum- 
 bis et vesceris : atque etiam ex ipso fonte (nam 
 est frigidissimus) potas : interim ille certis di- 
 mensisque momentis vel subtrahitur vel assurgit. 
 Annulum, seu quid aliud, ponis in sicco, alluitur 
 sensim, ac novissime operitur : detegitur rursus, 
 paulatimque deseritur : si diutius observes, 
 
32 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 utrumque iterum ac tertio videas. Spiritusne 
 aliquis occultior os fontis et fauces modo laxat, 
 modo includit, prout Hiatus occurrit, aut decessit 
 expulsus 1 Quod in ampullis ceterisque generis 
 ejusdem videmus accidere, quibus non hians, 
 nee statim patens, exitus. Nam ilia quoque, 
 quanquam prona et vergentia, per quasdam ob- 
 luctantis anirhae moras crebris quasi singultibus 
 sistunt quod effundunt. An quae Oceano natura, 
 fonti quoque ? quaque ille ratione aut impellitur 
 aut resorbetur, hac modicus hie humor vicibus 
 alternis supprimitur vel egeritur ? An ut flumi- 
 na, quas in mare deferuntur, adversantibus ventis, 
 obvioque aestu retorquentur, ita est aliquid, quod 
 hujus fontis excursum per momenta repercutiat 1 
 An latentibus venis certa mensura, quas dum 
 colligit qued exhauserat, minor rivus est et 
 pigrior: quum collegit, agilior majorque profer- 
 tur? An nescio quod libramentum abditum et 
 caecum, quod quum exinanitum est, suscitat, et 
 elicit fontem; quum repletum, moratur et stran- 
 gulat 1 Scrutare tu causas (potes enim) quae 
 tantum miraculum efficiunt. Mihi abunde est, 
 si satis expressi quod emcitur. Vale. 
 
LIBER QUINTUS, 33 
 
 LIBER V. 
 1. C PLINIUS SEVERO SUO S. 
 
 Legatum mihi obvenit modicum, sed amplis- 
 simo gratius. Cur amplissimo gratius? Pom- 
 ponia Gratilla exhaeredato filio Assudio Curiano, 
 haeredem reliquerat me : dederat cohaeredes 
 Sertorium Severum, praetorium virum, aliosque 
 equites Romanos splendidos. Curianus Alius 
 orabat, ut sibi donarem portionem meam, seque 
 praejudicio juvarem : eandem tacita conventione 
 salvam mihi pollicebatur. Respondebam ; non 
 convenire moribus meis aliud palam, aliud 
 agere secreto : praBterea, non esse satis hones- 
 tum dare et locupleti ut orbo : in summa, non 
 profuturum ei, si donassem ; profuturum, si 
 cessissem : esse autem me paratum cedere, si 
 inique exbaeredatum mihi liqueret. Ad hoc ille, 
 Rogo cognoscas. Cunctatus paulum, Faciam, 
 inquam : neque enim video cur ipse me minor em 
 putem quam tibi videor. Sed jam nunc memento ; 
 non defuturum mihi constantiam, si ita Jides 
 duxerit, secundum malrem tuam pronuntiandi. 
 Ut voles, ait : voles enim quod cBquissimum. 
 Adhibui in consilium duos, quos tunc civitas 
 3 
 
34 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 nostra spectatissimos habuit, Corellium et Fron- 
 tinum. His circumdatus, in cubiculo meo sedi. 
 Dixit Curianus quae pro se putabat. Respondi 
 paucis ego (neque enim aderat alius qui de- 
 functs pudorem tueretur,) deinde secessi, et ex 
 consilii sententia ; Videtur, inquam, Curiane, 
 mater lua justas habuisse causas irascendi tibi. 
 Post* hoc ille cum ceteris subscripsit centum- 
 virale judicium, mecum non subscripsit. Ap- 
 petebat judicii dies : cohaeredes mei componere 
 et transigere cupiebant ; non dimdentia causae, 
 sed metu temporum. Verebantur, quod videbant 
 multis accidisse, ne ex centumvirali judicio 
 capitis rei exirent. Et erant quidam in illis, 
 quibus objici et Gratillas amicitia et Rustici 
 posset : rogant me, ut cum Curiano loquar. 
 Convenimus in aedem Concordiae. Ibi ego; 
 Si mater inquam, te ex parte quartd scrip- 
 sisset liccredem, num queri jwsscs 1 Quid si 
 liccrcclcm quidem instituisset ex assc, scd legatis 
 ita cxhausissct, ut non amplius apud te qudm 
 quarta remancret ? Igitar siifficcrc tibi debet, si 
 exheeredatus a mat re quart am partem ab liceredi- 
 bus ejus accipias, quam tamen ego augebo. Sets 
 te non subscripsisse mecum, et jam biennium 
 transisse, omniaque me usu cepissc. Sed ut te 
 
LIBER QUINTUS. 35 
 
 cohceredes met tractahiliorem experiantur : utque 
 tibi nihil abstulerit reverentia met, offero pro 
 med parte tantundem. Tuli fructum non consci- 
 entisB modo, verum etiam famae. Ille ergo 
 Curianus legatum mihi reliquit : et factum 
 meum, nisi forte blandior mihi, antiquum 
 notabili honore signavit. Usee tibi scripsi, quia 
 de omnibus quae me vel delectant vel angunt, 
 non aliter tecum quam mecum loqui soleo : 
 deinde, quod durum existimabam, te amantissi- 
 mum mei fraudare voluptate, quam ipse ca- 
 piebam. Neque enim sum tarn sapiens, ut nihil 
 mea intersit, an iis quas honeste fecisse me 
 credo, testiflcatio quasdam, et quasi pr33mium 
 accedat. Vale. 
 
 2. C. PLINIUS APOLLINARI SUO S. 
 
 Amavi curam et solicitudinem tuam, quod 
 quum audisses me asstate Tuscos meos petiturum, 
 ne facerem suasisti, dum putas insalubres. Est 
 sane gravis et pestilens ora Tuscorum, quae per 
 littus extenditur. Sed hi procul a mari recesse- 
 runt: quinetiam Apennino, saluberrimo montium, 
 subjacent. Atque adeo, ut omnem pro me 
 metum ponas, accipe temperiem cosli, regionis 
 situm, villae amosnitatem : quas et tibi auditu et 
 
36 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 mihi relatu jucunda erunt. Caelum est hyeme 
 frigidum et gelidum. Myrtos, oleas, quaeque 
 alia assidao tepore lcetantur, aspernatur ac res- 
 puit: laurum tamen patitur, atque etiam viridis- 
 simam profert ; interdum, scd non saepius quam 
 sub urbe nostra, necat. iEstatis mira dementia, 
 Semper aer spiritu aliquo movetur ; frequentius 
 tamen auras quam ventos habet. Hinc senes 
 multos videas, avos proavosque jam juvenum; 
 audias fabulas veteres, sermonesque majorum: 
 quumque veneris-illo, putes alio te seculo natum. 
 Regionis forma pulcherrima : imaginave amphi- 
 theatrum aliquod immensum, et quale sola rerum 
 natura possit effingere. Lata et diffusa planities 
 moutibus cingitur ; montes summa sui parte 
 procera nemora et antiqua habent. Frequens 
 ibi et varia venatio : inde cceduas silvse cum ipso 
 monte descendunt : has inter pingues terrenique 
 colles (neque enini facile usquam saxum, etiam si 
 quaaratur, occurrit :) planissimis campis fertilitate 
 non cedunt, opimamque messem serins tantum, 
 sed non minus percoquunt. Sub his per latus 
 omne vinea? porriguntur, unamque niciem longe 
 lateque contexunt : quarum a fine, imoque quasi 
 margine, arbusta nascuntur ; prata inde, campi- 
 que. Campi, quos non nisi ingentes boves et 
 
LIBER QUINTUS. 37 
 
 fortissima aratra perfringunt. Tantis glebis 
 tenacissimum solum, quum primum prosecatur, 
 assurgit, ut nono demum sulco perdometur. 
 Prata florida et gemmea, trifolium, aliasque 
 herbas, teneras semper et molles, et quasi novas, 
 alunt. Cuncta enim perennibus rivis nutriuntur ; 
 sed ubi aquae plurimum, palus nulla ; quia devexa 
 terra quicquid liquoris accepit, nee absorbuit, 
 effundit in Tiberim. Medios ille agros secat ; 
 navium patiens, omnesque fruges devehit in 
 urbem, hyeme duntaxat et vere ; sestate summit- 
 titur, immensique fluminis nomen arenti alveo 
 deserit, autumno resumit. Magnam capies vo- 
 luptatem, si hunc regionis situm ex monte pros- 
 pexeris. Neque enim terras tibi, sed formam 
 aliquam, ad eximiam pulchritudinem pictam, 
 videberis cernere. Ea varietate, ea descriptione, 
 quocunque inciderint oculi, reficiuntur. * * * 
 Habes causas, cur ego Tuscos meos Tuscula- 
 nis, Tiburtinis, Prsenestinisque meis prseponam. 
 Nam super ilia quae retuli, altius ibi otium et 
 pinguius, edque seenrius : nulla necessitas togse, 
 nemo accers.tor ex proximo. Placida omnia et 
 quiescentia, quod ipsum salubritati regionis, ut 
 purius caelum, ut aer liquidior, accedit. Ibi 
 animo, ibi corpore, maxime valeo. Nam studiis 
 3* 
 
38 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 animum, venatu corpus exerceo. Mei quoque 
 nusquam salubrius degunt ; usque adhuc certe 
 neminem ex iis quos eduxeram mecum (venia 
 sit dicto) ibi amisi. Dii modo in posterum hoc 
 mihi gaudium, hanc gloriam loco servent. Vale. 
 
 3. C. PLINIUS CAPITONI SUO S. 
 
 Suades ut historiam scribam, et suades non 
 solus : multi hoc me sa3pe monuerunt, et ego 
 volo, non quia commode facturum esse conndo 
 (id enim temere credas, nisi expertus) sed quia 
 milii pulchrum in primis videtur, non pati oc- 
 cidere, quibus seternitas debeatur, aliorumque 
 farnam cum sua extendere. Me autem nihil 
 Eeque ac diutarnitatis amor et cupido solicitat : 
 res homine dignissima, prcesertim qui nullius sibi 
 conscius culpa?, posteritatis memoriam non re- 
 formidet. Itaque diebus ac noctibus cogito si 
 qua me quoque possim tollere humo. Id enim 
 voto meo suflicit ; illud supra votum victorquc 
 virum volltarc per ora. Quanquam 6. Sed 
 hoc satis est, quod piope sola historia polliceri 
 videtur. Orationi enim et carmini est parva 
 gratia, nisi eloquentia sit summa : historia quo- 
 quo modo scripta delectat. Sunt enim homines 
 
LIBER QUINT US. 39 
 
 natura curiosi, et quamlibet nuda rerum cogni- 
 tione capiuntur, ut qui sermunculis etiam fabel- 
 lisque' ducantur. Me vero ad hoc studium 
 impellit domesticum quoque exemplum. Avun- 
 culus meus, idemque per adoptionem pater, 
 historias, et quidem religiosissime, scripsit. 
 Invenio autem apud sapientes, honestissimura 
 esse majorura vestigia sequi, si modo recto 
 itinere prsecesserint. Cur ergo cunctor ? Egi 
 magnas et graves causas. Has (etiamsi mihi 
 tenuis ex eis spes) destino retraclare, ne tantus 
 ille labor meus, ni hoc quod reliquum est studii 
 addidero, mecum pariter intercidat. Nam si rati- 
 onem posteritatis habeas, quicquid non est 
 peractum, pro non inchoato est. Dices, Potes 
 simul et rescribere actiones, et componere 7«5- 
 toria?n. Utinam ! sed utrumque tam magnum 
 est, ut abunde sit alterum efficere. Undevicesi- 
 mo setatis anno dicere in foro coepi, et nunc 
 demum quid prcsstare debeat orator, adhuc 
 tamen per caliginem video, duid si huic oneri 
 novum accesserit 1 Habet quidem oratio et 
 historia multa communia, sed plura diversa in 
 his ipsis quae communia videntur. Narrat sane 
 ilia ; narrat haec, sed aliter. Huic pleraque 
 humilia et sordida, et ex medio petita ; ill! omnia 
 
40 C. PL1MI EPIST. 
 
 recondita, splendid a, excelsa conveniunt. Hanc 
 saepius ossa, musculi, nervi ; illam tori quidam 
 et quasi jubae decent. Haec vel maxirae vi, 
 amaritudine, instantia ; ilia tractu et suavitate, 
 atque etiam dulcedine, placet. Postremo alia 
 verba, alius sonus, alia constructio. Nam plu- 
 rimum refert, ut Thucydides ait, possessio sit 
 an certamen : quorum alterum oratio, alterum 
 historia est. His ex causis non adducor, ut duo 
 disimilia, et hoc ipso diversa quod maxima, con- 
 fundam misceamque, ne tanta quasi colluvione 
 turbatus ibi faciam quod hie debeo. Ideoque 
 interim veniam, ne a fcrensibus verbis recedam, 
 advocandi peto. Tu tamen jam nunc cogita 
 quae potissimum tempora aggrediamur. Vetera 
 et scripta aliis 1 parata inquisitio, sed onerosa 
 collatio : inlacta et nova ? graves offensa3, levis 
 gratia. Nam praeter id quod in tantis vitiis 
 hominum plura culpanda sunt quam laudanda : 
 turn si laudaveris, parous ; si culpaveris, nimius 
 fuisse dicaris : quamvis iliud plenissime, hoc 
 restrictissime feceris. Sed li33C me non retar- 
 dant ; est enim mihi pro fide satis animi. Iliud 
 peto praestruas ad quod hortaris, eligasque ma- 
 teriam, ne mihi, jam scribere parato, alia rursus 
 ipunctationis et morae justa ratio nascatur. Vale. 
 
LIBER QUINTUS. 41 
 
 4. G. PLINIUS MARCELLING SUO S. 
 
 Tristissimus haec tibi scribo. Fundani nostri 
 filia minor est defuncta : qua paella nihil unquam 
 festivius, amabilius nee modo longiore vita, sed 
 prope immortalitate, dignius vidi. Nondum annos 
 quatuordecim impleverat, et jam illi anilis pru- 
 dentia, matronalis gravitas erat : ettamen suavitas 
 puellaris cum virginali verecundia. Ut ilia patris 
 cervicibus inhserebat! ut nos amicos paternos 
 et amanter et modeste complectebatur ! ut nu- 
 trices, ut paedagogos, ut prseceptores, pro suo 
 quemque officio, diligebat ! Q,uam studiose, 
 quam intelligenter, lectitabat ! Ut parce custo- 
 diteque ludebat ! dua ilia temperantia, qua 
 patientia, qua etiam constantia, novissimam 
 valetudinem tulit ! Medicis obsequebatur, so- 
 rorem, patrem adhortabatur, ipsamque se des- 
 titutam corporis sui viribus, vigore animi sustin- 
 ebat. Duravit hie illi usque ' ad extremum, nee 
 aut spatio valetudinis, aut metu mortis infractus 
 est; quo plures gravioresque nobis causas re- 
 linqueret et desiderii et doloris. O triste plane 
 acerbumque fun us ! 6 morte ipsa mortis tempus 
 indignius! Jam destinata erat egregio juveni, 
 
42 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 jam electus nuptiarum dies, jam nos vocati. 
 Quod gaudium quo mcErore mutatum est ! Non 
 possum exprimere verbis, quantum animo vulnus 
 acceperim, quum audivi Fundanum ipsum (ut 
 mult a loctuosa dolor invenit) proecipientem, quod 
 investes, margaritas, gcmmas, fuerat erogaturus, 
 hoc in thura et unguenta et odores impenderetur. 
 Est quidem ille eruditus et sapiens, ut qui se ab 
 ineunte aetate altioribous studiis artibusque de- 
 diderit : sed nunc omnia quae audivit scope, 
 quae dixit, aspernatur ; expulsisque virtutibus 
 aliis, pietatis est totus. Ignosces, laudabis 
 etiam, si cogitaveris quid amiserit. Amisit 
 enim filiam quae non minus mores ejus quam os 
 vultumque referebat, totumque patrem mira si- 
 militudine exscripserat. Proinde si quas ad eum 
 de dolore tarn justo litems mittes, memento 
 adhibere solatium non quasi castigatorium et 
 nimis forte, sed molle et humanum. Quod ut 
 facilius admittat, multum faciet medii temporis 
 spatium. Ut enim crudum adhuc vulnus meden- 
 tium manus reformidat, deinde patitur, atque 
 ultro requirit; sic recens animi dolor consolatio- 
 nes rejicit ac refugit, mox desiderat, et clemcntcr 
 admotis acquiescit. Vale. 
 
LIBER SEXTUS. 43 
 
 LIBER VI. 
 
