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HARVARD 
COLLEGE 
LIBRARY 


SELECTED  LETTERS 
OF  THE  YOUNGER  PLINY 


^(^ 


MACMILLAN  AND  CO.,  Limited 

LONDON  •  BOMBAY  •  CALCUTTA 
MBLBOUENB 

THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY 

NBW  YORK   •  BOSTON  •  CHICAGO 
ATLANTA  •  SAN  FRANCISCO 

THE  MACMILLAN  CO.  OF  CANADA,  Ltd. 

TORONTO 


(Slaasacd  Series. 

SELECTED   LETTEBS. 


OF 


THE   YOUNGER   PLINT^ 


BDRXD  BT 

ELMER  TRUESDELL  MERRILL 

ROBSRT-RICU  PBOFBOOB  OP  LATIN  IV  WMLBTAW   UHITBRfllTT 


MACMILLAN   AND   CO.,    LIMITED 

ST.    MARTIN'S   STREET.    LONDON 

1908 


T  '-'^  r 


First  Edition  190S. 
Reprinted  1908. 


OLAHOOW  :    PRIKTKD   AT  TUB    UNIVCMIT 
BV   ROBERT  MACLCHOHB  AND  CO.  L 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

PAOB 

Prbface, vii 

iNTBODncnoN, xiii 

Life  of  Pliny, xv 

Chronology  of  the  Letters,        .        -        .        .  xxxvii 

Inscription  concerning  Pliny,    ....  xl 

Manuscripts  of  the  Letters,      ....  xli 

Books  most  frequently  referred  to,  •  xlv 

List  of  MSS.  and  editions  cited,        ...  1 

Tkxt, 1 

Notes, 159 

Variations  from  Keil's  Text  of  1870,        -  447 

CoifPARATivB  Numbering  of  Letters,  -        -  450 

Index  of  Proper  Names, 452 

Index  of  Grammar  and  Style,     ....  45K 

Index  of  Subjects, 46G 


PREFACE. 

The  text  of  the  present  edition  is  constituted  on  the 
basis  of  new  and  complete  collations  of  most  of  the 
manuscripts  cited,  and  of  the  careful  study  to  a 
greater  or  less  extent  of  many  other  manuscripts  of 
the  Letters.  The  collations  were  made  during  the 
course  of  two  journeys  on  the  continent  of  Europe, 
one  in  1895,  and  another  (of  fourteen  months)  in 
1898-99,  which  were  chiefly  devoted  to  this  task.  I 
desire  to  acknowledge  the  great  kindness  and  courtesy 
shown  by  Father  Ehrle,  Prefect  of  the  Vatican 
Library,  by  the  Prefect  and  other  ofiicials  of  the 
Laurentian  and  Riccardian  Libraries  at  Florence,  and 
indeed  by  all  the  authorities  of  collections  of  manu- 
scripts to  whom  I  have  had  occasion  to  appeal  for 
permission  to  carry  on  my  work. 

The  collation  of  cod.  Vrbinas  lat.  1153  (Vaticanus, 
cited  as  a)  1  owe  to  the  skill  and  accuracy  as  well 
as  the  patient  interest  of  my  wife,  whose  keen  eve- 
sight  and  attention  were  also  expended  on  the  yet 
duller  task  of  reviewing  fnrefully  my  own  collations 
of  cod.  S.  Marci  284  (Ijaurentianus,  cited  as  F),  and 
cod.  Ashburnhamensis  98  (Laurentianus,  olim  Kicciir- 
diauus  et  Beluacensis,  cited  as  B).     My  collations  of 


viii  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE. 

cod.  Ottobonianus  lat.  1965  (Vaticanus,  cited  as  o),  of 
cod.  Mediceus  XLVii.  36  (Laurentianus,  cited  as  M), 
and  of  cod.  Vaticanus  lat.  3864  (cited  as  V),  have 
been  subjected  to  only  my  own  revision.  In  the  case 
of  the  letters  to  and  from  Trajan  I  have  personally 
determined  the  readings  of  the  Avantius  edition  of 
1502  (cited  as  A),  and  of  the  Aldus  of  1508  (cited  as  a), 
from  copies  of  these  books  in  my  own  possession. 
I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  examine  in  person  the 
manuscript  letters  and  readings  discovered  by  Mr. 
E.  6.  Hardy  in  the  Bodleian  Library,  and  described 
by  him  in  the  Jovmal  of  Phihlogy,  vol.  XVII.,  and  in 
his  edition  of  Pliny's  correspondence  with  Trajan 
(L.,  1889),  but  I  have  cited  some  of  the  readings  as 
given  by  him  in  these  works  (referring  to  the  MS.  as 
0).  Other  manuscripts  or  early  editions  are  but 
occasionally  quoted. 

A  school-edition  of  only  selections  from  the  letters 
is  no  place  in  which  to  defend  the  editor's  principles 
of  textual  judgment,  or  even  to  describe  them  at 
length.  For  a  full  judgment  of  the  relative  value  of 
Mss.  only  the  comparison  of  complete  collations  can 
suflSce.  I  must  therefore  be  permitted  to  refer  the 
reader  for  these  questions  to  a  critical  edition  of  the 
complete  correspondence  for  which  the  greater  part 
of  the  material  is  already  in  order,  and  which  I  hope 
to  publish  at  no  distant  date.  I  may  remark  here 
that  the  tradition  of  BP,  supported  as  it  so  often  is 
by  a,  apiK^ars  to  me  generally  preferable  to  that  of 
MV.  Accordingly  for  the  letters  after  v.  6,  where 
the  testimony  of  BF  ceases,  I  am  still  forced  in  many 