 1. C. PLINIUS TACITO SUO S. 
 
 Petis ut tibi avunculi mei exitum scribam, 
 quo verius tradere posteris possis : gratias ago. 
 Nam video, morti ejus, si celebretur a te, immor- 
 talem gloriam esse propositam. Quamvis enim 
 pulcherimarum clade terrarum, ut populi, ut 
 urbes memorabili casu, quasi semper victurus 
 occiderit : quamvis ipse plurima opera et man- 
 sura condiderit, multum tamen perpetuitati ejus 
 scriptorum tuorum aeternitas addet. Equidem 
 beatos puto, quibus deorum munere datum est 
 aut facere scribenda, aut scribere legenda : 
 beatissimos vero quibus utrumque. Horum in 
 numero avunculus meus et suis libris et tuis erit 
 Quo libentius suscipio, deposco etiam quod in- 
 jungis. Erat Miseni, classemque imperio prae- 
 sens regebat. Nono calend. Septembris, hora 
 diei fere septima, mater mea indicat ei, apparere 
 nubem inusitata et magnitudine et specie. Usus 
 ille sole mox frigidam gustaverat jacens, stude- 
 batque : poseit soleas, ascendit locum ex quo 
 maxime miraculum illud conspici poterat : nubes 
 (incertum procul intuentibus ex quo monte : 
 
44 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 Vesuvium fuisse postea cognitum est) oriebatur, 
 cujus similitudinem et formam non alia magis 
 arbor quam pinus expresserit. Nam Jongissimo 
 velut trunco elata in altum, quibusdam ramia 
 diffundebatur. Credo quia recenti spiritu evecta, 
 deinde senescente eo destituta, aut etiam pon- 
 dere suo victa, in latitudinem vanescebat : Can- 
 dida interdum, interdum sordida et maculosa, 
 prout terrain cineremve sustulerat. Magnum 
 propiusque noscendum id eruditissimo viro vi- 
 sum. Jubet Liburnicam aptari : mihi, si venire 
 una vellem, facit copiara. Respond i, studere 
 me malle, et forte ipse quod scriberem dederat. 
 Egrediebatur domo, accipit codicillos. Retina; 
 Classiarii imminent! periculo exterriti (nam villa 
 ea subjacebat, nee ulla nisi navibus fuga) ut se 
 tanto discrimini eriperet, orabant. Vertit ille 
 consilium, et quod studioso animo inchoaverat, 
 obit maximo. Deducit quadriremes, ascendit 
 ipse, non Retina) modo, sed multis (erat enim 
 frequens amoenitas ora;) laturus auxilium. Pro- 
 perat iliac unde alii fugiunt; rectumque cursum, 
 recta gubernacula in periculum tenet, adeo 
 solutus metu, ut omnes illius mali motus, omnes 
 figuras, ut deprehenderat oculis, dictaret enota- 
 retque. Jam navibus cinis inciderat, quo pro- 
 
LIBER SEXTUS. 45 
 
 pius accederet, calidior et densior ; jam pumices 
 etiam, nigrique et ambusti et fracti igne lapides : 
 jam vadum subitum, ruinaque montis littora 
 obstantia : cunctatusque paulum an retro flecte- 
 ret, mox # gubernatori ut ita faceret monenti, 
 Fortes, inquit, forluna juvat : Pomponianum 
 pcfe. Stabiis erat, diremptus sinu medio. Nam 
 sensim circumactis carvatisque Iittoribus mare 
 infunditur. Ibi, quanquam nondum periculo 
 appropinquante, conspicuo tamen, et, quum cres- 
 ceret, proximo, sarcinas contulerat in naves, 
 certus fugse si contrarius ventus resedisset : quo 
 tunc avunculus meus secundissimo invectus, 
 complectitur trepidantem, consolatur, hortatur : 
 utque timorem ejus sua securitate leniret, deferri 
 se in balineurn jubet; lotus accubat, coenat, 
 atque hilaris, aut, quod est aeque magnum, simi- 
 Iis hilari. Interim e Vesuvio monte pluribus 
 locis latissimae flammae altaque incendia reluce- 
 bant, quorum fulgor et claritas tenebris noctis 
 excitabatur. Ille agrestium trepidatione igni 
 relictas desertasque villas per solitudinem ardere, 
 in remedium formidinis, dictabat : turn se quieti 
 dedit, et quievit verissimo quidem somno. Nam 
 meatus animae, qui ill! propter amplitudinem 
 corporis gravior et sonantior erat, ab iis qui 
 4 
 
46 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 limini obversabantur, audiebatur. -Sed area ex 
 qua. diaeta adibatur, ita jam cinere, mixtisque 
 pumicibus oppleta surrexerat, ut si longior in 
 cubiculo mora esset, exitus negaretur. Excita- 
 tus procedit, seque Pomponiano, cet^risque qui 
 pervigilarant, reddit. In commune consultant 
 an intra tecta subsistant, an in aperto vagentur. 
 Nam crebris vastisque tremoribus tecta nutabant, 
 et quasi emota sedibus suis, nunc hue, nunc 
 illuc, abire aut referri videbantur. Sub dio rur- 
 sus, quamquam levium exesorumque pumicum 
 casus metuebatur : quod tamen periculorum 
 collatio elegit, et apud ilium quidem ratio ratio- 
 nem, apud alios timorem timor vicit. Cervicalia 
 capitibus imposita linteis constringunt. Id mu- 
 nimentum adversus decidentia fuit Jam dies 
 alibi, illic nox omnibus noctibus nigrior densior- 
 que : quam tamen faces multae variaque lumina 
 solvebant. Placuit cgredi in littus, et e proximo 
 aspicere ecquid jam mare admitteret, quod adhuc 
 vastum et adversum permanebat. Ibi super 
 abjectum linteum recubans, semel atque iterum 
 frigidam poposcit, hausitque : deinde flammae, 
 flammarumque prasnuntius odor sulfuris, alios in 
 fugam vertunt, excitant ilium. Innixus servis 
 duobus assurrexit, et statim concidit, ut ego 
 
LIBER SEXTUS. 47 
 
 conjecto, crassiore caligine spiritu obstructo, 
 clausoque stomacho, qui illi natura invalidus et 
 angustus et frequenter intersestuans erat. Ubi 
 dies redditur (is ab eo, quem novissime viderat, 
 tertius) corpus inventum est integrum, illaesum 
 opertumque, ut fuerat indutus : habitus corporis 
 quiescenti quam defuncto similior. Interim 
 Miseni ego et mater. Sed nihil ad historiam, 
 nee tu aliud quam de exitu ejus scire voluisti. 
 Finem ego faciam : unum adjiciam, omnia me, 
 quibus inter fueram, quaeque statim quum max- 
 ime vera memorantur, audiveram, vere perse- 
 quutum : tu potissima excerpes. Aliud est enim 
 epistolam, aliud historiam ; aliud amico, aliud 
 omnibus scribere. Vale. 
 
 2. C. PLINIUS CORNELIO TACITO SUO S. 
 
 Ais te adductum Uteris, quas exigenti tibi de 
 morte avunculi mei scripsi, cupere cognoscere, 
 quos ego Miseni relictus (id enim ingressus ab- 
 ruperam) non solum metus, verum etiam casus 
 pertulerim. Quanquam animus meminisse horret, 
 incipiam. Profecto avunculo, ipse reliquum 
 tempus studiis (ideo enim remanseram) impendi : 
 mox balineum, ccena, somnus inquietus et brevis. 
 
48 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 Praecesserat per multos dies tremor terrae minus 
 formidolosus, qui Campania^ non solum castella, 
 verum etiam oppida vexare solitus : ilia vero 
 nocte ita invaluit, ut non moveri omnia, sed 
 everti crederentur. Irrumpit cubiculum meum 
 mater : surgebam invicem, si quiesceret, excita- 
 turus. Resedimus in area domus, quae mare a 
 tectis modico spatio dividebat. Dubito constan- 
 tiam vocare an prudentiam debeam : agebam 
 enim duodevicesimum annum. Posco librum 
 Titi Livii, et quasi per otium lego, atque etiam, 
 ut cceperam, excerpo. Ecce, amicus avunculi, 
 qui nuper ad eum ex Hispania venerat, ut me et 
 matrem sedentes, me vero etiam legentem videt, 
 illius patientiam, securitatem meam corripit : 
 nihilo segnius ego intentus in librum. Jam 
 hora diei prima, et adhuc dubius et quasi langui- 
 dus dies, jam quassatis circumjacentibus tectis, 
 quanquam in aperto loco, angusto tamen, mag- 
 nus et certus ruinae metus. Turn demum ex- 
 cedere oppido visum. Sequitur vulgus atto- 
 nitum, quodque in pavore simile prudential, 
 alienum consilium suo praefert, ingentique ag- 
 mine abeuntes premit et impellit. Egre^si tecta 
 consistimus: inulta ibi miranda, multas formidi- 
 nes patimur. Nam vehicula quae produci 
 
LIBER SEXTUS. 49 
 
 jusseramus, quanquam in pianissimo campo, in 
 contrarias partes agebantur, ac ne lapidibus 
 quidem fulta, in eodem vestigio quiescebant. 
 Prceterea mare in se resorberi, et tremore terras 
 quasi repelli videbatur. Certe processerat littus, 
 multaque animalia maris in siccis arenis detine- 
 bat. Ab altero latere nubes atra et horrenda 
 ignei spiritus tortis vibratisque discursibus rupta, 
 in longas flammarum flguras dehiscebat : fulgo- 
 ribus illae et similis et majores erant. Turn verd 
 ille idem ex Hispania amicus, acrius et instan- 
 tius, Si frater, inquit, tuus, si tuus avunculus 
 vivit, vult esse vos salvos : si periit, superstates 
 voluit : proi/ide quid cessatis evadere ? Respon- 
 dimus, non commissuros nos, ut de salute ejus 
 incerti, nostrae consuleremus. Non moratus 
 ultra proripit se, effusoque cursu periculo aufer- 
 tur : nee multo post, ilia nubes descendere in 
 terras, operire maria. Cinxerat Capreas et 
 absconderat: Miseni quod procurrit, abstulerat. 
 Turn mater orare, hortari, jubere, quoquo modo 
 fugerem : posse enim juvenem ; se et annis et 
 corpore gravem bene morituram, si mihi causa 
 mortis non fuisset. Ego contra, salvum me, 
 nisi una, non futurum : deinde manum ejus am- 
 plexus, addere gradum cogo : paret segre, incu- 
 4* 
 
50 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 satque se quod me moretur. Jam cinis adhuc 
 tamen rarus : respicio ; densa caligo tergis 
 imminebat, quae nos torrentis modo infusa terrae, 
 sequebatur. Dcflectamus, inquam, dum vidtmus, 
 ne in via strati, comit ant turn turbd in tenebris 
 obteramur. Vix consederamus, et nox, non 
 quasi illunis aut nubila, sed qualis in locis 
 clausis lumine extincto : audires ululatus femina- 
 rum, infantium quiiitatus, clamores virorum : 
 alii parentes, alii liberos, alii conjuges vocibus 
 requirebant, vocibus noscitabant : hi suum 
 casum, illi suorum miserebantur : erant qui metu 
 mortis mortem precarentur. Multi ad deos 
 manus tollere ; plures nusquam jam deos ullos, 
 aBternamque illam et novissimam noctem mundo 
 interpretabantur. Nee defuerunt qui fictis men- 
 titisque terroribus vera pericula augerent. Pau- 
 lum reluxit ; quod non dies nobis, sed adventantis 
 ignis indicium videbatur : et ignis quidem longius 
 substitit: tenebrse rursus, cinis rursus multus et 
 gravis : hunc identidem assurgentes excutiebamus : 
 operti alioqui, atque etiam oblisi pondere essemus. 
 Possem gloriari, non gemitam mihi, non vocem 
 parum fortem in tantis periculis excidisse, nisi 
 me cum omnibus, omnia mecum perire, misero, 
 rnagno tamen mortalitatis solatio credidissem. 
 
LIBER SEPTIMUS. 51 
 
 Tandem ilia caligo tenuata quasi in fumum 
 nebulamve decessit : mox dies verus ; sol etiam 
 effulsit, luridus tamen ; qualis esse quum deficit 
 solet. Occursabant trepidantibus adhuc oculis 
 mutata omnia, altoque cinere tanquam nive ob- 
 ducta. Regressi Misenura, curatis utcunque 
 corporibus, suspensam dubiamque mentem spe 
 ac metu exegimus : metus praevalebat. Nam et 
 tremor terras preseverabat, et plerique lymphati 
 terrificis vaticinationibus et sua et aliena mala 
 ludificabantur. Nobis tamen ne tunc quidem, 
 quanquam et expertis periculum, et expectanti- 
 bus, abeundi consilium, donee de avunculo 
 nuntius veniret. Hasc, nequaquam historia digna, 
 non scripturus leges, et tibi, scilicet qui requi- 
 sisti, imputabis, si digna ne epistola quidem 
 videbuntur. Vale. 
 
 LIBER VII. 
 
 1. C PLINIUS RESTITUTO SUO S. 
 
 Terret me hsec tua tam pertinax valetudo, et 
 quanquam te temperantissimum noverim, vereor 
 tamen ne quid illi etiam in mores tuos liceat. 
 
52 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 Proinde moneo patienter resistas. Hoc lauda- 
 bile, hoc salutare. Admittit humana natura, 
 quod suadeo. Ipse certe sic agere sanus cum 
 meis soleo. Spero quidem, si forte in advcrsum 
 valetudinem incidcro, nihil me desideraturum vel 
 pudore vel pamitcntia dignum : si tamen super- 
 averit morbus, denuntio ne quid mild dctur, Jiisi 
 permitt ntibus medicis : sciantque, si dederint, 
 ila vindicaturum nt solent cdii qua; negantur. 
 Quinetiam quum perustus ardentissima febri, 
 tandem remissus unctusque acciperem a medico 
 potionem, porrexi manum, utque me tangeret 
 dixi, admotumque jam labris poculum reddidi. 
 Postea quum vicesimo valetudinis die balineo 
 praepararer, mussantesque medicos repente vi- 
 dissem, causam requisivi. Responderunt, posse 
 me tuld lavari, non tamen omnino sine aliqud 
 suspicione. Quid, inquam, necesse est ? Atque 
 ita spe balinei, cui jam videbar inferri, placide 
 leniterque dimissa, ad abstinentiam rursus, non 
 secus ac modo ad balineum, animum vultumque 
 composui. Q,ua3 tibi scripsi, primum nt te non 
 sine exemplo monerem ; deinde nt in posterum 
 ipse ad eandem temperantiam astringerer, quum 
 me hac epistola quasi pignore obligavissem. 
 Vale. 
 
LIBER SEPTIMUS. 53 
 
 2, C. PLINIUS FUSCO SUO S. 
 
 Quaeris quemadmodum in secessu, quo jam- 
 diu frueris, putem te studere oportere. Utile 
 imprimis, et multi praecipiunt, vel ex Graeco in 
 Latinum, vel ex Latino vertere in Graecum : quo 
 genere exercitationis proprielas splendorque ver- 
 borum, copia figurarum, vis explicandi, praeterea 
 imitatione optimorum similia inveniendi facultas 
 paratur : simul quae legentem fefellissent, trans- 
 ferentem fugere non possunt. Intelligentia ex 
 hoc et judicium acquiritur. Nihil obfuerit, quae 
 legeris hactenus, ut rem argumentumque teneas, 
 quasi semulum scribere, lectisque conferre, ac 
 sedulo pensitare, quid tu, quid ille commodius. 
 Magna gratulatio, si tu nonnulla ; turn magnus 
 pudor, si cuncta ille melius. Licebit interdum 
 et notissima eligere, et certare cum electis. 
 Audax haec, non tamen improba, quia secreta, 
 contentio : quanquam multos videmus ejusmodi 
 certamina sibi cum multa laude sumpsisse, 
 quosque subsequi satis habebant, dum non des- 
 perant, antecessisse. Poteris et quae dixeris, 
 post oblivionem retractare, multa retinere, plura 
 transire ; alia interscribere, alia rescribere. La- 
 boriosum istud et taedio plenum, sed difficultate 
 
54 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 ipsa fructuosum, recalescere ex integro, et 
 resumere impetum fractum omissumque ; pos- 
 tremo, nova vckit membra peracto corpori 
 intexere, nee tamen priora turbare. Scio nunc 
 tibi esse praecipuum studium orandi; sed non 
 ideo semper pugnacem hunc et quasi bellatorium 
 stylum suaserim. Ut enim terras variis mutatis- 
 que seminibus, ita ingenia nostra nunc hac, 
 nunc ilia meditatione recoluntur. Volo interdum 
 aliquem ex historia locum apprebendas : volo 
 epistolam diligentius scribas, volo carmina. Nam 
 seepe in orationes quoque non historica modo, sed 
 prope poetica descriptionum necessitas incidit ; 
 et pressus sermo purusque ex epistolis petitur. 
 Fas est et carmine remitti, non dico continuo et 
 longo (id enim perfici nisi in otio non potest) sed 
 hoc arguto et brevi, quod apte quantaslibet oc- 
 cupationes curasque distinguit. Lusus vocantur ; 
 sed hi lusus non minorem interdum gloriam. 
 quam seria consequuntur : atque adeo (cur enim 
 te ad versus non versibus adhorter ?) 
 
 Ut laus est cera, mollis cedensque scquatur 
 Si dodos digitos , jussaque Jiat opus ; 
 
 Et nunc informet Mar tern castamquc Minervam, 
 Nunc Venerem effingat, nunc Veneris puerum ; 
 
LIBER SEPTIMUS. 55 
 
 Utque sacri f antes non sola incendia sistunt, 
 Scepe etiam flares vernaque pratajuvavt ; 
 
 Sic hominvm ingenium .fiecti ducique per artes 
 Nun rigidus ductd mobilitate decet. 
 
 Itaque summi oratores, sum mi etiam viri sic se 
 aut exercebant aut delectabant, irarao delectabant 
 exercebantque. Nam mirum est, ut his opuscu- 
 lis animus intendatur remittaturque. Recipiunt 
 enim amores, odia, iras, misericordiam, urban- 
 itatem, omnia denique quae ad vitam pertinent, 
 atque etiam in foro causisque versantur. I nest 
 his quoqne eadem quae aliis carmiuibus utilitas, 
 quod metri necessitate devincti soluta oratione 
 Isetamur, et quod facilius esse comparatio osten- 
 dit, libentius scribimus. Habes plura etiam 
 fortasse quam requirebas: unum tamen omisi. 
 Non enim dixi quae legenda arbitrarer : quan- 
 quam dixi, quum dicerem, quae scribenda. Tu 
 memineris, sui cujusque generis auctores diligen- 
 ter.eligere. ( Aiunt enim, multum legendum esse, 
 non multa.) Q,ui sint hi, ade6 notum provoca- 
 tumque est, ut demonstratione non egeant; et 
 alioqui tarn immodice epistola me extendi, ut 
 dum tibi quemadraodum studere debeas suadeo, 
 studendi tempus abstulerim. Q,uin ergo pugil- 
 
56 C. PLINIJ EPIST. 
 
 lares resumis, et aliquid ex his, vel istud ipsum 
 quod coeperas, scribis. Vale. 
 
 3. C. PLINIUS TACITO SUO S. 
 
 Librum tuum legi, et quam diligentissime 
 potui, annotavi quae commutanda, quae eximenda 
 arbitrarer. Nam et ego verura dicere assuevi, 
 et tu libenter audire. Neque enim ulli patien- 
 tius reprehenduntur, quam qui maxime laudari 
 merentur. Nunc a te librum meum cum anno- 
 tationibus tuis exspecto. O jucundas, 6 pulchras 
 vices! Quam me delectat, quod, si qua posteris 
 cura nostri, usquequaque narrabitur, qua Con- 
 cordia, simplicitate, fide vixerimus ! Erit rarum 
 et insigne, duos homines aetate, dignitate prope- 
 modum aequales, nonnullius in Uteris nominis 
 (cogor enim de te quoque parcius dicere, quia 
 de me simul dico,) alterum alterius studia fovisse. 
 Equidem adolescentulus, quum jam tu fama 
 gloriaque floreres, te sequi, tibi lottgo, sed prnx- 
 imus, intervallo et esse et haberi concupiscebam. 
 Et erant multa clarissima ingenia ; sed tu mihi 
 (ita similitudo naturae ferebat) maxime imitabilis, 
 maxime imitandus videbaris. Quo magis gaudeo, 
 quod, si quis de studiis sermo, una nominamur ; 
 
LIBER SEPTIMUS. 57 
 
 quod de te loquentibus statim occurro. Nee 
 desunt qui uni ut utrique nostrum praeferantur. 
 Sed nihil interest rnea, quo loco jungimur. 
 Nam mihi primus, qui a te proximus. Quin 
 etiam in testamentis debes annotasse, nisi quis 
 forte alterutri nostrum amicissimus, eadem legata, 
 et quidem pariter, accipimus. Quae omnia hue 
 spectant, ut in vicem ardentius diligamus, cum 
 tot vinculis nos studia, mores, fama, suprema 
 denique hominum judicia constringant. Vale. 
 
 4. C. TLINIUS MAXIMO SUO S. 
 
 Nuper me cujusdam amici languor admonuit, 
 optimos esse nos dum infirmi sumus. Q,uem 
 enim infirmum aut avaritia aut libido solicitat ? 
 Non amoribus servit, non appetit honores, opes 
 negligit, et quantulumcunque, ut relicturus, satis 
 habet : tunc deos, tunc hominem esse se memi- 
 nit : invidet nemini, neminem miratur, meminem 
 despicit, ac ne sermonibus quidem malignis aut 
 attendit, aut alitur : balinea imaginatur et fontes. 
 Haec surnma curarum, summa votorum ; mol- 
 lemque in posterum et pinguem, si contingat 
 evadere, hoc est, innoxiam beatamque destinat 
 vitam. Possum ergo, quod pluribus verbis, 
 5 
 
58 C. PUN II EPIST. 
 
 pluribus etiam voluminibus philosophi docere 
 conantur, ipse breviter tibi mihique praecipere, 
 ut tales esse sani perseveremus, quales nos futu- 
 ros profitemur infirmi. Vale. 
 
 5. C. PLINIUS TACITO SUO S. 
 
 Auguror (nee me fallit augurium) historias 
 tuas immortales futuras : quo magis illis (in- 
 genue fatebor) inseri cupio. Nam si esse nobis 
 curse solet ut facies nostra ab optimo quoque 
 artifice exprimatur, nonne debemus optare, ut 
 operibus nostris similis tui scriptor praedicatorque 
 contingat? Demonstro itaque, quanquam dili- 
 gentiam tuam non fugere possit, cum sit in 
 publicis actis, demonstro tamen, quo magis 
 credas, jucundum mihi futurum, si factum 
 meurn, cujus gratia periculo crevit, tuo ingenio, 
 _tuo testimoiiio ornaveris. Dederat me Senatus 
 cum Herennio Senecione advocatum provincise 
 Bcetica3 contra Boebium Massam : damnatoque 
 Massa censuerat ut bona ejus publice custodi- 
 rentur. Senecio, quum explorasset consules 
 postulationibus vacaturos, convenit me : et, Qua 
 concordid, inquit, injunclam nobis accusationem 
 exsequuti sumus, hac adeamus consules, peta- 
 
LIBER SEPTIMUS. 59 
 
 musque ne bona dissipari sinant, quorum esse in 
 custedid debent. Respondi; Quum simus ad- 
 vocati a senatu dati, dispice, num peractas putes 
 partes nostras, Saiatus cogniiione finita. Et 
 IUe ; Tu quern voles tibi ierminum statues, cui 
 nulla cum provincid jiecessitudo, nisi ex beneficio 
 iuo, et hoc recenti : ipse et natus ibi, et qu.cestor 
 in ed fui. Turn ego; Si fixum tibi istud ac 
 deliberatum, sequar te, lit si qua ex hoc invidia 
 erit, non tua tantum sit. Venimus ad consoles, 
 dicit Senecio quae res ferebat : aliqua subjungo. 
 Vixdum conticueramus, et Massa questus Sene- 
 cionem non advocati Jidem, sed inimici amaritu- 
 dinem implesse, impietatis reum postulat. Horror 
 omnium : ego autem, Vereor, inquam, claris- 
 simi consules, ne mi hi 3Iassa silentio suo prce- 
 varicationem objecerit, quod non et me reum 
 postulavit. Q,use vox et statim excepta, et 
 postea multo sermone celebrata est. Divus 
 quidem Nerva (nam privatus quoque attendebat 
 his quee recte in publico fierent) missis ad me 
 gravissimis Uteris, non mihi solum, verum etiam 
 seculo est gratulatus, cui exemplum (sic enim 
 scripsit) simile antiquis contigisset. Haec, ut- 
 cunque se habent, notiora, clariora, majora tu 
 facies: quanquam non exigo ut excedas actse 
 
60 C. PLINIl EPIST. 
 
 rei modum. Nam nee historia debet egredi 
 veritatem, et koneste factis Veritas sufficit. Vale. 
 
 LIBER VIII. 
 
 1. C. PLINIUS ROMANO SUO S. 
 
 Vidistine aliquando Clitumnum fontem 1 Si 
 nondum (et puto nondum : alioqui narasses mihi,) 
 vide; quem ego (pcenitet tarditatis) proximo 
 vidi. Modicus collis assurgit, antiqua. cupressu 
 nemorosus et opacus. Hanc subter fons exit, 
 et exprimitur pluribus venis, sed imparibus; 
 eluctatusque facit gurgitem, qui lato gremio 
 patescit purus et vitreus, ut numerare jactas 
 stipes et relucentes calculos possis. Inde non 
 loci devexitate, sed ipsa sui copia et quasi 
 pondere, impellitur. Fons adhuc, et jam am- 
 plissimum flumen atque etiam navium patiens; 
 quas obvias quoque et contrario nisu in diversa 
 tendentes, transmittit et perfert; adeo validus 
 ut ilia qua properat, ipse, quanquam per solum 
 planum, remis non adjuvetur : idem aegerrime 
 remis contisque superetur adversus. Jucundum 
 
LIBER OCTAVUS. 61 
 
 tttrumque per jocum ludumque fluitantibus,utflex- 
 erint cursum, laborera otio, otium labore variare. 
 Ripae fraxino multa, multa populo vestiuntur : 
 quas perspicuus amnis, velut mersas, viridi im- 
 agine annumerat. Rigor aquae certaverit nivibus ; 
 nee color cedit. Adjacet templum, priscum et 
 religiosum. Stat Clitumnus ipse amictus orna- 
 tusque praetexta. Praesens numen, atque etiam 
 fatidicum, indicant sortes. Sparsa sunt circa 
 sacella complura, totidemque dei simulacra: sua 
 cuique venerat.io, suum nomen ; quibusdam vero 
 etiam fontes. Nam, praeter ilium quasi parentem 
 caeterorum, sunt minores capite discreti : sed 
 flumini miscentur, quod ponte transmittitur. Is 
 terminus sacri profanique. In superiore parte 
 navigare tantum, infra etiam natare concessum. 
 Balineum Hispellates, quibus ilium locum divus 
 Augustus dono dedit, publice prsebent, et hos- 
 pitium. Nee desunt villae, quae sequutae fluminis 
 amoenitatem, margini insistunt. In summa, 
 nihil erit ex quo non capias voluptatem. Nam 
 studebis quoque, et leges multa multorum omni- 
 bus columnis, omnibus parietibus inscripta, qui- 
 bus fons ille deusque celebratur. Plura laudabis, 
 nonnulla ridebis; quanquam tu vero, quae tua 
 humanitas, nulla ridebis. Vale. 
 5* 
 
62 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 2. C. PLTNIUS MACRINO SUO S. 
 
 Num istic quoque immite et turbidum coelum? 
 Hie assiduas tempestates, et crebra diluvia. Ti- 
 beris alveum excessit, et demissioribus ripis alte 
 superfunditur. Quanquam fossa, quam provi- 
 dentissimus imperator fecit, exhaustus, premit 
 valles, innatat campis ; quaque planum solum, 
 pro solo cernitur. Inde, quae solet flumina 
 accipere, et permista devehere, velut obvius 
 retro cogit ; atque ita alienis aquis operit agros, 
 quos ipse non tangit. Anio, delicatissimus 
 amnium, ideoque adjacentibus villis velut invita- 
 tus retentusque, magna ex parte nemora, quibus 
 inumbratur, et fregit et rapuit. Submit montes, 
 et decidentium mole pluribus locis clausus, dum 
 amissum iter quserit, impulit tecta, ac sese super 
 ruinas evexit atque extulit. Viderunt hi, quos 
 excelsioribus terris ilia tempestas non deprehen- 
 dit, alibi divitum apparatus, et gravem supel- 
 lectiiem, alibi instrumenta ruris : ibi boves, 
 aratra, rectores ; hie soluta et libera armenta ; 
 atque inter haec arborum truncos, aut villarum 
 trabes atque culmina, varie lateque fluitantia. 
 Ac ne ilia quidem loca malo vacaverunt, ad quae 
 non ascendit amnis. Nam pro amne imber 
 
LIBER OCTAVUS. 63 
 
 assiduus, et dejecti nubibus turbines : prorupta 
 opera, quibus pretiosa rura cinguntur : quassata 
 atque etiam decussa monimenta. -Multi ejus- 
 modi casibus debilitaii, obruti, obirili, et aucta 
 luctibus damna. Ne quid simile istic, pro 
 mensura periculi, vereor : teque rogo, si nihil 
 tale est, quam maturissime solicitudini meee 
 consulas : sed et, si tale, id quoque nunties. 
 Nam parvulum differt, patiaris adversa an ex- 
 pectes : nisi quod tamen est dolendi modus, 
 non est timendi. Doleas enim, quantum scias 
 accidisse : timeas, quantum possit accidere. 
 Vale. 
 
 J. C. PLTNIUS GALLO SUO S. 
 
 Ad quse noscenda iter ingredi, transmittere 
 mare solemus, ea sub oculis posita negligimus : 
 seu quia ita natura comparatum, ut prov\imorum 
 incuriosi, longinqua sectemur ; seu quod omnium 
 rerum cupido languescit, quum facilis occasio 
 est; seu quod differimus, tanquam saepe visuri, 
 quod datur videre quoties velis cernere. Qua- 
 cunque de causa, permulta in urbe nostra, 
 juxtaque urbem, non oculis modo, sed ne auribus 
 quidem novimus : quae si tulisset Achaia, ./Egyp- 
 
64 C. PLIiNII EPIST. 
 
 tus, Asia, aliave quselibet miraculorum ferax. 
 commendatrixque terra, audita, perlecta, lustra- 
 taque haberemus. Ipse certe nuper, quod nee 
 audieram ante, nee videram, audivi pariter et 
 vidi. Exegerat prosocer meus, ut Amerina 
 praedia sua inspicerem. Haec perambulanti mihi 
 ostenditur subjacens lacus, nomine Vadimonis; 
 simul quaedam incredibilia narrantur. Perveni 
 ad ipsum. Lacus est in similitudinem jacentis 
 rotae circumscriptus, et undique aequalis ; nullus 
 sinus, obliquitas nulla, omnia dimensa, paria, et 
 quasi artificis manu cavata et excisa. Spa- 
 tium modicum, quod tamen sentiat ventos, et 
 fluctibus intumescat. Nulla in hoc navis (sacer 
 enim est) sed innatant insular herbidae, omnes 
 arundine et junco tectae, quaeque alia foecundior 
 palus, ipsaque ilia extremitas lacus effert. Sua 
 cuique figura, ut motus : cunctis margo derasus, 
 quia frequenter vel littori vel sibi illisae terunt 
 terunturque. Interdum junctas copulataBque et 
 continenti similes sunt; interdum discordan- 
 tibus ventis digeruntur ; nonnunquam destitutae 
 tranquillitate singulas fluitant. Saepe minores 
 majoribus, velut cymbulae oneraria?, adhaerescunt ; 
 saepe inter se majores minoresque quasi cursum 
 certamenque desumunt; rursus omnes in eun- 
 
LIBER OCTAVUS, 05 
 
 dem locum appulsae, qua steterunt, proraovent 
 terram, et modo hac, modo iliac, lacum reddunt 
 auferuntque ; ac turn demum, quum medium 
 tenuere, non contrahunt. Constat, pecora her- 
 bas sequuta, sic in insulas illas, ut in extremam 
 ripam, procedere solere, nee prius intelligere 
 mobile solum, quam littore abrepta, quasi illata 
 et imposita, circumfusum undique lacum pavent ; 
 mox quo tulerit ventus egressa, non magis se 
 descendisse sentire, quam senserint ascendisse. 
 Idem lacus in flumen egeritur : quod ubi se 
 paulisper oculis dedit, specu mergitur, alteque 
 conditum meat : ac, si quid ante quam subdu- 
 ceretur accepit, servat et profert. Haec tibi 
 scripsi, quia nee minus ignota quam mihi, nee 
 minus grata credebam. Nam te quoque, ut me, 
 nihil aeque ac naturae opera delectant. Vale, 
 
 4. C. PLINIUS GEMINIO SUO S. 
 
 Nostine hos, qui omnium libidinum servi sic 
 aliorum vitiis irascuntur, quasi invideant, et 
 gravissime puniunt, quos maxime imitantur? 
 quum eos etiam, qui non indigent dementia 
 ullius, nihil magis quam lenitas deceat. Atque 
 ego optimum et emendatissimum existimo, qui 
 
QQ C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 ceteris ita ignoscit, tanquam ipse quotidie peccet ; 
 ita peccatis abstinet, tanquam nemini ignoscat. 
 Proinde hoc domi, hoc foris, hoc in omni vitae 
 genere tencamus, ut nobis implacabilis simus ; 
 exorabiles istis etiam, qui dare veniam nisi sibi 
 nesciunt : mandemusque memoriae, quod vir 
 mitissimus, et ob hoc quoque maximus, Thrasea, 
 crebro dicere solebat, Qui vilia oclit, homines 
 odit. Fortasse quceris, quo commotus hssc scri- 
 
 bam ? Quidam nuper Sed melius coram ; 
 
 quanquam ne tunc quidem. Vereor enim, ne 
 id quod improbb eos sectari, carpere, referre, 
 huic, quod quam maxime praecipiiiins, repugnet. 
 Quisquis ille, qualiscunque, sileatur : quern in- 
 signire, exempli non nihil ; non insignire, hu- 
 manitatis plurimum refert. Vale. 
 
 5. C. PLINIUS MAXIMO SUO S- 
 
 Amor in te raeus cogit, non ut prascipiam 
 (neque enim pra3ceptore eges) admoneam tamen, 
 ut quae scis, teneas et observes, aut scias melius. 
 Cogita, te missum in provincial!) Achaiam, illara 
 veram et meram Graeciam, in qua primum 
 humanitas, literse, etiam fruges, inventae esse 
 creduntur; missum ad ordinandum statum lib- 
 
LIBER OCTAVUS. 67 
 
 erarum civitatum, id est, ad homines maxime 
 liberos, qui jns a natura datum, virtute, meritis, 
 amicitia, fcedere denique et religione tenuerunt. 
 Reverere conditoris deos, numina deorum. 
 Reverere gloriam veterem, et haric ipsam se- 
 nectutem, qua? in homine venerabilis, in urbibus 
 sacra est. Sit apud te honor antiquitati, sit 
 ingentibus factis,. sit fabulis quoque : nihil ex 
 cujusquam dignitate, nihil ex libertate, nihil 
 etiam ex jactatione decerpseris. Habe ante 
 oculos, hanc esse terram quae nobis miserit 
 jura, quae leges non victa acceperit sed peten- 
 tibus dederit; Athenas esse, quas adeas ; Lace- 
 daemonem esse, quam regas : quibus reliquam 
 umbram, et residuum libertatis nomen eripere, 
 durum, ferum, barbarumque est. Vides a medi- 
 cis, quanquam in adversa valetudine nihil servi 
 ac liberi differant, mollius tamen liberos clemen- 
 tiusque tractari. Recordare, quid quseque civitas 
 fuerit ; non ut despicias quod esse desierit. 
 Absit superbia, asperitas ; nee timueris contemp- 
 tum. An contemnitur, qui imperium, qui fasces 
 habet, nisi qui humilis, et sordidus, et qui se 
 primus ipse contemnit 1 Male vim suam potestas 
 aliorum contumeliis experitur ; male terrore ven- 
 eratio acquiritur: longeque valentior amor ad 
 
68 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 obtinendum quod velis, quam timor. Nam timor 
 abit si recedas, manet amor : ac sic, ut ille in 
 odium, hie in reverentiam vertatur. Te vero 
 etiam atque etiam (repetam enim) meminisse 
 oportet. officii tui titulum, ac tibi ipsi iuterpretari, 
 quale quantumque sit ordinare statum liberarum 
 civitatum. Nam quid ordinatione civilius 1 
 Quid libertate pretiosius? Porro quam turpe, si 
 ordinatio eversione, libertas servitute mutetur? 
 Accedit, quod tibi certamen est tecum : onerat 
 te quaBsturae tuae fama, quam ex Bithynia opti- 
 mam revexisti : onerat testimonium principis : 
 onerat tribunatus, pretura, atque haec ipsa lega- 
 tio, quasi premium data. Quo magis nitendum 
 est, ne in longinquam provinciam quam subur- 
 banum, ne inter servientes quam iiberos, ne forte 
 quam judicio missus, ne rudis et incognitus 
 quam exploratus probatusque, humanior, melior, 
 peritior fuisse videaris : cum sit alioqui, ut saepe 
 audisti, saepe legisti, multo deformius, amittere 
 quam non assequi laudem. Haec velim credas 
 (quod initio dixi,) scripsisse me admonentem, 
 non praecipientem ; quanquam praecipientem quo- 
 que. Quippe non vereor, in amore ne modum 
 excesserim. Neque enim periculum est, ne sit 
 nimium, quod esse maximum debet. Vale. 
 