PREFACE.  ix 

cases  to  prefer  the  testimony  of  a  to  that  of  M,  in 
spite  of  the  fact  that  the  text  of  a  has  undergone  some 
editorial  revision.  In  general  it  seems  to  preserve  in 
the  later  books  the  tradition  carried  through  the 
hundred  letters  by  BF.  I  am  imable  to  agree  with 
Keil's  estimate  of  the  value  of  cod.  Dresdensis  D.  166, 
which  I  have  therefore  referred  to  but  seldom.  Nor 
can  I  believe  that  if  Keil  had  had  a  larger  acquaint- 
ance with  the  fifteenth  century  MSS.  that  contain  eight 
books,  he  would  have  preferred  to  cite  the  early 
printed  editions  (1471  and  1474),  which  are  apparently 
for  the  most  part  mere  reproductions  in  type  of  MSS. 
of  the  same  centur}%  with  considerable  emendation 
and  interpolation  (the  edition  of  1474  is  of  course 
an  exception  in  regard  to  Book  viii.).  I  have 
accordingly,  after  considerable  comparison,  selected 
and  cited  Ottob.  lat.  1965  and  Vrbinas  lat.  1153  as 
fair  representatives  of  this  class  of  mss.,  though  I 
cannot  attach  much  value  to  them.  The  whole  ques- 
tion of  the  antecedents  and  interrelation  of  the 
*  eight-book  manuscripts '  is  exceedingly  involved,  and 
needs  more  careful  and  extended  study  than  a  student 
resident  to  the  west  of  the  Atlantic,  so  far  removed 
from  the  manuscripts,  can  possibly  put  upon  it. 
In  the  correspondence  with  Trajan  I  have  been 
impressed  with  the  importance  of  the  readings  of  the 
Boclleian  manuscript  and  notes  discovered  by  Mr. 
Hardy,  especially  when  they  agree  with  the  Aldus 
edition.  Either  Peter  I^candcr,  who  funiishcd  Avan- 
tius  with  his  copy  of  the  letters  to  and  from  Trajan, 
or  else  the  actual  copyist  of  the  letters,  must  have 


X  C.  PUNI  EPISTVLAE  SELBCTAE. 

been  as  careless  in  copjring  as  his  loss  of  the  sheets 
containing  his  transcript  of  x.  1-40  would  seem  to 
imply ;  for  the  editing  and  the  printing  are  not  likely 
to  be  responsible  for  so  many  errors  as  the  edition  of 
Avantius  evidently  contains.  An  appendix  gives  the 
instances  in  which  the  readings  of  the  text  in  this 
edition  differ  from  those  in  Keil's  critical  edition  of 
1870. 

In  citing  a  selection  of  the  MS.  readings  at  the 
foot  of  each  page  of  the  text,  my  purpose  has  been 
to  give  for  the  most  part  only  such  readings  as  might 
in  themselves  have  at  least  a  sort  of  plausibility  to 
some  minds.  I  might  also  remark  that  I  have  seen 
no  good  reason  to  perpetuate  Keil's  practice  of  indica1>- 
ing  the  correspondence  with  Trajan  by  a  separate 
title  and  not  as  *  Liber  X.',  in  the  face  of  the  testi- 
mony to  a  ten-book  MS.  of  the  preface  and  text  of 
the  first  Aldine  edition,  and  of  the  title  of  cod. 
Beluacensis  (B),  which  latter  work  was,  however, 
rediscovered  among  the  Ashbumham  manuscripts 
after  Keil's  edition  was  issued. 

In  the  notes  I  have  tried  to  be  reasonably  exact  in 
statement,  and  sufficiently  complete,  so  that  the  student, 
and  mayhap  the  teacher,  who  cares  to  study  them  at 
length  may  end  his  reading  with  a  better  start  in  the 
understanding  of  Roman  life  in  Pliny's  time  than 
most  school  tcxt-l)ook8  try  to  give.  But  as  the  book 
is  likely  to  ])c  used,  at  least  in  this  country,  by  toler- 
ably mature  students,  I  have  not  thought  the  notes 
too  elal)orat<5  for  their  interest.  They  contain  in 
brief  form  the  results  of  a  good  many  small  investiga- 


PREFACK  xi 

tions,  and  the  somewhat  full  index  may  perhaps 
render  them  available  for  reference  at  other  times 
than  the  first  reading. 

I  have  never  thought  the  introductory  pages  of  a 
school  edition  of  a  classic  author  the  best  place  for  a 
display  of  the  bleached  and  arid  bones  of  his  gram- 
matical and  stylistic  framework,  laid  out  in  classified 
order  before  the  student's  repugnant  vision.  Such 
work  appears  to  me,  like  long  discussions  of  textual 
matters,  to  find  its  proper  position  in  separate  articles 
or  treatises.  I  trust  I  shall  not  unduly  offend  the 
judicious  by  following  my  own  fancy  in  this  regard, 
and  relegating  my  ossuary  to  an  inconspicuous 
position  at  the  end  of  the  book.  The  letters  included 
in  this  selection  show  most  of  the  peculiarities  of 
Pliny's  grammar  and  style.  I  have  referred  in  the 
notes  to  the  more  striking  instances  as  they  occur, 
with  more  or  less  cross-references,  and  have  added  at 
some  expense  to  my  own  feelings  a  classified  index  to 
these  matters,  which  I  hope  will  serve  for  the  student 
all  practical  purposes. 

I  owe  much  gratitude  to  my  wife,  and  to  Professor 
Charles  Knapp  of  Columbia  University,  who  have 
very  zealously  and  unselfishly  given  me  the  benefit  of 
their  suggestions  and  assistance  in  proof-rciuling  as 
these  pages  have  been  going  through  the  press. 

ELMER  TRUESDELL  MERRILL. 

MlDDI^ETOWN,   CoNNECTICrr, 

JrUy  25,  1902. 


QvATTVOR  8unb,  inquit  Eusebins,  genera  dicendi :  copiosmn, 
in  quo  Cicero  dominatnr,  breae,  in  qno  Sallostius  regnat, 
siccum,  quod  Frontoni  adscribitar,  pingoe  et  floridum,  in  qno 
PliniuB  Secundus  quondam  et  nunc  nuUo  ueterum  minor 
noster  Symmachus  luxuriatur. — Maorob.  v.  1.  7. 

Vt,  si  quae  litterae  paulo  politiores  uaria  occasione 
fluxerunt,  prout  eas  causa  persona  tempos  elicnit,  omnes 
retractatis  exemplaribns  enuoleatisque  nno  uolumine  in- 
dudam,  Quinti  Symmachi  rotunditatem,  Gai  Plinii  di- 
sciplinam  maturitatemque  uestigiis  praesumptuosis  inseon- 
turns.— Apoll.  Sidon.  £p.  L  1.  1. 