LIBER NONUS. 69 
 
 LTBER IX. 
 
 1. C. PLINIUS PAULINO SUO S. 
 
 Alius alium, ego beatissimum existimo, qui 
 bonae mansuraeque famae praesumptione perfrui- 
 tur, certusque posteritatis cum futura gloria vivit. 
 Ac mihi nisi prasmium aeternitatis ante oculos, 
 pingue illud altumque otium, placeat. Etenim 
 omnes homines arbitror oportere aut immortalita- 
 tem suam aut mortalitatem cogitare : et illos 
 quidem contendere et non remitti, turn hos 
 quiescere, nee brevem vitam caducis laboribus 
 fatigare : ut video multos, misera simul et 
 ingrata imagine industriae, ad mortalitatem sui 
 pervenire. Haec ego tecum, quae quotidie me- 
 cum, ut desinam mecum, si dissenties tu ; quan- 
 quam non dissenties, ut qui semper praeclarum 
 aliquid et immortale meditaris. Vale. 
 
 2. C. PLINIUS JUNIORIO SUO S. 
 
 Castigabat quidam filium suum, quod paulo 
 
 sumptuosius equos et canes emeret. Huic ego, 
 
 juvene digresso, ffeus tu, nwiquamne fecisti, 
 
 quod a patre corripi posset ? Fecisti, dico? 
 
 6 
 
70 C. FLINII EPIST. 
 
 Non inter dum facts quod Jilius tuus, si repente 
 pater ille, til Jilius , pari gravitate reprehendat ? 
 Non omncs homines aliquo errorc ducuntur ? 
 Non hie in illo sibi, in hoc alius, indulgct ? 
 Haec tibi admonitus immodicae servitatis ex- 
 emplo, pro amore mutuo, scripsi, ne quando tu 
 quoque filium tuum acerbius duriusque tractares. 
 Cogita et ilium puerum esse, et te fuisse ; atque 
 ita hoc quod es pater utere, ut memineris, et te 
 hominem esse, et hominis patrem. Vale. 
 
 3. C. PLINIUS SABINIANO SUO S. 
 
 Libertus tuus, cui succensere te dixeras, venit 
 ad me, advolutusque pedibus meis tanquam tuis 
 haesit Flevit multum, multumque rogavit; 
 multum etiam tacuit : in summa, fecit mihi 
 fidem poenitentiaB. Vere credo emendatum, quia 
 deliquisse se sentit. Irasceris, scio : et irasceris 
 merito, id quoque scio : sed tunc prascipua 
 mansuetudinis laus, quum irae causa justissima 
 est. Amasti hominem, et, spero, amabis: interim 
 sufBcit, ut exorari te sinas. Licebit rursus irasci, 
 si meruerit : quod exoratus excusatius flicies. 
 Remitte aliquid adolescentiae ipsius, remitte 
 lacrymis, remitte indulgentiae tuae : ne torseris 
 ilium, ne torseris etiam te. Torqueris enim, 
 
LIBER NONUS. 71 
 
 quum tarn lenis irasceris. Vereor ne videar non 
 rogare, sed cogere, si precibus ejus meas junxero. 
 Jungam tamen tanto plenius et effusius, quanto 
 ipsum acrius severiusque corripui, districte 
 minatus, nunquam me postea rogaturum. Hoc 
 illi, quem terreri oportebat, tibi non idem. Nam 
 fortasse iterum rogabo, iterum impetrabo : sit 
 modo tale, ut rogare me, prsestare te deceat. 
 Vale. 
 
 4. C. PLINIUS SABINIANO SUO S. 
 
 Bene fecisti quod libertum, aliquando tibi 
 carum, reducentibus epistolis meis in donium, in 
 animum recepist.i. Juvabit hoc te : me certe 
 juvat : primum, quod te talem video, ut in ira. 
 regi possis : deinde quod tantum mihi tribuis, ut 
 vel auctorilati meae pareas, vel precibus indul- 
 geas. Igitur et laudo et gratias ago. Simul in 
 posterum moneo, ut te erroribus tuorum, etsi 
 non fuerit qui deprecetur, placabilem prsestes. 
 Vale. 
 
 5. C. TLINIUS GEMINIO SUO S. 
 
 Laudas mihi, et frequenter praesens, et nunc 
 per epistolas, Nonium tuum, quod sit liberalis in 
 
72 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 quosdam : et ipse laudo, si tamen non in hos 
 •solos. Volo enim eum qui sit vere liberalis, 
 tribuere patriae, propinquis, affinibus, amicis, sed 
 amicis dico pauperibus : non nt isti, qui iis po- 
 tissimum donant, qui donare maxime possunt. 
 Hos ego viscatis hamatisque muneribus, non sua 
 promere puto, sed aliena corripere. Sunt inge- 
 nio simili, qui quod huic donant, auferunt illi, 
 fanamque liberalitatis avaritia petunt. Primum. 
 est autem, suo esse contentum : deinde, quos 
 praecipue scias indigere, sustentantem foventem- 
 que, orbe quodam societatis arnbire. Quae 
 cuncta si facit isle, usquequaque laudandus est; 
 si unum aliquod, minus qtiidem, laudandus 
 tamen. Tarn rarum est etiam imperfectae libe- 
 ralitatis exemplar. Ea invasit homines habendi 
 cupido, ut possideri magis quam possidere vide- 
 antur. Vale. 
 
 6. C. PLINIUS CANINIO SUO S. 
 
 Incidi in materiam veram, sed simillimam 
 fict33, dignamque isto lsetissimo, altissimo planeque 
 poetico ingenia. Incidi autem, dum super ccEnam 
 varia miracula hinc inde referuntur. Magna auc- 
 toris fides; tametsi quid poetee cum fide? Is 
 
LIBER NONUS. 73 
 
 tamen auctor, cui bene vel historiam scripturus 
 credidisses. Est in Africa Hipponensis colonia, 
 mari proxima : adjacet ei navigabile stagnum, ex 
 quo, in modum fluminis, aestaarium emergit, quod 
 vice alterna, prout aestus aut repressit, aut im- 
 pulit, nunc infertur mari, nunc redditur stagno. 
 Omnis hie aetas piscandi, navigandi, atque etiam 
 natandi studio tenetur : maxime puerorum, quos 
 otium ludusque solicitat. His gloria et virtus 
 altissime provehi : victor ille qui longissime ut 
 littus, ita simul nantes, reliquit. Hoc certaraine 
 puer quidam, audentior caeteris, in ulteriora 
 tendebat : delphinus occurrit, et nunc praecedere 
 puerum, nunc sequi, nunc circuire, postremo 
 subire, deponere, iterum subire, trepidantemque 
 perferre primum in altum : mox flectit ad littus, 
 redditque terrae et aequalibus. Serpit per colo- 
 niam fama : concurrere omnes, ipsum puerum 
 tanquam miraculum aspicere, interrogare, audire, 
 narrare. Postero die obsident littus, prospectant 
 mare, et si quid est mari simile. Natant pueri : 
 inter hos ille, sed cautius. Delphinus rursus ad 
 tempus, rursus ad puerum venit. Fugit ille 
 cum ceteris. Delphinus, quasi invitet, revocet 9 
 exilit, mergitur, variosque orbes implicitat expe- 
 ditque. Hoc altero die, hoc tertio ; hoc pluribus ? 
 6 * 
 
74 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 donee homines innutritos mari subiret timendi 
 pudor: accedunt, et alludunt, et appellant: 
 tangunt etiam, pertrectantque prasbentem. Cre- 
 scit aujdacia ex peri men to. Maxime puer, qui 
 primus expeitus est, adnatat natanti, infilit tergo : 
 fertur referturque : agnosci se, amari putat, 
 amat ipse : neuter timet, neuter timetur. Hujus 
 fiducia, mansuetudo illius augetur : nee non alii 
 pueri dextra lgevaque simul eunt hortantes mo- 
 nentesque. Ibat una (id quoque minim) delphi- 
 nus alius, tantum spectator et comes. Nihil 
 enim simile aut faciebat, aut patiebatur : sed 
 alterum ilium ducebat, reducebat, ut puerum 
 ceteri pueri. Incredibile (tarn verum tamen 
 quam priora) delphinum gestatorem collusorem- 
 que puerorem in terram quoque extrabi solitum, 
 arenisque siccatum, ubi incaluisset, in mare 
 revolvi. Constat Octavium Avitum, legatum 
 proconsulis, in littus educto religione prava su- 
 perfudisse unguentum, cujus ilium novitatem 
 odoremque in altum refugisse ; nee nisi post 
 multos dies visum languidum et moestum ; mox, 
 redditis viribus, priorem lasciviam et solita inin- 
 isteria repetisse. Confluebant ad spectaculum 
 omnes magistratus, quorum adventu et mora 
 modica respublica novis sumptibus atterebatur. 
 
LIBER NONUS. 75 
 
 Postremo locus ipse quietem suam secretumque 
 perdebat. Placuit occulte interfici, ad quod 
 coibatur. Hsec tu qua miseratione, qua copia 
 deflebis, ornabis, attolles? Quanquam non est 
 opus affingas aliquid aut adstruas ; sufficit ne ea 
 qua? sunt vera minuantur. Vale. 
 
 7. C. PLINIUS FUSCO SUO S. 
 
 Quseris quemadmodum in Tuscis diem asstate 
 disponam. Evigilo quura libuit, plerumque 
 circa horam primam, ssepe ante ; tardius raro : 
 clause fenestras manent. Mire enim silentio et 
 tenebris animus alitur. Ab iis quae avocant 
 abductus, et liber, et mihi relictus, non oculos 
 animo, sed animum oculis sequor, qui eadem 
 quae mens, violent, quoties non vident alia. 
 Cogito si quid in manibus, cogito ad verbum 
 scribenti emendantique similis: nunc pauciora, 
 nunc plura, ut vel difficile vel facile compo- 
 ni tenerive potuerunt. Notarium voco, et, 
 die admisso, quee formaveram dicto ; abit, rur- 
 susque revocatur, rursusque remittitur. Ubi 
 hora quarta vel quinta (neque enim certum 
 dimensumque tempus) ut dies suasit, in xystum 
 me vel cryptoporticum confero ; reliqua meditor 
 
76 C. PLINII EFIST. 
 
 et dicto ; vehiculum ascendo. Ibi quoque idem 
 quod ambulans aut jacens. Durat intentio, 
 mutatione ipsa refecta : paulum redormio, dein 
 ambulo, mox orationem Grsecam Latinamve 
 clare et intente, non tam vocis causa quam 
 stomachi, lego : pariter tamen et ilia firmatur. 
 Iterum ambulo, ungor, exerceor, lavor. Coenanti 
 mihi, si cum uxore, vel paucis, liber legitur : post 
 coenam, comoedi aut lyristes: mox cum meis 
 ambulo, quorum in numero sunt eruditi. Ita 
 variis sermonibus vespera extenditur, et quan- 
 quam longissimus dies, cito conditur. Nonnun- 
 quam ex hoc ordine aliqua mutantur. Nam si 
 diu tacui, vel ambulavi, post somnum demum 
 lectionemque, non vehiculo, sed (quod brevius, 
 quia velocius) equo gestor. Interveniunt amici 
 ex proximis oppidis, partemque diei ad se tra- 
 hunt, interdumque lassato mihi opportuna inter- 
 pellatione subveniunt. Venor aliquando : sed 
 non sine pugillaribus, ut quamvis nihil ceperim, 
 nonnihil referam. Datur et colonis (ut videtur 
 ipsis) non satis temporis, quorum mihi agrestes 
 querela? literas nostras et isthaec urbana opera 
 commendant. Vale. 
 
LIBER DECIMUS. 77 
 
 8. C. PLINIUS FUSCO SUO S. 
 
 Scribis, pergratas tibi fuisse literas meas, 
 quihus cognovisti quemadmodum in Tuscis otium 
 aEstatis exigerem : requiris quid ex hoc in Lau- 
 rentino hyenie permulem. Nihil, nisi quod 
 meridianus somnus eximitur, multumque de 
 nocte vel ante vel post diem sumitur: et, si 
 agendi necessitas instat, quae frequens hyeme, 
 non jam como3do vel iyristse post cnenam locus; 
 sed iila quae dictavi, identidem retractantur, ac 
 simul memoriae frequenti emendatione proficitur. 
 Habes aestate, hyeme consuetudinem ; addas 
 hue licet ver et autumnum, quae inter hyemem 
 aestatemque media, ut nihil de die perdunt, ita 
 de nocte parvulum acquirunt. Vale. 
 
 LIBER X. 
 
 1. C. PLINIUS TR. IMP. S. 
 
 Sicut saluberrimam navigationem, domine, 
 usque Ephesum expertus, ita inde, postquam 
 vehiculis iter facere ccepi, gravissimis sestibus, 
 
78 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 atque etiam febriculis vexatus, Pergami substiti. 
 Rursus, quum transisem in orarias naviculas, 
 contrariis ventis retentus, aliquanto tardius quam 
 speraveram, id est xv calend. Octobris, Bithyn- 
 iam intravi. Non possum tamen de mora queri, 
 cum mihi contigerit quod erat auspicatissimum, 
 natalem tuum in provincial celebrare. Nunc 
 reipub. Prusensium impendia, reditus, debitores 
 excutio : quod ex ipso tractu magis ac magis 
 necessarium intelligo. Multse enim pecuniae 
 variis ex causis a privatis detinentur : preeterea 
 quaedam minime legitimis sumptibus erogantur. 
 Haec tibi, domine, in ipso ingressum meo scripsi. 
 Quintodecimo calend. Octobris, domine, pro- 
 vinciam intravi, quam in eo obsequio, in ea erga 
 te fide, quam de genere humano mereris, inveni. 
 Dispice, domine, an necessarium putes mittere 
 hue mensorem. Videntur enim non mediocres 
 pecuniae posse revocari a curationibus operura, 
 si mensural fideliter agantur. Ita certe prospi- 
 cio ex ratione Prusensium, quam cum Maximo 
 tracto. 
 
 2. TRAJANUS PLINIO S. 
 
 Cuperem sine querela corpusculi tin, et tunrum, 
 pervenire in Bithyniam potuisses, ac simile tibi 
 
LIBER DECIMUS. 79 
 
 iter ah Epheso ei navigationifuisset, quam exper- 
 tus usque illo eras. Quo autem die pervenisses 
 in Bythiniam, cognovi, Secunde carissime, Uteris 
 tuis. Provinciales (credo) prospectum sibi a 
 me, intelligent. Nam et tu dabis operam, ut 
 manifesium sit Mis, electum te esse, qui ad eos~ 
 dem mei loco mittereris. Rationes autem im- 
 primis tibi rerum publicarum excutiendce sunt. 
 Nam et esse eas vexatas satis constat. Mensores 
 vix etiam Us operibus, qua aut Romce, aut in 
 proximo Jiunt, sufficientes habeo : sed in omni 
 provincid inveniuntur, quibus credi possit, et ideo 
 non deerunt tibi, modo velis diligenter excutere. 
 
 3. C. PLINIUS TR. IMP. S. 
 
 Q,uum diversam partem provincial circumirem, 
 NicomediaB vastissimum incendium multas priva- 
 torum domos, et duo publica opera, quanquam 
 via interjacente, Gerusiam et Isson absumpsit. 
 Est autem latius sparsum : primum violentia 
 venti, deinde inertia hominum, quod satis con- 
 stat otiosos et immobiles tanti mali spectatores 
 perstitisse : et alioqui nullus usquam in publico 
 sipho, nulla hama, nullum denique instrumentum 
 ad incendia compescenda : et haec quidem, ut 
 
80 C. PL1NII EPIST. 
 
 jam praecepi, parabuntur. Tu domine, dispice, 
 instituendum putes collegium fabrorum, dantaxat 
 hominum CL: ego attendam ne quis, nisi faber, 
 recipiatur, neve jure concesso in aliud utatur. 
 Nee erit difficile custodire tarn paucos. 
 
 4. TRAJANUS PLINIO S. 
 
 Tibi quidem secundum exempla complurium, 
 in mentem venit, posse collegium fabrorum apud 
 Nicomedenses constit li : sed meminerimus, pro- 
 vincian islam, el prcetipue eas civitatcs, ab 
 ejasmodif actio nibus esse vexatas. Quodcunque 
 nomen ex qudcunque causa dedcrimus iis qui in 
 idem contracti fuerint, hclarice quamvls breves 
 jient. Satins itaque est comparari ea quae ad 
 co'ercendos ignes auxilio esse possint, a dm oner i- 
 que dominos prcediorum, ut et ipsi inkibeant, ac 
 si res poposcerit, accursu populi ad hoc uti. 
 
 5. C. PLINIUS TR. IMP. S. 
 
 In aquseductum, domine, Nicomedenses im- 
 penderunt HS. xxx. ccc. xxix. qui imperfectus 
 adhuc relictus, ac etiam destructus est : rursus 
 in alium duct urn erogata sunt cc. Hoc quo- 
 
LIBER DECIMUS. 81 
 
 que relicto, novo impendio est opus, ut aquam 
 habeant qui tantam pecuniam male perdiderunt. 
 Ipse perveni ad fontem purissimum, ex quo 
 videtur aqua debere perduci, sicut initio tenta- 
 tum erat, arcuato opere, ne tantum ad plana 
 civitatis et humilia perveniat. Manent adhuc 
 paucissimi arcus : possunt et erigi quidam lapide 
 quadrato, qui ex superiore opere detractus est : 
 aliqua pars, ut mihi videtur, testaceo opere 
 agenda erit. Id enim et facilius et vilius. Et 
 imprimis necessarium est, mitti a te vel aquile- 
 gem vel architectum, ne rursus eveniat quod 
 accidit. Ego illud unum affirmo, et utilitatem 
 operis et pulchritudinem seculo tuo esse dignissi- 
 mam. 
 
 6. TR. PLINIO S. 
 
 Curandum est, ut aqua in Nicomedensem civi- 
 tatem pcrducatur. Vcre credo te ed qua debebis 
 diUgenlia hoc opus aggressurum. Scd, medius 
 jidius, ad eandcm diligentiam tuam periinet, in- 
 quirere quorum vitio ad hoc opus tantam pecu- 
 niam Nicomedenses perdiderint, ne quum inter 
 se gratificantur, et inchoaverint aqu&ductus, et 
 reliquerint. Quid itaque compereris, perfer in 
 notitiam meam. 
 7 
 
82 C. PLIN1I EPIST. 
 
 7. C. PLINIUS TR. IMP. S. 
 
 Intuenti mihi et fortune tuse et animi magnitu- 
 dinem, convenientissimum videtur, demonstrare 
 opera non minus seternitate tua quam gloria 
 digna, quantumque pulchritudinis, tantum utilita- 
 tis habitura. Est in Nicomedensium finibus 
 amplissimus lacus ; per hunc marmora, fructus, 
 ligna, materise, et sumptu modico et labore 
 usque ad viam navibus, inde magno labore, 
 majore impendio, vehiculis ad mare devehuntur. 
 Sed hoc opus multas manus poscit : at hae porro 
 non desunt. Nam et in agris magna copia est 
 hominum, et maxima in civitate : certaque spes 
 omnes libentissime agressuros opus omnibus 
 fructuosum. Superest ut tu libratoreim vel 
 architectum, si tibi videbitur, mittas, qui dili- 
 genter exploret sitne lacus altior mari, quem 
 artifices regionis hujus quadraginta cubitis alti- 
 orem esse contendunt. Ego per eadem loca 
 invenio fossam a rege percussarn : sed incertum 
 utrum ad colligendum humorem circumjacentium 
 agrorum, an ad committendum flumini lacum; 
 est enim imperfecta. Hoc quoque dubium, in- 
 tercepto rege mortal itate, an desperato operis 
 effects Sed hoc ipso (feres enim me ambitio- 
 
LIBER DECIMUS. 83 
 
 sum) pro tua gloria incitor et accendor, ut 
 cupiam peragi a te quae tantum cceperant reges. 
 
 8. TKAJANUS PLINIG S. 
 
 Potest nos solicitare lacus iste ut committer e 
 ilium marl velimus : sed plane cxplorandum est 
 diligenter, ne, si immissus in mare fuerit, totus 
 cffiuat. Certe, quantum aquarum, et unde ac- 
 cipiat. Poteris a Calphurnio Macro petere 
 Libratorem. Et ego Jiinc aliquem tibi, peritum 
 ejusmodi operum, mittam. 
 
 9. C. PLINIUS TR. IMP. S. 
 
 Pecuniae publicae, domine, providentia tua et 
 rninisterio nostro etiam exactae sunt et exiguntur : 
 quae vereor ne otiosse jaceant. Nam et praedio- 
 rum comparandorum aut nulla aut rarissima 
 occasio est : nee inveniuntur qui velint debere, 
 reipub praesertim duodenis assibus, quanti a 
 privatis mutuantur. Dispice ergo, domine, num- 
 quid minuendam usuram, ac per hoc idoneos 
 debitores invitandos, putes : et, si ne sic quidem 
 reperiuntur, distribuendam inter decuriones pe- 
 cuniam, ita ut recte reipublicae caveant : quod ? 
 
84 C. PL1NI1 EPIST. 
 
 quanquam invitis et recusantibus, minus acer- 
 bum erit, leviore usura constituta. 
 
 10. tr. plinio s. 
 
 Et ipse non aliud remedium dispicio, mi Se- 
 cimde carissi?ne, qudm ut quantitas iisurarum 
 minuatur, quo facilius pecunicB publiccs col- 
 locentur. Modum ejus ex copid eorum qui mutu- 
 abuntur tu constituts. Invitos ad accipiendam 
 compellere, quodfortassis ipsis otiosum futurum 
 sit, non est exjustitid nostrurum temporum. 
 
 11. C. PLINIUS TR. IMP. S. 
 
 Tu quidem, domine providentissime, vereris 
 ne commissus flumini, atque ita mari, lacus 
 effluat : sed ego in re prsesenti invenisse videor 
 quemadmodum huic periculo occurrerem. Potest 
 enim lacus fossa usque ad flumen adduci, nee 
 tamen in flumen emitti, sed relicto quasi margine 
 contineri pariter et dirimi: sic consequemur ut 
 nee vicino videatur flumini mistus, et sit periude 
 ac si misceatur. Erit enim facile per illam 
 brevissimam terram, quae interjacebit, onera 
 transponere in flumen. Quod ita fiet, si neces- 
 
LIBER DECIMUS. 85 
 
 sitas coget, et (spero) non coget. Est enim et 
 lacus ipse satis altus, et nunc in contrariam 
 partem flumen emittit ; quod interclusum inde, 
 et quo voluraus aversum, sine ullius detrimento- 
 lacus tantum aquae, quantum nunc portat, effun, 
 det. Prseterea per id spatium, per quod fossa 
 facienda est, incidunt rivi : qui si diligenter 
 colligantur, augebunt illud quod lacus dederit. 
 Enimvero si placeat fossam longius ducere, et 
 arctius pressam mari sequare, nee in flumen, 
 sed in ipsum mare emittere, repercussus maris 
 servabit et reprimet quicquid e lacu veniet. 
 Quorum si nihil nobis loci natura prsEstaret, 
 expeditum tamen erat, cataractis aquas cursum 
 temperare. Vermn et hsec et alia multo saga- 
 cius conquiret explorabitque librator, quem plane, 
 domine, debes mittere, ut polliceris. Est enim 
 res digna et magnitudine tua. et cura. Ego 
 interim Calphurnio Macro, clarissimo viro, auc- 
 tore te scripsi, ut libratorem quam maxime 
 idoneum mitteret. 
 
 12. tr. plinio s. 
 
 Manifestum est, mi Securde carissime, nee 
 prudentiam nee diligentiam tihi defuisse circa 
 
 7 * 
 
£6 C. PLINII EPIST. 
 
 istum lacum, cum tarn muTta proviso, habeas, per 
 qua nee periclitetur exhaiiriri, ct magis in usus 
 nobis futurus sit. Elige igitur id quod prce- 
 cipue res ipsa suaserit. CaJjphurnium Macrum 
 credo facturnm, ut te Ubratore instruat : neque 
 enim provincicB istcc Jus artificibus carent. 
 
 13. C PLINIUS TR. IMP. S. 
 
 Sinopenses, domine, aqua deficiuntur : quae 
 videtur et bona et copiosa ab sextodecimo milia- 
 ria posse perduci. Est tamen statim ab capite 
 paulo amplius mille passibus locus suspectus et 
 mollis, quern ego interim explorari modico im- 
 pendio jussi, an recipere et sustinere opus possit. 
 Pecunia, curantibus nobis, contracta, non deerit, 
 si tu, domine, hoc genus oporis et salubritati et 
 amoenitati valde sitientis colonice indulseris. 
 
 14. TR. plinio s. 
 
 Ut ccepisti } Secundc carissi?ne, cxplora diligcn- 
 ter f an locus UIc, quern suspectum habes, sustinere 
 opus aquceductus possit. JYcqnc enim dubitan- 
 
LIBER DECIMUS. 87 
 
 dumputo,quin aqua perducenda sit in cohniam 
 Sinopensem, si modd et viribus suis ipsa id 
 assequi potest, cum plurammn ea res et salubri- 
 tati et voluptaii ejus collatura sit. 
 
]VOTES. 
 
 *** The Roman characters refer to pages, the Arabic figures to 
 lines. 
 
 ix. I. C. Plinii] Caius Plinius Caecilius Se= 
 cundus, commonly called the younger Pliny, in 
 distinction from his uncle the naturalist, was 
 born in the year 62, at Cornum, now Corno, a 
 town about twenty-five miles noith of Milan, on 
 a picturesque lake called Larius, now the lake 
 of Corno. He owed his education in part to 
 the celebrated Quinctilian, whom, in gratitude 
 for his attentions, he remembered and assisted 
 in his old age. Before the age of eighteen, 
 he entered the army, and served as military 
 tribune in Syria. Soon after, he turned his 
 attention to pleading as a profession, and at 
 twenty, commenced practising at the bar. Hav- 
 ing passed about six years in the practice of his 
 profession with great credit, he was made questor, 
 then tribune of the people, and finally praetor, 
 
90 NOTES. 
 
 to which last office he was appointed before the 
 legal age. Pliny was spared in the persecution 
 which Domitian carried on against all who were 
 eminent for merit or learning, and after his 
 death, vindicated the memory of Helvidius, who 
 had been in the number of his victims. In the 
 year 97, he married Calpurnia with whom he 
 lived very affectionately and whose excellent 
 qualities he often mentions in his letters. Soon 
 after, he was appointed by Nerva prefect of the 
 treasury, an office which he held two years. 
 Under Trajan he was promoted to the honor of 
 the consulship, and was afterward sent by this 
 emperor proconsul to Bithynia in Asia Minor. 
 It was from this province that he wrote, in the 
 year 102, his celebrated letter respecting the 
 Christians, which induced Trajan to mitigate 
 the persecution which was carried on against 
 them. While in this office he mainly employed 
 himself in projecting various public works for 
 the benefit of the province. Neither the year 
 nor the place of Pliny's death is known, but as 
 nothing of his appears later than 107, it is most 
 probable that he died in this year, the 45th of 
 his age. 
 
 These letters then would seem to have been 
 written between the years 80 and 107 of the 
 Christian era. They bear no particular dates, 
 and the time at which each was composed must 
 be gathered from the subject matter itself. A 
 table of the emperors under whom Pliny wrote, 
 and of their periods of office, is subjoined. 
 
NOTES- 91 
 
 The whole number of letters collected by the 
 author himself was 369, which are divided into 
 ten books, the last being wholly devoted to the 
 correspondence between him and the emperor 
 Trajan. 
 
 Vespasian Imp. A. D. 69 to 79 
 
 Titus " " 79 to 81 
 
 Domitian " " 81 to 96 
 
 Nerva " " 96 to 98 
 
 Trajan " " 98 to 107 
 
 BOOK I.— Letter 1. 
 
 Pliny dedicates this collection of letters to his 
 friend Septitius. 
 
 6. C. Plin.] Caius Plinius Septitio amico 
 suo salutem dat. This was the usual mode of 
 commencing an epistle, and signifies that the 
 writer desires health, or presents his best wishes 
 to his friend. 
 
 7. Frequenter'] " You have often urged me, 
 that I should collect and publish my letters, if I 
 had written some more accurately than the rest." 
 Or " such of my letters as I had written more 
 accurately." 
 
92 NOTES. 
 
 9. noil] " not preserving the order of time, 
 for I was not writing a history, but according 
 as," &c. 
 
 11. Supercsf] "It remains to wish that it 
 may not repent you of your advice nor me of 
 my compliance." 
 
 13. ut] "that I shall look up those, which 
 still lie neglected, and if I shall add any I will 
 not suppress them. Farewell." 
 
 Letter 2. 
 
 Describing the vanity of the pursuits which 
 for the most part occupy the attention in the 
 city, compared with the more dignified employ- 
 ments of the country. 
 
 17. quam] " how for single days the account 
 of time passed in town holds good or seems to 
 do so, but for several days or all of them together 
 does not." 
 
 x. 2. respondeat] " he will perhaps answer, 
 'I was present' at ceremony of the toga virilis; 
 I assisted at an espousal or a wedding." All 
 these were occasions of great interest The 
 espousal of two parties usually took place some 
 time before the celebration of the actual mar- 
 riage. It was accompanied with many cere- 
 monies, at which the priests and augurs assisted : 
 the marriage contract was drawn up in the 
 presence of witnesses, and confirmed by the 
 betrothed pair breaking a straw between them ; 
 
NOTES. 93 
 
 the bridegroom then presented the bride with 
 the wedding ring; presents were made to the 
 young couple by their immediate friends who 
 were present on the occasion ; and the father, or 
 nearest relative of the bride — at whose house the 
 ceremony usually took place— gave a grand en- 
 tertainment. 
 
 The investiture of the toga virilis or manly gown 
 which took place at seventeen years of age, was, 
 in families of rank, a ceremony of great solem- 
 nity as well as festivity. The friends and rel- 
 atives of the youth being assembled on the 
 occasion, he was stripped of the prsetextan robe, 
 and the golden ball which ornamented the latter 
 was consecrated to the lares, or household .gods. 
 He was then clothed in a toga of pure white, 
 without ornament, and conducted by the whole 
 company followed by the servants and retainers 
 of his house and near connections, to the cap- 
 ital, where prayers and sacrifices were offered to 
 the gods. Thence he was taken with the same 
 parade to the forum, to make his public entry 
 into the world on that, spot where probably the 
 most important scenes of his future life were to 
 be acted. After this the day was concluded 
 with a feast to which the dependents of the 
 family were admitted, and presents were distrib- 
 uted among the guests." — Domestic Manners 
 and Institutions of the Romans. Chap. xv. and 
 xvii. 
 
 6. H(ec] " These things, on the day you do 
 them, seem necessary ; but the same, if you con- 
 
94 NOTES. 
 
 sider that you have been doing them daily, ap- 
 pear trivial, and especially so when you have 
 withdrawn from them." 
 
 10. Quod] " This is what happens to me, 
 when in my Laurentian estate I read or write 
 something or even attend to my person by the 
 support of which the mind is sustained." Lau- 
 rentino agrees with prsedio understood. 
 
 13. quod] " which I am sorry to have heard." 
 
 14. apud me] at my house. 
 
 20. ac] " and more delightful than almost 
 any employment." 
 
 22. qucim] " how many thoughts do you in- 
 vent, how many do you suggest." 
 
 26. Satius] " For it is better — to be idle 
 than to be busy about nothing." 
 
 Letter 3. 
 
 He reproaches Septitius with having broken his 
 engagement to come to dinner, and enumerates 
 the delicacies which were prepared for his re- 
 ception. 
 
 xi. 4. promittis] you promise to come to 
 dinner and come not." The Roman ccena, 
 often improperly rendered supper, was taken at 
 about 3 o'clock. 
 
 5. Dicitur] " The sentence is passed; you 
 shall pay the expense to a farthing, and that not 
 small." 
 
NOTES. 95* 
 
 6. singula] "one for each;" so binae "two 
 for each;" ternse "three for each." 
 
 8. nam] "for this too you shall account for; 
 nay this especially, which perishes in the dish." 
 
 12. qua] " such is my liberality." 
 
 12. At] " Bat you have chosen at somebody's 
 house, I know not whom, to he treated with 
 oysters, urchins and Spanish dancers." The 
 latter as well as the graver personages with 
 whom Pliny had proposed to entertain his guest 
 were commonly introduced at Roman dinners. 
 
 15. invidisti] "you have wronged, whether 
 yourself I know not, certainly me, but yet your- 
 self also," 
 
 17. apparatius] " more luxuriously" this and 
 the last three words in the sentence are the 
 comparatives of adverbs. 
 
 19. In snmmd] "In fine, make the trial; 
 and unless you shall afterwards rather excuse 
 yourself to all others, then always refuse me." 
 
 BOOK II. — Letter 1. 
 
 He describes the mixture of ostentation and 
 meanness displayed by an acquaintance with 
 whom he had dined. 
 
 xii. 3. Longum] "It is too long to recount 
 fully, and it matters not how it happened, that 
 
96 NOTES. 
 
 I, though by no means a familiar friend, was 
 dining with a person liberal and thrifty, as he 
 seemed to himself; as he appeared to me, both 
 extravagant and mean." 
 
 7. optima] " some of the best dishes." 
 
 9. Vinum] " He had also divided the wine 
 contained in small bottles, into three kinds; not 
 that there might be the privilege of choosing, 
 but that there might be no right of refusing the 
 particular kind offered." 
 
 8. aliiid] " placed one hind for us, another 
 for his smaller friends, (for he has friends in 
 grades,) another for his own and our freed men." 
 The freedman was a manumitted slave who re- 
 mained in the family of his late master in the 
 character of a client or dependent, and bore his 
 name as a prefix to his own. 
 
 See there that Dama ! view a worthless slave, 
 Of knavish muleteers the veriest knave! 
 Let but his master one small turn bestow, 
 Plain Dama, straight, shall Marcus Dama grow. 
 
 Owen's Persius. Lat. v. 
 
 13. Animadvertit] "He who reclined next 
 to me observed this, and asked me if I approved 
 it." I said no. " What custom, then," said he, 
 "do you adopt? " " I place the same dishes he- 
 fore all. For I invite them to a supper, not to 
 a register; and i make equal in all things, those 
 whom I have made equal at my table and my 
 couch." "The freedmen too ? " " Those too. 
 
NOTES. 97 
 
 For then I hold them guests, not freedmen." 
 He replies, "It must cost you a great sum." 
 " By no means." " How can this be managed 1 " 
 " It can ; because my freedmen do not drink 
 the same as I do, but I the same, as my freed- 
 men." 
 
 xin. 1. Ilia] se gula. "This then must be 
 restrained, this must be reduced to order as it 
 were, if you would save expense, which you can 
 better provide for' by your own temperance, than 
 by degrading others." 
 
 5. Quorsum] To what purpose do I say 
 these things. 
 
 11. quce~\ "which as they are very base when 
 separate, are more basely joined ;" "are more 
 disgraceful when united." 
 
 Letter 2. 
 
 Lamenting that he is prevented by his engage- 
 ments in town from enjoying with his friends 
 the beauty of Lake Larius. 
 
 17. Nam] " For the lake supplies fish, the 
 woods with which the lake is surrounded, game, 
 and that deep retreat, subjects of meditation in 
 abundance." 
 
 19. Sed] " But whether you do all together, 
 or some one, I cannot say, I envy you ; yet I am 
 vexed, that those things are not permitted to me, 
 too, which I desire as sick men do wine, baths, 
 fountains." 
 