INTRODUCTION. 

The  caprice  of  time  has  left  us  singularly  ignorant  of 
the  life  of  Rome  in  Trajan's  era.  We  have,  indeed, 
to  help  us  in  the  study  of  that  restoration  epoch, 
a  few  imposing  monuments,  a  few  coins  and  inscrip- 
tions, two  or  three  dull  historical  epitomes  of  late 
date,  but  all  else  has  vanished  except  the  works  of  a 
handful  of  contemporary  writers  whose  primary  pur- 
pose was  to  image  for  us  something  else  than  the 
history  of  their  own  day.  Yet  the  selection  of  Trajan 
as  colleague  by  the  amiable  but  aged  and  ailing  Nerva 
made  Rome  breathe  deeply  with  the  joyful  relief  of 
assured  freedom.  And  Trajan,  with  all  his  share  of 
human  foibles  and  faults,  evidently  justified  the  con- 
fidence Rome  felt  in  him  from  his  earlier  career.  He 
redeemed  her  arms  from  the  shame  of  Domitian's 
reign,  and  enlarged  her  boimdaries  by  brilliant 
campaigns  and  wise  diplomacy  to  an  extent  never 
surpassed.  He  reformed  abuses  in  the  provinces 
and  checked  the  rapacity  of  governors.  At  home  he 
set  on  foot  great  organized  benevolences,  fostered 
trade  and  industry,  constructed  immense  works  of 
public  beauty  and  utility,  and  restored  freedom  of 
speech  and  thought  and  life.     Rome  had  reason  to 


xiv  C.  PLINI  EPI8TVLAB  SELBCTAE. 

feel  that  now  for  the  first  time  monarohy  and  liberty 
were  proved  to  be  not  ineonsistent  terms.  Hie  reign 
of  Trajan  was  the  dawn  of  new  life  for  the  capital 
He  made  the  winter  of  her  discontent  a  glorious 
summer. 

It  is  the  task  of  the  historian  to  point  out  why  of 
this  glorious  summer  we  have  so  faint  a  pcture. 
We  know  the  period  must  have  been  a  most  busy 
one,  and  there  are  many  sides  to  its  life  that  arouse 
our  interest  But  in  whatever  direction  curiosity 
leads  us  we  sooner  or  later  come  to  an  impassable  and 
impenetrable  veil  that  time  has  stretched  across  the 
pathway.  What  was  tiie  character  of  Trajan's  daily 
life  in  Romel  What  the  details  of  those  campaigns 
on  Rhine  and  Danube,  in  Dada  and  the  Eastt  Even 
the  chronological  outlines  are  shrouded  in  doubt. 
More  interesting  and  more  important  than  these  are 
the  questions  that  concern  the  life  not  of  the 
favoured  few,  but  of  that  great  mass  <rf  the  middle 
and  lower  classes  of  society,  so-called,  whose  modes  <rf 
thought  and  action,  whose  aspirations  and  point 
of  view,  whose  underlying  convictions  and  beliefs, 
whose  pleasures  and  pains  alone  can  help  us  to 
understand  society  in  its  true  and  technical  sense, 
and  to  recompose  for  ourselves  the  picture  that  Pliny 
had  before  him  every  day, — and  did  not  care  to  look 
at.  But  we  are  left  again  in  doubt  and  ignorance, 
for  the  lines  of  satirist  and  epigrammatist  are  no 
surer  guide  to  a  knowledge  of  the  people  of  that  day 
than  the  pages  of  the  penny-dreadful  novel  or  of  the 
'  yellow '  newspaper  to  the  life  of  the  present  age. 


INTRODUCTION.  xv 

Pliny,  indeed,  is  the  only  writer  of  the  time  who 
affords  us  any  great  help  in  our  search,  and  he  vithin 
but  a  limited  field.  For  he  was  born  out  of  the 
level  of  the  great  populace  that  made  liome,  and  he 
lacked  the  adventurous  spirit  of  philosophic  initiative 
that  might  have  carried  him  away  from  the  level  of 
his  birth  to  study  the  lives  of  others.  He  enjoyed 
life  so  thoroughly  within  the  narrow  range  of  the 
company  of  his  peers  as  never  to  feel  its  limitations. 
Indeed,  the  time  of  sociology  as  a  science — or  as 
a  religion — was  not  yet.  Most  men  were  too  much 
occupied  in  the  external  pleasures  of  their  new- 
bom  summer  to  think  very  gravely  or  study  very 
deeply. 

Pliny— often  called  the  Younger  (minor)  to  dis- 
tinguish him  from  his  uncle,  the  author  of  the 
Natural  History  ^ — was  not  bom  in  Rome.  He  was 
a  native  of  Comum,  son  of  a  certain  L.  Caecilius 
L.  f.  Cilo,2  who  apparently  died  while  yet  a  young 
man,  after  filling  the  office  of  quattuoruir  aedilis^  in 
his  municipality.  Those  who  like  may  imagine  that 
he  was  therefore  connected  by  blood  with  that 
Caecilius  of  Comum  who  was  a  friend  of  the  poet 
Catullus,  and  himself  a  poet.^  Pliny  was  born 
within  the  last  four  months  of  61  A.D.,  or  the  first  eight 
of  62  ;  for  he  tells  us  ^  that  he  was  in  his  eighteenth 
year  at  the  time  of  that  great  eruption  of  Vesuvius 
that    destroyed    Pompeii    (Aug.    24,    79).      To   hi.<? 

» in.  5  (Sel.  24).         «  (5 niter  376.  5;  Mommsen.  Khnh,  p.  .11. 
»x.  79.  3  (Sel.  100)  n.  cetutariftiM.  ^Cat.  35. 

»vi.  2n.  5  (Sel.  46). 


xvi  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE. 

father's  name  Pliny  owed  only  his  gefnMicivm^  for  his 
cognomen  Secundus  came  from  the  mother's  side,  as 
was  the  frequent  fashion  in  names  of  this  day,  and 
his  praenatnen  was  not  Lucius,  but  Publius,  the 
father's  paenomen  going  in  due  form  to  an  elder 
brother,  L.  Gaecilius  L.  f .  Valens,  who  must  also  have 
died  young,  as  we  hear  nothing  further  of  him. 