98 NOTES. 
 
 23. Nunquamne] " Shall I never break these 
 close fetters of business, if it is denied to me to 
 loosen them ? " 
 
 24. Nam] "For to the old employments 
 new ones are added, yet the former are not fin- 
 ished ; by so many coils, by so many chains, 
 as it were, is the line of occupations daily ex- 
 tended." 
 
 Letter 3. 
 
 He relates three anecdotes of Marcus Regu- 
 lus, intended to exhibit the meanness of his 
 character. 
 
 xiv. 6. As sew] " Prepare your penny, and 
 hear a fine story." The expression seems to be 
 borrowed from those who exercised the art of 
 story telling as a profession. 
 
 7. Nam~\ " For the new one reminds me of 
 some former ones ; nor does it matter, from 
 which I commence in preference." 
 
 8. Verania] " V. Piso's wife lay very ill ; 
 I mean that Piso," &c. 
 
 11. Primum] " First notice the impudence 
 of the man, who came to a sick woman, to 
 whose husband, and to whose self, he had been 
 a violent personal enemy." 
 
 13. Esto] " Let it pass, if he had only 
 come." 
 
 17. nihil] "for no purpose, except that he 
 may keep her miserable the longer in suspense." 
 
NOTES. 99 
 
 19. Climactericum] The climacteric periods 
 were considered peculiarly dangerous. Those 
 usually so accounted were the years expressed 
 by the successive multiples of 7. The grand 
 climacteric was the 63d year, or 9 times 7. 
 
 20. Aruspicem] "I will consult a sooth- 
 sayer.'/ The aruspices were inferior to the 
 augurs and foretold future events by remarks 
 on the palpitating entrails of newly slaughtered 
 victims, and the circumstances attending sacri- 
 lices. 
 
 24. legatum] "inscribes a legacy for Regu- 
 lus." 
 
 xv. 2. qui] " who had foresworn himself by 
 the safety of his sou." It was the custom to 
 swear by whatever was regarded as most pre- 
 cious. 
 
 7. novissimd] " with his last illness." 
 
 10. quia] "because he had lately begun to 
 court him." 
 
 11. quoquo] "that by any means they should 
 prolong life to this man." 
 
 14. quid] " why do you deny a happy death 
 to one, to whom you cannot give life ? " 
 
 16. et] " and as if he had heard all, left not a 
 farthing to Regulus." 
 
 17. an] "Do you ask for a third according 
 to the law of the schools," or " according to the 
 old saying." 
 
 23. Rcgo] " I beg you would bequeath these 
 to me" leges from lego. 
 
 xvi. 1. ilk] " still he compelled her to do this 
 as if about to die." 
 
] 00 NOTES. 
 
 8. quum] "that when he consulted the aus* 
 pices, how soon he should make up sixty mil- 
 lion sesterces, he had found the entrails double, 
 by which it was foretold that he should have an 
 hundred and twenty million. 5 ' For it is said by 
 authorities that between the numeral adverbs 
 and sestertium the contracted genitive plural of 
 sestertius, the words centena millia must be sup- 
 plied ; so that the first on the above expressions, 
 when read in full, will be six hundred hundred 
 thousand sesterces, and the second twelve hun- 
 dred hundred thousand. 
 
 11. si] "if he shall still dictate, as he has 
 begun to do, wills in favor of strangers, to the 
 very persons, to whom they belong ; which is 
 the most iniquitous kind of deception." 
 
 BOOK III.— Letter 1. 
 
 Contains an account of the numerous works 
 of Pliny the naturalist, and describes particularly 
 his mode of life. 
 
 19. guarasque] " and ask, what they all are." 
 
 19. Fungar] " I will perform the part of an 
 index." 
 
 De] "one book on throwing the javelin on 
 horseback." 
 
 xvn. 10. Adstitit] " Stood before him as he 
 slept." 
 
NOTES. 101 
 
 13. id] " that he would save him from the 
 injustice of being forgotten." 
 
 14. Studiosi] " Three books called studiosi." 
 
 16. Dubii] " Eight books on the subject of 
 equivocal expression." 
 
 20. A fine] " Thirty-one books from the 
 end of the work of Aufidis Bassus." 
 
 23. Miraris] " Do you wonder that one so 
 much occupied could have written so many 
 volumes, and many among them requiring so 
 much care? " 
 
 xvin. 2. Medium] " that, he passed the mean 
 time filled and embarrassed both by very impor- 
 tant duties, and by the friendship of the prince." 
 
 5. Eral] he was indeed remarkable for very 
 easy sleep, often commencing and again leaving 
 him during his studies. 
 
 17. Post] " After taking the sun he gener- 
 ally bathed in cold water." 
 
 21. adnotabatur] "notes were taken, and 
 that rapidly." 
 
 23. revocdsse] " called him back and ordered 
 the passage to be repeated." 
 
 xix. 3. intra] " within the first hour of 
 night." The night or the interval between sun- 
 set and sunrise was divided into twelve hours 
 which differed in length according to the season. 
 
 6. gimm] " when I say of the bath, [ speak 
 only of the processes carried on within." 
 
 7. duni] " while he is rubbed and wiped." 
 Destringo signifies to scrape with the strigil, a 
 sort of currycomb employed by the attendants at 
 the baths." 
 
102 NOTES. 
 
 9. 7iuic] " he found time for this care only." 
 
 10. not arms] " a notary with book and tab- 
 lets." The notary, or scribe, copied in short 
 hand from dictation. Their skill in this pro- 
 cess was such, that it is said some of them could 
 outstrip the most rapid speaker. 
 
 14. Repcto] " I remember that I was blamed 
 by him for walking." 
 
 24. quadringentis] for four hundred thousand 
 sesterces, about fourteen thousand dollars. 
 
 xx. 3. Quid] " For what is there, which 
 those occupations could not prevent, or this in- 
 dustry accomplish." 
 
 8. Ego] "But am I only not to be compared 
 to him, I whom," &c. 
 
 10. Collatus] " when compared to him." 
 
 12. quamvis] "although I had intended to 
 write only what you asked, namely how many 
 books he had left." 
 
 Letter 2. 
 
 The subject of this letter is Arria, the wife of 
 Soetus, celebrated for her heroism in inflicting a 
 mortal wound on her own person, and then 
 presenting the bloody sword to her husband, 
 encouraging him to follow her example. Pliny 
 endeavors to show that there were other actions 
 in her life equally deserving admiration, though 
 less generally known. 
 
iNOTES. 103 
 
 20. adnotdsse] " I seem to have observed," 
 *' I think I have noticed, that some actions of 
 distinguished men or women are more famous 
 but others greater." 
 
 22. hesterno] " by a conversation yesterday 
 with Fannia." 
 
 xxt. 7. non] "not less dear on other accounts, 
 than because he was their son." 
 
 10. vivere] " she pretended that her son lived 
 and was even more comfortable." 
 
 17. tanquam] " as if she had left her bereave- 
 ment abroad." 
 
 18. Mud] "that other action of hers." 
 25. matrefn] " still to act the mother." 
 xxn. 1. in] " in his party." 
 
 3. ut] " that she might be placed there with 
 him." 
 
 4. Nempe] " for certainly you will give a con- 
 sular man." Consulaus signifies one who had 
 been consul. 
 
 7. omnia] " 1 will perform all these offices 
 alone." 
 
 9. Eadem] " She said before Claudius to 
 the wife of tScribonianus, when she offered her 
 evidence." 
 
 16. Tu] " would you then wish your daugh- 
 ter, if it shall be my fate to perish, to die with 
 me?" 
 
 21. Sensit] " she perceived it and said, you 
 do no good by your precautions ; for you can 
 cause that I shall die miserably ; that I shall not 
 die, you cannot." 
 
104 NOTES. 
 
 25. et] " and fell. When revived, I told you, 
 said she, that I should find a way, however hard, 
 to death, if you denied me an easy one." 
 
 xxiii. 1. Videiiturne] "Do not these seem 
 more sublime than that expression, Soetus, it 
 hurts me not, to which she arrived through 
 these;" though meanwhile a great reputation 
 encircles that ; these, none whatever. " Whence 
 that may be inferred which I said at the outset, 
 that some things are more renowned, others 
 greater." 
 
 Letter 3. 
 
 Death and character of the poet Martial. 
 
 Martialem] Martial was born at Bilbilis 
 riow Baubola, in Spain, and died in his native 
 country, A. D. 1C4, in the 75th year of his age. 
 
 10. salts] " of salt and gall," wit and satire. 
 
 11. prosecutus] "I had furnished him with 
 support while in retirement." 
 
 14. jFi/it] " It belonged to ancient custom." 
 
 17. ut] " Like other elegant and excellent 
 customs." 
 
 18. Nam] " For since we ceased to do 
 praiseworthy acts, we also consider it unfit to be 
 praised." 
 
 20. quibus] " for which I rendered this mark 
 of gratitude." 
 
 21. nisi] " unless I had some of the verses." 
 
NOTES. 105 
 
 22. ceteros] "will look for the rest in the 
 book." 
 
 xxiv. 1. Esquiliis] " at Esquiliae " ; a quarter 
 of the city so called, from the Esquiline hill. 
 
 3. Sed] " But beware, lest, intoxicated, you 
 knock at his learned door at an improper time." 
 
 6. centum virorum~\ "of the centum viri," 
 that is of the court. The centum viri were a sort 
 of justices, at first 100, afterwards 180 in num- 
 ber. In ordinary cases one or more of the 
 number chosen mutually by the parties or by the 
 praetor, decided the question ; but in those of 
 great importance, one-fourth, and sometimes the 
 whole body, sat in judgment, presided over by 
 that magistrate. 
 
 8. Arpinis] "to the writings of Arpinum." 
 This village, now called Arpino, was the birth- 
 place of Cicero; to whom as well as to Pliny, 
 the poet here pays an elegant compliment, the 
 justice of which posterity has not failed to con- 
 firm. 
 
 13. Merit one] "Did I not justly then dis- 
 miss with kindness, and do I not justly mourn 
 now, as a dear friend, him who," &c. 
 
 18. At] " But you toill say, what he has 
 written will not be immortal." 
 
106 
 
 BOOK IV.— Letter 1. 
 
 He requests Tacitus to assist him in finding 
 instructors for a new school which he had founded 
 in his native village of Corno. 
 
 xxv. 3. Venisti] " you have come now, if 
 ever, especially welcome to me." 
 
 8. jam"] " now near its conclusion." 
 
 10. ne] " that nothing may be lost to my 
 despatch." 
 
 15. municzpis] " a son of my townsman under 
 17 years of age ; " for at this age the pretexta 
 was laid aside. 
 
 15. Huic] I said to him " you are studying." 
 He answered " Yes." " Where? " " At Milan." 
 
 20. ?iam] "For it is very much your interest, 
 you who are," &c. For the grammatical con- 
 struction, see Adam's Grammar, Rule 57, 
 obs. 4. 
 
 xxvi. 1. quantulum] how trifling an effort 
 would it be. 
 
 2. quodq] " and to contribute to his main- 
 tenance what you now expend on their board, 
 their travelling expenses, and other things which 
 are purchased abroad, since all things are thus 
 purchased." 
 
 7. tertiam] " to give a third part of that sum, 
 which you shall think proper to raise." 
 
 9. ne hoc] " lest this gift of mine should be 
 hereafter perverted by favoritism or intrigue." 
 
NOTES. 107 
 
 12. Huic] " This abuse can be met by only 
 one remedy." 
 
 14. iisdem] " and the solemn duty of choosing 
 will be imposed on them by the necessity of rais- 
 ing the funds." 
 
 17. dabuntq] " and will take care that none 
 but a worthy man shall receive money from me, 
 if he must receive it at the same time from 
 them." 
 
 20. qui] " since I desire that to be as large 
 as possible which I shall be obliged to con- 
 tribute." See Grammar, lvii. 4. 
 
 22. •prcRstare] " furnish." 
 
 xxvii. 3. Hcec] " I thought it proper to count 
 these things thoroughly, and as it were from the 
 source." 
 
 6. ut] " that out of the number of scholars." 
 
 9. sub] " under this condition however, that 
 I do not engage my promise to any." 
 
 14. eat] (( he may go thither with this proviso 
 that he carries nothing on which he can depend, 
 except this confidence in Ms own merit." 
 
 Letter 2. 
 
 He engages his services in the defence of 
 Corellia, and recounts various acts of friendship 
 for which he had been indebted to her father. 
 
 23. est] " I have indeed with him, against 
 whom you engage me as advocate, a not very 
 familiar, but still a friendship/' 
 
108 NOTES. 
 
 xxvm. 1. Acczdit] " To this consideration 
 is added the dignity of the man, and this very 
 honor for which he is destined ; of which the 
 greater respect is to be had by me, inasmuch 
 as I hare already enjoyed it." The plural form 
 is here used for the singular. 
 
 6. Sed] " But all these considerations seem 
 cold and empty to me, recollecting that I shall 
 assist the daughter of Corellia. 
 
 10. quern] " whom I, when I had begun to 
 seek him from admiration, contrary to what 
 usually happens, admired still more, after I knew 
 him intimately." 
 
 13. nihil] " he "kept nothing secret." 
 
 16. vt] " as to one of the same age." 
 
 20. in inchoandis] sc. honoribus. " in enter- 
 ing on the duties of office," 
 
 20. in omnibus] " on all occasions pertaining 
 to my interests." 
 
 22. Quantum'] " How much did he con- 
 tribute to my reputation." 
 
 deinde] "then with that solemnity which you 
 remember." 
 
 xxix. 3. parcius] " that I should praise Se- 
 cundus sparingly." 
 
 5. Qua] " By which expression he attrib- 
 uted to me a merit, which it would have been 
 unreasonable even to have asked for." 
 
 1 1. Quod] " when I remember this, I feel that 
 I must exert myself, lest I seem in any respect 
 to have belied the confidence of so prudent a 
 person." 
 
NOTES. 109 
 
 15. quanquam] arrange thus : " quanquam ar- 
 bitror me consequuturum esse non solum veniam, 
 sed etiam laudem, apud istum ipsum, a quo, ut 
 ais, nova lis fortasse, ut feminae, intendetur, si 
 contigerit rnihi dicere haec eadem in actione, 
 latius scilicet et uberius quam angustiae episto- 
 larum sinunt, vel in meam excusationem vel 
 etiam in meam commendationem." " Though 
 I think I shall obtain not only forgiveness, but 
 even honor, in the sight of him by whom, as you 
 say, a new kind of action is brought, as being 
 against a woman, if it shall happen to me to say 
 those same things," &c. Some peculiar privi- 
 leges were granted to matrons by the Romao 
 law. 
 
 Letter 3. 
 
 The principal subject of this letter is a discus- 
 sion which took place in the Senate, in conse- 
 quence of the authority assumed by Trebonius 
 Rufinus to forbid the continuance of a gymnic 
 contest in Vienna, where it had been celebrated 
 for many years. 
 
 24. ihterfui] " I was lately present at a 
 court held by our excellent prince, being one of 
 his counsellors." 
 
 xxx. 1. ex] " according to the bequest of 
 some individual." The town of Vienna now 
 9* 
 
j 10 NOTES. 
 
 called Vienne, is situated on the Loire in 
 France. 
 
 3. in] " in his duumvirate." The duumvirs 
 were provincial magistrates with joint" authority. 
 
 6. Commendabat] " This circumstance re- 
 commended his cause, that, 55 &c. 
 
 8. Quum] " when the opinions of the judges 
 were called for. 55 
 
 11. agona] Greek accusative. 
 
 14. Idem.] sc. loquebatur. 
 
 16. Vcjento] " V. was next, and even reclined 
 on his breast.' 5 Each inclinium or sofa accom- 
 modated three persons, each of whom leaned on 
 his left elbow, and used his right hand in con- 
 veying the food to his mouth. In this arrange- 
 ment the head of one came in front of the breast 
 of the one above him. The character of Ve- 
 jento was infamous as that of a flatterer of the 
 great, and an informer against innocent persons. 
 
 21. Sccpius] " He was often hurled by 
 Domitian against the best men in the community, 
 just as missiles are thrown without themselves 
 seeing or intending the blow." 
 
 26. quid] " what can we suppose this man 
 would now suffer if he were alive?" "He 
 would be dining with us," answered Mauricus. 
 
 xxxi. 2. longius] I have digressed far, but 
 not undesignedly. 
 
 3. ut] " as this of ours does the manners of 
 all." 
 
NOTES. HI 
 
 Letter 4. 
 
 Describes a singular phenomenon exhibited 
 by a spring at Corno. 
 
 13. Hujus] " The nature of this is remarka- 
 ble : for thrice in a day, it rises and falls by reg- 
 ular increase and diminution." 
 
 18. interim] " meanwhile it is diminished or 
 increased by certain regular and measured 
 amounts." 
 
 21. ac] " and at last is covered." 
 
 xxxii. 1. Spiritusne] Pliny here proposes 
 five explanations, with neither of which he seems 
 entirely satisfied, arid which in truth are not 
 very satisfactory. The first is that the water 
 may be acted on by some air or gas, like the 
 fluid struggling to escape from a narrow mouthed 
 bottle. The second refers it to the same cause 
 which produces the ebb and flow of the sea. 
 The third to some cause acting as the wind does 
 on the motion of rivers. The fourth to some 
 other spring which feeds it when full, but at in- 
 tervals withholds its supplies. The fifth to some 
 balancing or alternating source which fills it by 
 emptying and exhausts it when itself fills. Simi- 
 lar springs to that here described are not uncom- 
 mon. That at Corno still exists, to excite the 
 curiosity and exercise the philosophy of travel- 
 lers. 
 
 3. prout] " according as it is thrown in or 
 driven out." 
 
112 NOTES. 
 
 5. quibus] " to which the exit is not wide or 
 at once open." 
 
 6. Nam] u For these too, though prone and 
 inclined downwards, by the obstacles of the re- 
 sisting air, check what they pour forth, as it 
 were, with frequent sobs." 
 
 10. quaq] " and by whatever means that is 
 impelled or reabsorbed, by the same means is 
 this small body of water alternately suppressed 
 and supplied? " 
 
 14. retorquentur] " are forced back." 
 16. An latentibus] "or is there a certain 
 measure only in some secret veins, which while 
 it collects what it had lost, the stream flows less 
 and slower ; and when it has collected it bursts 
 forth full and rapid " 1 
 
 19. libr anient wn\ " balancing force." 
 21. quum] il when it is filled, obstructs and 
 checks it." 
 
 BOOK V.— Letter 1. 
 
 Narrative of the circumstances under which 
 a legacy had been left him by Curianus. 
 
 xxxiii. 3. AmpUssimu] " More agreeable 
 than the largest." 
 
NOTES. 113 
 
 9. Segue] " and aid him by setting this ex- 
 ample to the co-heirs: and promised that the 
 amount should be returned to me under a private 
 contract." 
 
 11. nori\ " that it did not suit my character." 
 
 13. prmterca] " besides, that it was not very 
 reputable to give to one both rich and childless," 
 since he would be suspected of having an eye 
 to the inheritance. 
 
 14. in summd] " in fine that it would not 
 profit him for me to give ; but that it would do 
 so if I should yield my claim ; that I was pre- 
 pared to do this, if it could appear plain to me 
 that he was unjustly disinherited." 
 
 18. Rogo] " I beg you to examine the case." 
 
 21. non] "that firmness will not be wanting 
 to me, if my honest belief should so lead me, to 
 decide in conformity with your mother." 
 
 xxxiv. 3. Respondi] " I answered in a few 
 words, (for there was no one else who could 
 sustain the cause of the deceased Corellia,) then 
 retired, and in conformity with the opinion of my 
 counsellors." 
 
 8. cum~\ "entered an action against the other 
 heirs in the cennial court, but not against me." 
 For the constitution of this court see notes to 
 Book III. Letter 3. 
 
 10. Compouere] " to compromise and arrange 
 the affair." 
 
 13. ne] " lest, by the judgment of the centumvirs 
 they should be found guilty of a capital crime." 
 In these times it was made a crime to have en- 
 
114 NOTES. 
 
 joyed the friendship of persons who had fallen 
 under the displeasure of the emperor. Such 
 was the case with Rusticus and his wife Gratida ; 
 the former had been put to deatli by Domitian 
 and the latter banished. 
 
 14. Et] and there were some among them. 
 
 19. her'edem ex asse] " heir to the last far- 
 thing :" " sole heir." 
 
 26. omnia] " and that I have had all these 
 things in use." A title from use could be ob- 
 tained in movable property in three years ; in 
 unmovables in ten and twenty according as the 
 party, possessing the prior right, were present or 
 absent. 
 
 xxxv. 1. utque] " and that your regard for 
 me may not cause you any loss, I offer you the 
 same proportion of my part." 
 
 5. et] and unless I flatter myself, he pointed 
 in this marked attention to my former conduct 
 towards him. 
 
 12. ut] " that it matters not to me." 
 
 Letter 2. 
 
 Describes the situation and beauty of his 
 Tuscan villa, in answer to his friend who had 
 endeavored to convince him that the location 
 was unhealthy. 
 
 21. Scd hi] "But this Tusci." The name 
 appears to have been applied to the whole of Etru- 
 ria, as well as to the town in which was Pliny's 
 
NOTES. 115 
 
 villa. In both senses the word fundi, " farms, " 
 seems to be understood. 
 
 24. accipe] " hear me describe the mildness 
 of the climate." 
 
 xxxvi. 2. qumque] " and other things which 
 depend on continual heat." 
 
 7. Semper'] " The air is always moved by 
 some breath ; but more frequently exhibits 
 breezes than gales." 
 
 13. et] " and such as the nature of things 
 alone can produce." 
 
 21. opimamque] and mature a rich harvest 
 only more slowly, but not less successfully. 
 
 24. quarum] " on the boundary and lower 
 margin of which grew shrubs." 
 
 xxxvu. 3. ut nono] " that it can only be 
 subdued by the ninth ploughing." 
 
 7. quia] " because the sloping ground pours 
 into the Tiber whatever moisture it receives and 
 does not absorb." 
 
 11. (Estate] "in summer it subsides and in its 
 dry bed loses the character of* a great river 
 which in autumn it regains." 
 
 15. formam] " a picture." 
 
 19. Tusciilams] se fundes " to my estates at 
 Tusculura, Tiber and Praeneste." 
 
 22. nulla] no necessity for wearing the toga ; 
 no client waiting at your elbow. 
 
 xxxvm. 1. met] se famuli. 
 
 3. venia] " may the expression be pardon." 
 To boast of one's good fortune was held a bad 
 omen. 
 
1X6 NOTES. 
 
 Letter 3. 
 
 In answer to his friend who had urged him to 
 undertake a history, he pleads in excuse the 
 number of his engagements, and takes occasion 
 to describe the peculiar talents required by the 
 historian, and in what respect his task differs 
 from that of the orator. 
 
 10. id] for it were rash to believe this with- 
 out having tried the experiment. 
 
 11. no7i] "not to suffer those events to perish 
 to which universality is due." 
 
 15. prasertim] especially of one who. 
 
 17. si] " if by any means I may be able to 
 raise myself also from the dust. This satisfies 
 my desire, the rest is beyond my ambition to fly 
 victorious through the mouths of men. Yet 
 6, &c. The passages quoted are from Virgil. 
 
 23. historia] " history in whatever manner 
 written is pleasing." 
 
 xxxix. I. et] "and are captivated by a rela- 
 tion of events however naked." 
 
 11. ne] "lest so much labor should perish 
 with me, in consequence of my not adding that 
 portion of study which remains. For if you have 
 regard to posterity, that which is not finished 
 passes for not begun." 
 
 20. quid] " what an orator ought to perform." 
 
 24. Narrat] "An oration relates events ; his- 
 tory also relates, but differently." It is proper 
 to observe in the sentences which follow that 
 
NOTES. 117 
 
 hie means the latter referring to history, and 
 ille the former, to oratory. 
 
 25. Hide] To history belong many things 
 low and mean, and taken from common life : to 
 oratory are suited all far-fetched, noble, elevated 
 subjects. 
 
 xl. 2. tori] " brawn and mane," that is, 
 " beauty and ornament." 
 
 6. plurimum] it matters much, as Thucydides 
 says, whether it be a permanent work or a single 
 effort. 
 
 10. et\ "and differing in this very circum- 
 stance that both are very important." 
 
 12. ibi] " I do in one what I ought to do in 
 the other." 
 
 12. Ideoque] Therefore, not to depart from my 
 usual form of expression, I will request, mean- 
 while, a delay of action. 
 
 15. quce] "what period we shall choose in 
 preference." 
 
 16. paratd] " the investigation is open, but 
 the collecting of the facts is laborious." 
 
 23. est] " for I have sufficient courage in 
 proportion to my confidence in myself." 
 
 23. Illud] " This I ask, that you would pro- 
 vide and choose materials for what you urge." 
 
 Letter 4. 
 
 Lamenting the death of his friend's daughter, 
 and advising Marcellinus as to the best mode of 
 administering consolation. 
 10 
 
118 NOTES. 
 
 xli. 3. qua] than which young lady I have 
 never seen any thing more cheerful, more 
 amiable, more worthy, not only of long life, but 
 even of immortality. 
 
 15. novissimam] her last illness. 
 
 xlil 12. pietatis] "is wholly given up to 
 paternal affection." 
 
 14. qua] " who represented his character not 
 less than his face and expression, and who had 
 copied her father with wonderful likeness." 
 
 19. Quod] "Time will do much toward 
 enabling him to sustain even this." 
 
 24. et] " and gently acquiesces in those ap- 
 plied." 
 
 BOOK VI.— Letter I. 
 
 Account of the eruption of mount Vesuvius 
 which destroyed Pompeii, and which was fatal 
 to Pliny the naturalist, the uncle of Coecilius. 
 
 xltti. 6. Quamvls] "For although he died 
 in such a manner as that he will always live in 
 the record of the destruction of this beautiful 
 country as people and cities are immortalized by 
 a remarkable event." 
 
 13. ant] "either to do things worthy to be 
 written, or to write things worthy to be read." 
 
NOTES. 119 
 
 17. Erat] " He was at Misenum and was 
 commanding the fleet in person." 
 
 18. Nono] That is nono die ante Kalendas 
 Septembris, "the ninth day before the Kalends 
 of September, or the 23d of August." 
 
 20. Usus] He having enjoyed the sun, and 
 afterward the cold water, had taken a meal, and 
 was studying. 
 
 24, incertum] it was doubtful to those viewing 
 at a distance, from what mountain. 
 
 xlif. 5. Credo] " I suppose because elevated by 
 the force of the blast, then deserted by it as it 
 failed, or borne down by its own weight, it dis- 
 appeared in a lateral direction." 
 
 9. Magnum] "It seemed to him as a phi- 
 losopher, remarkable and worth examining 
 closely." 
 
 11. mihi] " he gives me leave, if I wished, to 
 go with him." 
 
 14. Retina] Those on board the fleet be- 
 longing to Retina. 
 
 18. et] and what he had commenced from 
 curiosity merely, he perseveres in from benevo- 
 lence. Maximo with animo understood means 
 with the highest motive. 
 
 19. JJeducit] He carries down his galleys, 
 and goes on board himself 
 
 20.' erat] for the pleasantness of the shore 
 caused it to be thickly settled. 
 
 22. rectum recta] these adjectives may 
 
 be rendered adverbially " directly." 
 
 24. ut] "that he dictated and noted all the 
 
120 NOTES. 
 
 changes, all the forms of the phenomenon, as he 
 observed them with his eyes." 
 
 26. qud] " as he approached nearer." 
 
 xlv. 3. Jam] " There was now a sudden 
 shoaling of the water, and the shore was ob- 
 structed by the fall of the mountain." In other 
 words, such quantities of stones and fragments 
 were thrown down from the crater into the sea, 
 that they filled up the harbor, and produced a 
 shoal, where before was abundant water. 
 
 7. Stabiis] " He, i. e. Pomponianus was at 
 Stabise separated by the intervening bay. For 
 there, the shore winding and curving inward, 
 the sea is rolled in." Stabise is now called 
 Castel a mar di Stabia. 
 
 11. sarcinas] "had collected his baggage 
 into vessels secure of escape, if the wind, now 
 contrary, should subside, with which wind blow- 
 ing exactly fair, my uncle having entered the 
 port." 
 
 21. excildbatur~\ "was augmented." 
 
 23. in remedium] " in order to dissipate their 
 alarm." 
 
 25. meatus] "the passage of his breath." 
 
 xlvi. L. Sed] " But the passage by which the 
 eating room was approached was so rilled up." 
 The Roman houses were so constructed, that 
 different rooms were often separated by passages 
 entirely exposed to the open air. 
 
 7. intra]' "whether to remain within the 
 house or to go abroad." 
 
 9. et] " and as if moved from their places 
 
NOTES. ]21 
 
 seemed to totter hither and thither. In the 
 open air, on the contrary, was to be feared the 
 fall of the pumice stones, though light and 
 porous. A comparison of dangers, however, 
 decided this to be the least ; and while one 
 reason conquered another in him, one fear pre- 
 vailed over another in his companions." 
 16. decidtnlia] " the falling fragments." 
 19. solvehant] " relieved." 
 21. vastum] "rough and dangerous." 
 xlvit. 1. crassiore] " his breath being ob- 
 structed by the dense smoke, and his stomach 
 closed, which was naturally weak and subject to 
 nausea, and frequently foaming up." Pliny seems 
 to think that the flatulency, with which his uncle 
 was habitually affected, rendered him more 
 liable to suffocation. 
 
 6. habitus'] "the general aspect of the body 
 was more like one asleep than dead." 
 12. vere] "that 1 have truly stated." 
 
 Letter 2. 
 
 Sequel to the account contained in Letter 
 17th. 
 
 19. quos] "what fears and dangers I ex- 
 perienced, being left at Misenum." 
 
 21. Quanquam] " Though my soul trembles 
 to remember." 
 
 xlviii. 6. Surgebam] " I was rising, intend- 
 ing to rouse her had she been asleep." 
 10* 
 
122 NOTES. 
 
 15. illius] " reproves her indifference and my 
 insensibility to the danger." 
 
 16. Jam] " Now was the first hour of day," 
 probably 7 o'clock. 
 
 19. quanquam] " although in an open place, 
 yet from its narrowness there was great and 
 imminent danger of destruction." 
 
 21. visum] " it seemed best." 
 
 xlix. 2. ac nt] " and though supported by 
 stones would not rest in the same track." 
 
 7. ab] "on the other side, a black and fright- 
 ful cloud of fire, broken into contorted and 
 quivering flashes, divided into long divergent 
 flames, like lightning, but still more terrific." 
 
 13. si periit] "if he has perished, he must 
 have wished you to survive him." 
 
 15. non] " that we should not allow ourselves, 
 while uncertain about his fate, to provide for our 
 own." 
 
 18. descendere] sc. ccepit, "began to de- 
 scend." 
 
 20. quod procurrit] " the part which pro- 
 jects," "the promontory." 
 
 22. posse] " for that I being young could 
 do so." 
 
 24. Ego contra] Sc. disci, " I replied." 
 26. addere] " to quicken her pace." 
 
 I. 3. torrentis] " pouring on the ground in 
 the manner of a river." 
 
 4. dam] " while we can see our way." 
 
 II. hi] "these lamented their own misfor- 
 tunes, others those of their friends." 
 
NOTES. 123 
 
 14. plures] "many said that there were no 
 longer any gods, and anticipated that eternal 
 and last night to the world." 
 
 19. et] "the fire however stopped at a dis- 
 tance." 
 
 li. 4. Occursabant] " All things appeared 
 changed to our still terrified eyes." 
 
 9. et] " and many, bewildered by their ter- 
 rific anticipations, imagined dangers both to 
 themselves and to others." 
 
 11. Nobis ne . . . . abeundi consilium] "We 
 resolved not to depart." 
 
 15. et] " and you will charge it to yourself, 
 who requested the account" 
 
 BOOK VII.— Letter 1. 
 
 Conduct proper to be maintained in sickness. 
 
 22. ne quid] " lest something should be pos- 
 sible to it, or lest it should exert some influence, 
 even over your character." 
 
 lii. 3. Ipse] " I myself, when well, am ac- 
 customed to deal with my friends in this man- 
 ner." 
 
 8. sciantque] "and recollect, if you allow 
 me any thing improper, I shall resent it as 
 much as others are wont to do what is denied 
 them." 
 
 11. tandem] "at length relieved and anoint- 
 ed." Inunction of the skin was recommended 
 as a remedy in many diseases. 
 
124 NOTES. 
 
 12. porrexi] "I offered my hand, and de- 
 sired he would feel my pulse." When fever was 
 present, the use of liquids was thought to be 
 injurious. 
 
 15. mussantesque] " whispering." 
 
 18. Atque] "And thus having calmly and 
 gently given up the use of the bath, into which 
 I seemed just going to enter, 1 made up my 
 mind," &c. 
 
 Letter 2. 
 
 Suggesting to his friend a plan of study to be 
 pursued in the country. 
 
 liii. 7. prcEtered] "and by the imitation of 
 the best models, the power of inventing similar 
 things is acquired." 
 
 9. simul] " at the same time, those things 
 which escape you in reading, cannot escape you 
 in translating." 
 
 11. Nihil] "It will do no harm to write off 
 what you have read, so far as to catch the 
 subject and the course of argument, to compare 
 the result with the original as read, and to 
 weigh carefully what you, and what the author, 
 has expressed most happily." 
 
 21. quosqiit] "and to have surpassed those 
 whom they held it sufficient to follow, since they 
 did not despair." 
 
 24. alia] " to interline some things and re- 
 write others." 
 
NOTES. 125 
 
 liv. 1. recalescere] "to warm anew and re- 
 vive your broken and lost zeal; in fine, to add 
 new members to the body already completed, yet 
 not confuse the whole." 
 
 10. locum] "a passage from history." 
 
 16. sed] " but with that brief and pointed kind 
 which so conveniently diversifies all kinds of 
 occupations and cares." 
 
 22. mollis] "if soft and yielding it follow skil- 
 ful fingers, and ordered becomes a work of art." 
 
 lv. 4. doctd] " by acquired versatility." 
 
 7. ut his] " how by these small works the 
 mind is both exerted and relaxed. For they 
 include as subjects, love," &c. 
 
 13. quod] " that having been fettered by the 
 necessity of regular measure, we enjoy a freer 
 language." » 
 
 24. dum] " while I direct you how to study, 
 I have taken from you the time for studying." 
 
 25. Quin] " Why not then resume your 
 note-book." 
 
 Letter 3. 
 
 He returns the work of Tacitus to its author 
 with his remarks ; and requests a similar crit- 
 icism on a production of his own. 
 
 lvi. 11. vices] " interchange of good offices." 
 lvii. 1. quod] "that I immediately occur to 
 those speaking about you." 
 
 1. Nee] "Nor are there wanting those who 
 
J26 NOTES. 
 
 are preferred to either of us. But it matters not 
 to me in what place we are united. For that 
 will be first to me which is next to you." 
 
 5. nisi] "unless some one happens to be 
 particularly friendly to one of us." 
 
 7. hue] " tend to this point." 
 
 Letter 4. 
 
 Pliny takes occasion, from the illness of a 
 friend, to speak of the effect of bodily disease 
 on the character, and of the duty of keeping in 
 health the resolutions we form in sickness. 
 
 16. et] "and however little he has, he holds 
 it sufficient, as being about to quit it." 
 
 Iff. Tunc] " Then he remembers that there 
 are gods, and that he is a man." 
 
 lviii. 3. ut] "that when well we should per- 
 severe in being such, as we promise to be when 
 sick." 
 
 Letter 5. 
 
 The subject is the prosecution of Belius 
 Massa, at the suit of the Provinci Betica, in 
 Spain, and the proceedings of the senate there- 
 upon. It is addressed to the historian Tacitus, 
 by whom he wishes the facts contained in it to 
 be recorded. 
 