P.  Gaecilius  Secundus,  then,  was  the  original  name 
of  the  boy,  who  at  his  father's  death  was  not  yet  of 
adult  years,  and,  indeed,  was  probably  a  mere  child. 
He  never  speaks  of  his  father  in  his  extant  works. 
His  mother  still  survived,  but  by  the  father's  will  a 
guardian  was  selected  for  him  in  the  person  of  a 
neighbour,  who  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
Romans  of  the  day,  since  he  had  held  the  crown 
within  his  grasp  and  had  declined  to  wear  it, — 
Verginius  Rufus.^  What  the  school  and  home  training 
of  the  boy  was  during  the  years  of  his  minority  must 
be  inferred  chiefly  from  the  personality  of  his 
guardian  and  of  his  maternal  uncle.  He  was  in  later 
years  of  a  quick  and  sympathetic  disposition  of  mind, 
such  as  would  take  instruction  readily  and  receive 
easily  the  impress  of  a  mould.  Verginius  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  much  of  a  student,  but  Pliny 
says  he  displayed  toward  him  the  love  of  a  parent 
throughout  his  life,  and  the  younger  man  never  lost 
his  unlmunded  admiration  and  respect  for  the  elder. 
Fi-oni  this  reverence  for  and  training  under  Verginius 
Pliny  must  at  least  have  gained  high  and  digin'fied 
idoals  of  civic  duty  and  noble  conceptions  about  the 
»11.  1.  8  (Sol.  1.5). 


INTRODUCTION.  xvU 

Borne  of  earlier  days,  such  as  were  traits  of  his  mind 
later  in  life. 

But  if  Verginius  was  not  likely  to  furnish  him  with 
the  highest  intellectual  stimulus,  that  was  not  lacking 
in  his  formative  years.  His  mother's  brother,  C. 
Plinius  Secundus,  also  a  native  of  Comum,  was  pre- 
eminently a  bookworm.  He  was  also  a  man  of 
wealth,  and  an  active  man  of  affairs.  Very  few  men 
could  combine  these  three  characteristics  as  he  did. 
He  had  entered  public  life  at  an  early  date,  and 
finally  rose  through  various  procuratorships  to  the 
intimate  friendship  of  Vespasian,  and  one  of  the 
highest  positions  in  the  equestrian  cursus  Iwiwi-um,  the 
prefecture  of  the  fleet  of  Misenum.  His  learning  was 
immense,  his  studiousness  prodigious,  and  his  literary 
style  something  to  be  shuddered  at.  But  of  this  last 
point  his  nephew  was,  and  apparently  continued  to 
l)e,  happily  oblivious.  Indeed,  there  are  some 
indications  that  he  may  have  contented  himself  with 
admiring  his  uncle's  colossal  works  instead  of  reading 
them,^  for  which  he  surely  ought  to  be  pardoned. 
How  much  he  lived  under  his  uncle's  eye  and  tutelage 
cannot  be  determined,  but  some  things  may  be 
guessed.  There  are  no  indications  that  he  resided 
much  with  Vcrginius,  who,  indeed,  seems  to  have 
lived  in  marked  seclusion  in  the  country  during  the 
later  part  of  his  life,  where  a  boy  of  position  could 
hardly  1x5  brought  up  conveniently  and  well.  More- 
over Pliny  shows  in  every  line  and  feature  of  his 
iKjing,  in  Gyi^ry  trait  of  his  chai-acter  and  habits,  the 
1 IX.  :»  (8eL  m). 


xviii  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELEOTAE. 

result  of  early  and  intimate  acquaintance  with  the 
capital,  and  with  the  fashionable  and  official  society 
of  the  capital.  His  uncle's  official  position  made 
liome  the  centre  of  his  work,  especially  after  he 
became  prefect  of  the  fleet,  and  one  cannot  go  far 
astray  in  judging  that  the  widowed  sister  and  her 
son  made  their  home  with  him,  as  they  certainly 
were  doing  in  August,  79,  the  time  of  his  death. 
At  that  moment,  too,  the  younger  man,  who  had 
however  doubtless  assumed  before  this  the  toga  wriUs^ 
was  studying  under  his  uncle  as  tutor, — and  indeed 
through  all  his  writing,  in  his  studious  habits  and 
appreciations,  happily,  rather  than  in  his  style,  he 
shows  the  traces  of  his  uncle's  influence. 

What  influence  his  mother  had  over  him  it  is  hard 
to  say.  He  speaks  of  her  directly  only  once,  in  his 
account  of  the  eruption  of  Vesuvius  in  79.*  And  once 
he  mentions  that  Calpumia  Hispulla,  his  young  wife's 
aunt,  revered  his  mother  as  her  own.^  The  absence 
of  more  reference  on  the  part  of  a  man  of  such  an 
affectionate  and  plastic  temper  might  indicate  that 
the  mother  was  not  of  a  very  marked  personality. 

At  Gomum  Pliny  could  not  have  had  any  schooling 
beyond  what  could  be  afforded  in  his  own  family.* 
Like  other  well-to-do  Iwys  of  the  town  he  may  have 
been  sent  to  Milan,  but  probably  Rome  1>ecame  his 
home  by  the  time  he  was  nine  or  ten  years  old. 
Here  he  doubtless  went  through  the  regular  lioman 
training   in   l^itin  and  Greek  in  the  school   of   the 

» VI.  16,  20  (Sel.  45,  46).  «iv.  19.  7  (Sol.  :U). 

» IV.  13.  3  (Sel.  33). 


INTRODUCTION.  xix 

grarmnaticus,  and  perha^is  developed  some  mther 
unusual  facility  in  Greek  versification,  as  he  tells  us 
that  at  the  age  of  fourteen  he  wi'ote  what  '  was  called  ' 
a  Greek  tragedy.^  When  he  had  passed  to  the 
training  of  the  rhetor,  his  chief  instructors  were 
Nicetes  Sacerdos-  and  the  great  Quintilian.^ 
Philosophy  he  also  studied,  and  with  his  usual 
ready  enthusiasm  mourns  even  in  later  life  that 
the  stress  of  public  business  keeps  him  from  that 
pursuit.* 

His  bachelor  uncle  on  his  death  in  79  ^  left  him  his 
heir,  adopting  him  in  his  will.  From  this  time  on 
Pliny  took  his  uncle's  name,  as  in  duty  bound,  retain- 
ing however  his  oiiginal  gentilicmm  in  addition  to  that 
of  his  uncle,  instead  of  adding  it,  as  in  Republican 
fashion,  as  a  second  cognvmen  in  the  derivative  form 
in  -anus.  His  name,  therefore,  became  C.  Plinius 
Gaecilius  Secundus.  The  previous  identity  of 
cogmniiim  made  no  change  necessary  there.  His 
uncle's  death  doubtless  increased  largely  the  wealth 
he  hiid  inherited  from  his  father,  which  in  itself 
embraced  large  estates  lx>th  at  Ck)mum*^  and  on  the 
bordera  of  Etruria  near  Tifernuin  Tiberinum.^  To 
this  was  later  added  also  his  mother's  property,®  and 
legacies  from  various  people.-*  Pliny  was  moi  cover  a 
shrewd,  though    not   ungenerous,    manager    of    his 

'  VII.  4.  2(Scl.  47).  -VI.  r»  :^. 

•*vi.  «.  .?;  II.  14.  lO(Si»l.  -JIM.  *i.  10.  9  f.   (Sil.  7). 

•vi.  \{\{i^c\.  45).  ••Ml.  II.  r». 

"ix.  :W.  1  II   (.Sel.  70).  '♦mi.  II.  5. 

"ill.  6.  1  ;  V.  1.  1  ;  VII.  -HI.  (}  (Sel.  "»}). 


XX  C.  PUMI  BFISTVLAB  8BLBCTAR 

property,  whidi  doubdesB  did  not  dedine  on  hiB 
hands  in  spite  of  pablio  ^  and  private  '  beneAoenoea. 

With  wealth,  enthmriaams,  taste  for  puldieityy  and  a 
wide  circle  of  influential  friendi^  Pliny  was  not 
satisfied  to  remain  in  private  Ufe^  nor  oonkl  he 
content  himself,  aa  his  nnole  (like  the  great  Maaoeoaa) 
had  done,  with  the  career  of  a  simple  apisa  Aooord- 
uigly,  within  a  short  time  after  his  nnde'i  death  he 
began  the  course  that  looked  towaxd  a  senatorial 
career.  The  first  office  in  this  airsus  hanamm  was  the 
quaestorship,  which,  however,  oould  not  be  held 
before  the  age  of  twenty-five,  nor  untO  the  oaadidate 
had  qualified  himself  by  a  term  in  one  <rf  the  four 
administrative  boards  in  the  city's  civil  servioe  that 
were  made  up  of  such  young  men  {deeenmiri  stUUbms 
vudicandis^  quaUuorym  uiarvm  emomianm^  inmmdri 
mpiiaks^  triumidri  numetales),  and  further  by  some  brief 
experience  in  garrison,  if  not  in  active  campaigning, 
as  tribunvs  mUUnm  (loHdamus^  or  hanares  peHharusy 

The  civil  duties  Pliny  discharged  as  deeemmr  Mtibms 
wdioundi»,^  and  thus,  by  assisting  the  praeU»*  in  presid- 
ing over  the  centum  viral  courts  gained  his  official  initia- 
tion into  the  procedure  of  that  body  which  was  to 
furnish  him  his  especial  arena  as  an  advocate.^  Ho 
had,  to  he  sure,  already  pleaded  his  first  case,  at  the 
c<irly  Age  of  eighteen,^  but  perhaps  before  the 
pnwtf)r'8  court. 

'  I.  8.  2  ;  IV.  1.  fi ;  v.  7.  3 ;  vii.  18  ;  ix.  S9  (Hcl.  71) :    x.  8 
(Svl.  77);  iiiid  iiiHoriptioii  on  |>.  xl. 
•  I    1»  :  11.  4  ;  111.  1 1.  2  (Sel.  26) :  21.  2  (8eL  21») ;  vi.  32. 
•See  iiicr.  uu  p.  xl.         *vi.  12.  2;  ui.  21.  T*.         »v.  8.  8. 


INTRODUCTION.  xxi 

The  nomioal  teim  of  military  service  as  tribune 
(six  months^  or  a  year)  carried  him  out  of  the 
country  to  Syria,-  and  gave  him  training,  if  not  in 
war,  at  least  in  the  methods  of  financial  bureaux,'*  in 
the  management  of  which  he  later  had  unusual 
experience.*  To  the  office  in  the  *  vigintivirate '  he 
never  refers;  that  in  garrison  he  frequently  mentions, 
since  there  he  made  many  friends  lx)th  in  the  service  ^ 
and  among  the  professors  of  philosophy,  whose  ac- 
quaintance he  had  time  to  enjoy.®  Nor  did  he 
apparently  find  himself  too  busy  to  cultivate  also  the 
more  tuneful  muses  J 

After  his  return  to  Kome  he  was  appointed  fieuir  of 
the  equifes,^  an  office  of  nominal  honour,  which  at 
least,  or  perhaps  at  most,  gave  an  opportunity  for 
appearance  in  a  stately  function  at  the  annual  parade 
of  the  knights,  and  very  likely  gi-atified  Pliny^s  love 
for  antique  survivals  And  from  this  time  he  was 
building  up  his  reputation  at  the  bar  as  one  of  the 
best  pleaders  of  his  day. 

The  quaestorship  did  not  come  to  him  at  the 
minimum  age  of  twenty-five,  but  at  twenty-seven 
or  twenty-eight  (June  1,  89  to  May  31,  90).«  But 
when  it  did  come,  it  was  with  a  mark  of  the 
emperor's  especial  favour,  for  he  was  one  of  Domitian's 

*  IV.  4.  2.  2 ,   1,1  2  (^i  7) .  „,   ,1   5  ^v^.i  ofi), 

'vii.  31.  2.  ^Sce  I».  XXV. 