 12. Demonstro] " I declare then, though it 
 cannot escape your research since it appears in 
 
NOTES. 127 
 
 the public records, I declare it however that you 
 may the more believe me, that it will be agreea- 
 ble to me, if you will illustrate by your genius, 
 your testimony, my late act, the popularity of 
 which was increased by the hazard which at- 
 tended it." 
 
 21. consules] "that the consuls would listen 
 to complaints." 
 
 lix. 1. ne] "that those may not permit the 
 property to be wasted in whose custody it ought 
 to be." 
 
 3. dispice] " consider, whether you would not 
 judge our duty to be closed, the action of the 
 senate being terminated." 
 
 5. cut] " you who have no attachment to the 
 province except from your own benefit and that 
 a recent one." 
 
 14. impietatis] " accuses him of impiety." 
 The precise crime here referred to is not agreed 
 upon. It is said however that the charge of un- 
 natural cruelty had been a frequent, and from 
 its vagueness a very dangerous one, under many 
 of the Emperors, but that it was abolished or at 
 least discountenanced under Nerva and Trajan. 
 
 17. prcBvaricationein] " will throw on me the 
 suspicion of double dealing since he has not 
 accused me also." Pliny was resolved that he 
 would not by holding back shelter himself from 
 the danger to which he saw his friend exposed. 
 The term praevaricatio was employed, when a 
 pleader, betraying his client, so managed the 
 cause as to give the advantage to his opponent. 
 
128 NOTES. 
 
 19. Divus] This term was applied to all the 
 emperors. 
 
 20. privatus] " while a private individual." 
 
 24. simile] " an example similar to those of 
 antiquity." 
 
 25. utcunque] " however they have them- 
 selves," " whatever merit they possess." 
 
 BOOK VIII.— Letter 1. 
 
 Describing the singular beauty of the fountain 
 and river Clitumnus. 
 
 lx. 9. Hunc] " Beneath this a spring comes 
 forth, and is pressed out from several unequal 
 veins ; and, having forced its way, makes a 
 channel." 
 
 15. Fons\ " Now a fountain and now a 
 large river and able to bear vessels ; which 
 though opposite and tending in different direc- 
 tions it transmits and sustains; so powerful though 
 passing over a level bed," that is, over a bed 
 nearly level, " that in the direction in which it 
 naturally tends it is not aided by oars ; and 
 when adverse is scarcely overcome by oars and 
 poles. To those floating for amusement it is 
 equally agreeable according as they direct their 
 course to exchange labor for rest and rest for 
 labor." 
 
NOTES. 129 
 
 lxi. 7. Glitumnus] A statue of the presiding 
 Deity. 
 
 8. Prasens] <( That there is a presiding 
 divinity and that prophetic, the oracles given 
 amply attest." 
 
 14. Is] " The bridge forms the line of sep- 
 aration between the sacred and profane part of 
 the river." 
 
 17. Hispellates] The inhabitants of Hispel- 
 lum, now called Ispello. 
 
 25. qua] " such is your politeness." This 
 fountain still continues an interesting object of 
 attention to travellers. 
 
 Letter 2. 
 
 This letter describes the extensive mischief 
 which had been caused by an inundation of the 
 Tiber and the Anio. 
 
 lxii. 5. Quanquam] " Though drawn off 
 by a ditch which our emperor in his wisdom 
 caused to be made." 
 
 10. atque] " and thus covers with the waters 
 of other streams the fields which it does not 
 itself touch." 
 
 17. hi] " those whom, from their elevated 
 situations, the storm did not reach." 
 
 25. Nam] "for instead of inundation there 
 was continual rain, and whirlpools thrown down 
 from the clouds." 
 
 lxiii. 5. Ne quid] " I fear lest something 
 11 
 
130 NOTES. 
 
 like this may have happened there in proportion 
 to the degree of your exposure to danger." 
 
 9. patiaris] whether you suffer evils or an- 
 ticipate them. 
 
 Letter 3. 
 
 Describes the curiosities of lake Vadimon now 
 Bassano. 
 
 15. Ad] The same objects to examine which 
 we are used to make journeys and traverse seas, 
 we neglect when placed before our eyes. 
 
 lxiv. 2. audita] " we should have heard, read, 
 examined." 
 
 5. ut] " that I should examine his Amerian 
 estate." 
 
 12. Spatium] " The extent is moderate, but 
 sufficient to feel the winds and to swell with 
 waves." 
 
 15. sed] " but there are grassy islands floating 
 upon it covered with reed and rushes and what- 
 ever else the rich bottom, and margin of the 
 lake produces," 
 
 17. Sua] Each has its own form and size. 
 
 lxv. 1. qua] "where they stop extend the 
 shore, and thus augment and diminish the lake 
 now here and now there ; and it is only when 
 they have gained the middle, that they do not 
 contract its dimensions." 
 
 9. mox] "afterward landing wherever the 
 wind carries them, they no more perceive that 
 
NOTES. 131 
 
 they have left the island than they did their 
 embarking." 
 
 12. alteque] " and flows deeply concealed ; 
 and whatever it has had thrown into it, before 
 it withdrew itself it retains and brings out." 
 
 Letter 4. 
 
 He describes the character of those who are 
 severe in judging of the faults of others, but 
 indulgent to their own. 
 
 19. Nostine] " Do you know.' 5 
 
 lxvi. 4. teneamus] let us maintain. 
 
 10. Sed melius] " but of this subject better 
 when we meet ; though on second thoughts not 
 even then. For I fear lest to reprove carp re- 
 peat what I disapprove may itself be at variance 
 with my precepts." 
 
 14. quem] whom to mention belongs to ex- 
 ample ; not to mention to politeness. 
 
 Letter 5. 
 
 Exhorting Maximius to treat with mildness 
 the citizens of Achaia, and reminding him of 
 the ancient power and glory of Greece. 
 
 lxvit. 8. nihil] " abridge nothing." 
 12. qua] which did not receive laws when 
 conquered, but gave them to us asking. 
 
132 NOTES. 
 
 20. non id] " not so as to despise it because 
 it has ceased to be such." 
 
 24. male] aliorum belongs to contumeliis. 
 " Authority ill displays its power by the insults 
 which it heaps on others." 
 
 lxviti. 5. ac\ " and to' consider with yourself." 
 
 7. nam] " for what more worthy of a state 
 than good regulation?" 
 
 10. onerat] "loads you," "imposes obliga- 
 tions upon you." 
 
 14. Quo] " Wherefore the greater effort must 
 be made, lest you should fear to be more hu- 
 mane, better, and more judicious, in a distant 
 than in a suburban province, among slaves than 
 freemen, when sent by lot than when selected 
 by judgment, when new to office and unknown, 
 than when tried and approved." Alluding to his 
 questorship in JBithynia, which was at a greater 
 distance from the city, the people of a more 
 servile character, and to which as questor he had 
 been sent by lot. 
 
 BOOK IX.— Letter 1. 
 
 Pliny advises those not capable of attaining 
 great distinction to be content with mediocrity. 
 
 lxix. 3. Alius] " Another may judge differ- 
 ently, but I esteem him happiest who enjoys the 
 
NOTES. 133 
 
 anticipation," &c. After alium the words homi- 
 nem bcatissimum are to be supplied. 
 
 9. et] sc. oportet, " and it behoves some to try 
 to exert themselves ; others lo rest, to be relaxed, 
 and not to wear out a short life in works destined 
 to perish." 
 
 13. ad] " to arrive at a mean estimation of 
 themselves." 
 
 16. ul] " since you are ever meditating." 
 
 Letter 2. 
 
 Recommending mildness to parents in reprov- 
 ing the faults of their children. 
 
 19. Castigabat] " Was harshly censuring." 
 lxx. 4. Non\ "Does not one indulge himself 
 
 in this, another in that?" 
 
 8. atque] " and so use the circumstance of 
 
 your being a father." 
 
 Letter 3. 
 
 The object of this letter is to reconcile Sa- 
 binianus to his freedman, who had incurred his 
 displeasure. 
 
 12. Libertus] Concerning the relation of 
 freed man see notes to B. XI. L. 6. 
 
 16. Vere] " I consider him truly amended 
 because he feels that he has done amiss." 
 
 24. ne] " do not torture him:" 
 11* 
 
134 NOTES. 
 
 lxxi. 5. Hoc] " This I said to him, whom it 
 was proper to terrify, but not the same to you." 
 
 Letter 4. 
 
 To acknowledge the attention which had been 
 paid by Sabinianus to his last letter. 
 
 18. ut te] " that you show yourself placable 
 to the faults of your dependents, though there 
 should be no one to intercede." 
 
 Letter 5. 
 Difference between true and false generosity. 
 
 lxxii. 6. Hos] "I consider these men, with 
 their baited and hooked gifts, not to put forth 
 their own so much as to seize that of others." 
 
 7. Sunt] " Those are of similar temper who 
 give to one what they take from another." 
 
 17. ut] " that they seem to be possessed 
 rather than to possess." 
 
 Letter 6. 
 
 Account of a remarkable dolphin which made 
 its appearance at Hippo on the Barbary coast. 
 
 21. isto] sc tuo. 
 
 22. Incidi] " I met with it however, while 
 various wonderful stories are told from various 
 authorities at dinner." 
 
NOTES. 135 
 
 lxxiii. 4. quod] " which by turns as the tide 
 checks or urges it." 
 
 7. Omnis] " Every age is interested in the 
 amusement." 
 
 9. His] " Their glory and courage is to go 
 out as far as possible." 
 
 13. et nunc] sc coepit. 
 
 21. si quid] whatever resembles sea, viz. the 
 bays, &c. 
 
 25. variosqne] " and weaves and unweaves 
 various circles." 
 
 lxxiv. 3. pertrectantque] "and handle him, 
 offering himself to be touched." 
 
 9. dextrd IcDvdque] " on the right and left 
 side." 
 
 17. ubi] *.' when it grew warm." 
 
 18. Constat] " It appears that Octavius Avi- 
 tus, the proconsul's lieutenant, through some 
 foolish superstition, poured ointment on him as 
 he lay stretched on the shore, the novelty and 
 odor of which he fled from into the deep." 
 
 lxxv. 2. Placuit] " It was thought best 
 that the animal should be secretly destroyed, to 
 see which such a concourse was made." 
 
 Letter 7, 
 
 Describes particularly the mode in which he 
 passes his time in his Tuscan villa. 
 
 10 horam primam] that is the first hour after 
 sunrise, for the Romans divided the time from 
 
136 NOTES. 
 
 sunrise to sunset, whether longer or shorter, into 
 twelve hours. 
 
 16. Cogito] "I think over whatever I have 
 on hand, word for word, like one writing and 
 correcting." 
 
 19. et] " and admitting the daylight, I dictate 
 what I had composed." 
 
 23. xystum] 4< *the xystum was a place of re- 
 sort in fine weather ; the cryptoporticum, or 
 covered portico, in the rain." 
 
 lxxvi. 2. Durat] " The activity of my 
 mind continues, being repaired by change of 
 place." 
 
 22. quorum] " whose rustic complaints recom- 
 mend by contrast my literary pursuits and those 
 refined occupations." 
 
 Letter 8. 
 
 Modifications of the plan last mentioned 
 adopted at his Tusculan villa in winter. 
 
 lxxvii. 3. otium] " I passed my leisure 
 time in summer." 
 
 7. et si] " and if there occurs a necessity for 
 pleading, which often happens in winter." 
 
 14. ut] " although they lose nothing of the 
 day, they still gain something from the night." 
 
NOTES. 137 
 
 BOOK X.— Letter 1. 
 
 This Letter appears to consist of two portions, 
 bearing different dates. The first contains an 
 account of his arrival in Bithynia. The second 
 requests that an engineer may be sent to him to 
 examine into the state of certain public works. 
 
 Lxvin. 4. xv] that is, quinto decimo die ante 
 Kalendas Octobres. This would be the 17th 
 of September. 
 
 11. ex] " from the examination itself." 
 
 13. H<zc] Here begins the second portion of 
 the Letter. 
 
 2L ratione] " the account." 
 
 Letter 2. 
 
 The Emperor, in reply, approves of his dili- 
 gence in examining the accounts, but advises 
 him to find an engineer in the province itself. 
 
 24. sine] " without injury to your person or 
 that of your friends." 
 
 • lxxix. 4. prospectum] " that it has been pro- 
 vided for them by me;" "that their interest 
 has been looked to by me." 
 
 5, dabis] " you will take care." 
 
 13. modo] " provided you will seek for them." 
 
138 
 
 Letter 3. 
 
 Relates a severe conflagration which had 
 occurred at Nicomedia, and suggests the ex- 
 pediency of forming a fire company, properly 
 provided and equipped for service. 
 
 23. Sipho] The precise construction of the 
 ancient fire engine is not known. Probably it 
 resembled, in its essential particulars, those of 
 the present day. 
 
 lxxx. 2. fabroruni\ "of engineers." 
 
 Letter 4. 
 
 The Emperor, in reply, discourages the 
 formation of an organized company, but ad- 
 vises such other precautions as the circum- 
 stances render expedient. 
 
 11. factionibus] "by organized bodies of 
 that kind." 
 
 13. hetcerice] i( political parties." 
 
 16. ut] " that they prevent the occurrence of 
 fire." 
 
 Letter 5. 
 
 Mentioning the unsuccessful attempts which 
 had been made to build an aqueduct for the 
 introduction of water into Nicomedia, and re- 
 questing permission to renew the undertaking. 
 
NOTES. 139 
 
 20. HS.] To be read " 30,328 sesterces." 
 The letters H S, were a corruption of I I S, 
 signifying two and a half. The value of the 
 sestertius was in fact two and a half Roman 
 pena, or three cents, six mills. CC below seems 
 to have millia understood, and to mean 200,000 
 sesterces. 
 
 lxxxi. 5. arcuato] " by an arched work so 
 that the water may not be confined to the level 
 and low grounds of the town." The magnifi- 
 cence and expense with which the aqueducts of 
 the Romans were constructed, and which ren- 
 ders their ruins, perhaps, the most remarkable 
 monuments of antiquity, was owing to their 
 ignorance of the apparently simple principle, 
 that water, in whatever direction it has been 
 conveyed, always tends to rise to the height of 
 its original source. Had they known this they 
 would never have deemed it necessary to build 
 arches to support their pipes, in order to give to 
 them a uniform inclination ; and those splendid 
 structures, the remains of which still astonish 
 the traveller, would never have existed. 
 
 9. testaceo] " of brickwork." 
 
 Letter 6. 
 
 Trajan directs Pliny, before undertaking the 
 work, to ascertain why so much money had 
 already been expended to no purpose. 
 
140 NOTES. 
 
 19. flfedius Fidius] A familiar adjuration, 
 equivalent to ' me Hercule,' by Hercules. 
 
 22. quum] " while they play into each other's 
 hands," " make the work a pretext for a job." 
 
 Letter 7. 
 
 Describing a lake on the borders of Nico- 
 media, and representing the advantages which 
 will accrue from connecting it with the sea by a 
 canal. 
 
 lxxxii. 3. demon sir are] " to point out works 
 not less worthy of your reputation than of your 
 present glory, and likely to have as much useful- 
 ness as beauty." 
 
 10. devehuntur] The sentence in which the 
 plan of the canal should be proposed, seems 
 to be wanting here. That which follows con- 
 tains an objection which he thinks may present 
 itself, and which he immediately answers. 
 
 23. hoc] this too may have happened, the 
 king being carried off by death, or the suc- 
 cess of the work being despaired of. 
 
 25. feres] " you will indulge me in my high 
 hopes." 
 
 Letter 8. 
 
 The Emperor advises to have the level of the 
 lake taken, since, if higher than the sea, the 
 water will discharge itself through the canal. 
 
NOTES. 141 
 
 Letter 9. 
 
 Asking counsel respecting the disposal of the 
 public funds. 
 
 16. nee inveniuntur\ " nor can those be found 
 who are willing to be creditors especially to 
 the state at 12 per cent, at which rate they 
 are borrowing from individuals." The reason 
 he immediately explains to be, that those who 
 borrowed public money were obliged to give 
 ample security, which in private transactions 
 was not so strictly enforced. 
 
 21. inter] "among the captains of com- 
 panies." It would seem from this passage 
 that those persons were to be made responsible 
 for the payment of the rate of interest, at what- 
 ever point it was fixed ; which, it seems, from 
 the next sentence, they were not very readily 
 disposed to do. 
 
 Letter 10. 
 
 The Emperor advises to reduce the rate of 
 interest, and disapproves of lending by com- 
 pulsion. 
 
 lxxxiv. 7. Modum] " You must graduate the 
 
 rate according to the supply of borrowers." In 
 
 modern times, the expedient would be to affix 
 
 a regular rate of interest to the stock, but to 
 
 12 
 
142 NOTES. 
 
 allow the price of the shares themselves to be 
 determined by the state of the market, which 
 seems more convenient. 
 
 Letter 11. 
 
 In answer to 10, and proposing means for 
 averting the danger therein named. 
 
 17. sed] " but by leaving a margin, as it 
 were, can be continuous with it, yet separated 
 from it." 
 
 lxxxv. 6. quod] " which, being cut off in 
 that direction, and directed as we wish, will 
 supply to the lake the whole quantity of water 
 which it now takes from it." This and the 
 two following expedients scarce do much credit 
 to Pliny's skill in engineering. 
 
 9. Enimvero] "In fact, if we should con- 
 clude to carry the canal further, and depress it 
 to the bed of the sea, and admit it, not into the 
 river but into the sea itself, the tide will retain 
 and restore whatever comes from the lake." 
 This was certainly a great mistake. 
 
 14. cataractis] " by locks." 
 
 Letter 12. 
 
 The emperor, in answer, leaves the choice of 
 means to his own discretion. 
 
143 
 
 Letter 13. 
 
 Pliny proposes to bring water into Sinope 
 ; (now Sinbred) by a cut of sixteen miles. 
 
 lxxxvi. 10. statim] "just at the head, about 
 a mile distant." 
 
 14. Pecunia] " The money shall be abun- 
 dantly furnished by my care." 
 
 Letter 14. 
 
 The emperor gives his consent to the enter- 
 prise, provided the means of the province are 
 sufficient to meet the expense. 
 
 lxxxvii. 2. viribus] " by its own resources." 
 

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