*vii.  16,  31.  «I.  10.  3  (Sel.  7) :  m.  II.  T»  (Sel.  •2<>). 

' VII.  4.  3.  «Sceinscr.  /r. 

'Sec  Mommsen's  detcrtniiiHtion  of  dates  of  (|Uivc8tors)ii|K 
tribunate,  and  praetorsiiip  in  his  kfinU',  pp.  5:i-i>3. 


xxii  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SRLECTAE. 

personal  nominees,  to  assist  him  in  his  proconsular 
duties.^ 

Under  ordinary  circumstances  a  year  must  elapse 
between  the  holding  of  two  successive  offices  of  the 
senatorial  cursus  honorum,  and  two  years  between  the 
last  and  highest  offices,  the  praetorship  and  the 
consulship.  But  a  father  of  three  children, — or  any 
other  man  by  special  grace  of  the  emperor, —might 
be  dispensed  from  this  waiting  (or  under  certain 
restrictions  even  from  waiting  until  the  full  attain- 
ment of  legal  age  for  any  given  office).  Thus 
Calestrius  Tiro,  Pliny's  colleague  as  the  emperor's 
quaestor,  was  advanced  to  the  next  step  in  the  cursus, 
the  tribunate  of  the  plebs  (in  place  of  which  the 
curule  aedilcship  might  be  substituted),  at  the  first 
moment,  by  virtue  of  the  ius  trium  Uberorum^^  while 
Pliny,  having  no  children,  and  perhaps  being  yet 
unmarried,^  had  to  wait  the  full  time,  thus  filling  the 
office  from  December  10,  91  to  December  9,  92  The 
tiibunate  was  a  mere  phantom  of  its  former  self,  its 
holders  being  completely  overshadowed  in  their 
functions  by  the  'tribunician  power'  (tribunida 
potestas)  exercised  by  the  emperor,  and  Pliny  made  no 
effi)rt  to  revive  its  obsolete  functions  in  any  practical 
way.  But  he  satisfied  his  predilection  for  forms  by 
a])stainint;  from  the  practice  of  his  legal  profession 
durinti;  his  year  of  office,  that  he  might  become 
involved  ill  no  (lisj)utes  that  would  compromise  his 
sense  of  anti«|uariafi  dii^nity/* 

■vii.  IG.  ±  ^11.  i:i  8d.  (Scl.  19). 

'  X.  2  (Scl.  74).  *  I.  23  (Sel.  14) ;  Pan,  95. 


INTRODUCTION.  xxiii 

Between  the  tribunate  and  the  praetorship  Plinj 
did  not  have  to  wait  the  usual  year,  for  the  emperor's 
special  grace  relieved  him  of  that  otherwise  legal 
necessity.^  He  therefore  became  praetor  almost 
immediately  (on  January  1,  93)  upon  laying  down 
the  tribunate,  and  continued  therein  for  that  year 
which  marked  Domitian's  attempt  to  crush  the  Stoic 
opposition,  the  iiTitation,  and  as  the  emperor  thought 
the  danger,  of  which  had  then  reached  its  culmination. 
Among  Pliny's  warm  personal  friends  were  many  of 
the  prominent  men  of  that  '  opposition/  Whether  he 
tried  to  do,  or  could  have  done,  anything  to  save 
them  from  their  fate  is  doubtful.  He  had  not  in  hi« 
constitution  the  stuff  that  maityrs  are  made  of,  and 
the  only  thing  he  can  point  to  at  a  later  date  as  an  act 
in  assistance  of  his  persecuted  friends  is  the  accom- 
modation with  a  sum  of  money  and  with  the 
sympathy  of  a  personal  visit  (but  outside  of  the  city) 
of  the  philosopher  Artemidoiiis,  against  whom  jx^r- 
sonally  no  action  was  directed.-  Pliny's  friendship, 
therefore,  cost  him  little,  though  he  tries,  not  very 
successfully,  to .  make  out  in  after  years  that  he  was 
himself  then  and  later  in  great  danger.'  But  the 
facts  seem  to  be  against  his  c^intention.  He  had  been 
advanced  by  Domitian's  sjx'i-ial  favour:  he  was  discreet 
enough  to  keep  reasonably  quiet  during  his  praetor- 
ship,^ except  for  the  fi i-st  of  his  grent  legal  cases  In^fore 
the  senate,  the  impeachment  of  Bai^bius  Masf^a:''  and 

'VII.  10.  2.  -III.  II  (Scl.  26). 

Mil.  11.  :i  {Se\.  26, ;  vii.  27.  14  (Scl.  .54)  ; :«. 

*  ran.  »5.  Mil.  4  4  ;  vi.  29.  8  :  vii.  33.  4 


xxiv  C.  PLINI  EPI8TVLAE  8ELECTAE. 

immediately  after  his  praetorship  the  emperor  showed 
him  further  oonfidenee  and  favour  by  making  him  one 
of  the  three  prefects  of  the  military  treasury.^  If  three 
years  later  an  accusation  against  him  by  the  infamous 
informer,  Mettius  Cams,  was  found  in  the  archives  of 
Domitian  after  that  emperor's  death,^  its  presence 
proves  only  that  Carus  would  have  liked  to  involve 
Pliny  in  the  fate  of  his  friend  Senecio.  There  is  no 
certainty  that  the  accusation  was  of  late  date,  or  that 
the  emperor  had  not  simply  declined  to  act  upon  it, 
and  accordingly  filed  it  away.  It  is  true  that  Pliny 
in  later  years,  and  in  a  distinctly  ^-parte  statement,^ 
suggests  that  Domitian  would  have  promoted  him  to 
the  consulship  (to  which  indeed  he  would  have  been 
eligible  >vithout  special  grace  only  in  96),  had  he 
himself  been  a  more  obsequious  courtier.  But  a 
prefect  of  the  military  treasury  commonly  served 
three  years,  and  quite  probably  then  only  could 
usually  expect  promotion  to  the  consulship.  And 
Pliny's  term  as  prefect  certainly  could  not  have 
expired  before  96,  the  year  of  Domitian's  death.  It 
is  much  to  be  feared  that  after  Domitian's  death 
Pliny  tried  to  make  out  the  best  case  possible  for 
himself,  whoieas  during  Domitian's  reigii  he  was 
entirely  pcraoiia  grata  >nth  the  emperor,  and  his 
discretion  held  his  sympathies  in  proper  check. 

But  the  accession  of  Nerva,  and  ospccially  the 
jMlo|)ti<)n  of  Tnijan,  wjis  a  great  relief  to  him  as  to 
many  of  tho  aristocracy.     He  attempted  to  bniig  to 

'  IX.  Mi.  11  (iSel.  64)  n.  prcu./ectum  atrarii;  iiiscr.  p.  xl. 
»vii.  27.  14  (Sijl.  54).  'i'ttfi.  95. 


INTRODUCTION.  xxv 

the  bar  of  legal  vengeance  Publicius  Certus,  who 
had  been  the  accuser  of  the  ill-fated  Hclvidiiis,  and 
though  the  emperor,  in  pursuance  of  his  policy  of 
peace,  quietly  declined  to  allow  the  prosecution, 
Certus  at  any  rate  lost  his  post  as  prefect  of  the 
treasury  of  Saturn,  and  the  hope  of  the  coveted  con- 
sulship.^ And  Regulus  too  was  made  to  fear  Pliny's 
anger,  though  nothing  seems  to  have  come  of  it,  and 
there  appears  to  have  been  indeed  little  evidence  that 
could  have  been  brought  against  him.^ 

Public  finances  had  been  left  in  a  very  bad  way 
at  Domitian's  death.  Nerva  among  other  provi- 
sions had  a  special  commission  appointed  to  devise 
methods  of  decreasing  the  expenditures  of  the  state,* 
and  it  is  perhaps  owing  to  the  need  of  careful  and 
experienced  officials  in  the  financial  administmtion 
that  he  asked  Pliny,  who  had  already  serve<l  a  term 
as  prefect  of  the  military  treasury,  to  undertake  the 
prefecture  of  the  treasuiy  of  Saturn.  The  «use  of 
Pliny  is  apparently  the  only  one  known  where  the 
same  man  filled  both  these  offices.'*  The  nomination 
was  hardly  made  when  Nerva  died,  and  Pliny  entered 
upon  his  new  prefecture  in  the  next  autunui,  or  pos- 
sibly in  the  late  summer  of  98,  some  months  after 
Trajan's  accession.^ 

His  services  were  «;enerou.sly  reco«^in*zcd  by  a  ])ro- 

«IX.  l3(Sel.  64).  ^1.  ri(Scl.  4). 

'n.  I.  9(Sc!.  15).  ^  Motiimseii,  Khuh,  p.  Cm. 

*.Soc  the «lilor*»  article  "On  the  Date  of  PHiiyV  I'lvfecture 
of  the  Treasury  of  Saturn"  in  the  American  JoitnicU  oj 
Pkilologjf,  ToL  xxiii.  No.  4. 


xxvi  G.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  8ELECTAE. 

motion  to  the  suffect  consulship  for  the  nundiwum 
(probably  of  two  months)  beginning  September,  100. 
The  address  of  thanks  to  the  emperor  delivered 
according  to  custom  before  the  senate  on  assuming 
the  chair,  he  later  elaborated  and  published,^  and  it, 
under  the  title  of  Panegyricus^  is  the  only  one  of 
Pliny's  speeches  that  has  been  preserved  to  our  time. 
It  contains  much  matter  of  personal  or  historical 
interest,  but  is  too  florid  and  a  bit  too  fulsome,  for 
modern  or  for  Ciceronian  taste. 

Of  the  prefecture  of  Saturn's  treasury  Pliny  had 
doubtless  been  relieved  soon  after  taking  up  the 
consulship,  and  on  laying  down  the  consulship  he 
was  able  for  the  first  time  since  entering  upon  public 
life  to  enjoy  a  few  years  of  repose  from  official  duties. 
He  did,  to  be  sure,  within  three  or  four  years  after  his 
consulship,  in  what  seems  to  have  been  the  usual 
order,  ask  Trajan  for  appointment  to  one  or  the  other 
of  the  vacancies  existing  on  two  out  of  the  four 
great  priestly  colleges  which  wore  highly  coveted 
prizes  for  cansidares.^  In  reply  he  received  the  chair 
in  the  college  of  augurs  that  had  been  filled  by  his 
revered  friend,  Sex.  lulius  Frontinus ;  and  Pliny  is 
doubly  gratified  because  his  great  oratorical  model, 
Cicero,  had  also  been  a  mcml)cr  of  the  same  college.^ 
A  position  also  of  honour  but  likewise  of  much  labour 
and  responsibility  came  to  him  a  little  later  in  th<^ 
shape  of  the  presidency  of  one  of  the  im])ortant  miuii 
cijKil  commissions,  that  entrusted  with  thi*  diivction 
and  oversight  of  the  works  about  the  lied  and  banks  of 
»111.  13,  18.  «X.  13  (Scl.  80).  »iv.  8. 


INTRODUCTION.  xxvii 

the  Tiber  and  the  drainage  system  of  the  city.^  Such 
posts  were  generally  reserved  for  consular es  of  proved 
executive  ability. 

The  term  of  Pliny's  service  in  this  curatorship,  and 
its  date,  are  alike  unknown.  Mommsen,  with  some 
degree  of  probability,  conjectures  that  Pliny  was 
created  augur  about  103  or  104,  and  became  curator 
in  105,  serving  for  about  two  years.  Similar  doubt 
besets  the  date  of  a  later  and  more  important  office, 
and  the  last  held  by  him.  The  important  province  of 
Pontus  and  Bithynia  had  been  included  in  the  list  of 
senatorial  provinces  by  the  division  made  by  Augustus 
in  27  B.C.,  but  its  administration  through  proconsuls 
chosen  from  the  senate  by  lot  had  never  been  success- 
ful. For  reasons  that  need  not  be  detailed  here,  local 
conditions  in  Bithynia  were  especially  unsettled  and 
vexatious  to  the  Roman  administration.  The  organ- 
ization of  various  forms  of  clubs  had  furnished  the 
centres,  as  so  commonly  elsewhere,  for  political  dis- 
turbances, and  the  finances  of  the  more  important 
cities  were  in  a  confused  and  critical  condition 
through  careless  or  criminal  mismanagement. 

Under  these  circumstances  Trajan  determined  to 
take  the  administration  of  the  province  into  his  own 
hands  for  a  season,  and  ^^^th  the  assent  of  the  senate 
he  despatched  Plin}-  thither  as  his  own  personal 
representative  with  full  powers  to  set  the  entire 
pro\incial  housohold  in  order.  The  new  governor's 
long  and  successful  experience  i^ith  financial  adminis- 
tration ami  business  since  the  day  when,  as  haixlly 
» See  iiiRcr.  on  p.  xl ;  v.  14.  2  (fctel.  38). 


xxviii         C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAB  SELECTAE. 

more  than  a  youth,  he  managed  the  accounts  of  the 
third  (Gallic)  legion  in  Syria,  doubtless  marked  him 
out  as  especially  well  fitted  to  cope  with  the  perplex- 
ing problems  that  confronted  him  in  Bithynia.  He 
discharged  the  duties  of  his  office  to  the  great  satis- 
faction of  the  emperor,  and  the  large  number  of  his 
letters  of  information  and  requests  for  instruction, 
with  answers  to  the  same  from  Trajan,  that  are 
comprised  in  the  tenth  and  last  book  of  his  corre- 
spondence, give  us  our  fullest  knowledge  in  detail  of 
the  manner  of  administration  of  an  individual  Roman 
province. 

Pliny  remained  in  the  province  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  two  years,  and  his  service  seems  to  have  been 
terminated  by  his  death.  The  letters  to  and  from 
Trajan,  which  must  have  been  published  by  some  other 
person  after  Pliny's  death,  appear  to  be  arranged  in 
strictly  chronological  order.  In  the  last  he  writes 
that  he  has  sent  his  wife  back  to  Italy  on  account  of 
the  death  of  her  grandfather,^  and  with  Trajan's 
sympathetic  answer  the  correspondence  suddenly  ends. 
None  of  the  letters  intimate  that  he  himself  expected 
soon  to  be  relieved  of  his  office,  and  if  we  may  judge 
from  some  parallel  instances,  he  might  have  counted 
upon  at  least  another  year  of  service  in  Bithynia,  and 
later  upon  further  offices  of  the  same  soit.  But  the 
inscription  erected  at  Cominn  after  his  death  -  shows 
that  he  held  no  further  office.  The  only  fair  conclu- 
sion seoniR  to  be,  then,  that  soon  after  his  wife's 
(loimrturo  for  home  death  suddenly  ovcrt<Mjk  him. 
'  X.  1*20  (Sel.  108).  «See  p.  xl. 


INTRODUCTION.  xxix 

As  remarked  above,  the  date  of  his  governorship, 
and  so  of  his  death,  cannot  be  accurately  determined. 
The  imperial  titles  on  the  inscription  already  cited 
are  of  the  year  113.  But  a  term  of  office  as  early  iis 
109  to  111,  or  as  late  as  111  toll3  would  suit  equally 
well  all  other  indications,^  and  indeed,  as  the  inscrip- 
tion cited  was  affixed  to  baths  erected  in  accordance 
with  Pliny's  will,  and  most  probably  was  cut  at  or 
near  the  completion  of  the  building,  and  (if  it  followed 
tiie  common  fashion)  recorded  the  imperial  titles  of 
the  date  of  its  carving,  the  year  111  seems  none  too 
late  to  assign  as  the  probable  date  of  Pliny's  death, 
leaving  a  space  of  about  two  years  for  the  settlement 
of  his  estate  and  the  erection  of  the  baths. 

Such  is  the  chronological  skeleton  of  Pliny's  career, 
which,  as  that  of  a  man  in  public  life,  must  be  articu- 
lated from  the  account  of  his  political  offices.  The 
clothing  of  these  bones  with  flesh  and  blood  and  soul 
is  a  much  more  interesting  thing,  but  can  be  only 
briefly  attempted  in  a  book  of  this  sort.  And  indeed 
the  careful  and  sympathetic  reading  by  the  student  of 
Pliny's  own  letters  is  far  more  valuable  than  any  talk 
by  other  persons  about  him. 

Plin}'^  was  by  choice  a  man  of  affiiirs,  and  an  able 
man  of  affairs.  And  he  was  proud  of  being  so,  and 
anxious  to  l)e  remembered  by  his  actions.  Yet  his 
official  career  was  of  necessity  marked  by  little  that 
could  command  popular  attention.  He  might  have 
gone  down  to  fame  as  a  mart^T  to  principle  under 
Dimiitian,  but,  as  has  been  siiid  already,  ho  seems  to 
•  Stf  iiitr.  note  to  x.  1.')  (Sol.  SI). 


XXX  a  PLINI  EPI8TVLAB  SBLEXTTAE. 

have  had  no  promptingB  in  that  direction,  though 
neither  did  he  try  to  protect  himself  by  servile  adula- 
tion and  flattery.  He  simply  continued  about  his 
official  iluties  without  ostentation,  and  kept  his  mouth 
shut, — and  people  who  did  that  seem  to  have  been 
in  no  special  danger  during  that  *reign  of  terror.' 
Pliny's  greatest  services  to  the  state  were  in  the  direc- 
tion of  skilful  and  careful  and  zealous  work  in  im- 
portant administrative  matters  extending  over  a  long 
period  of  years.  But  such  services  are  in  no  wise 
picturesque.  They  do  not  lend  themselves  to  head- 
lines. The  rhetorician  finds  nothing  brilliant  to  say 
a1>out  them.  Pliny  was  enough  of  a  rhetorician  to 
appreciate  this  fact  thoroughly,  and  it  is  almost  painful 
to  see  him  so  eager  for  posthumous  fame  as  a  states- 
man, and  yet  so  hard  put  to  it  to  find  anything  in 
his  career  on  which  a  historian  of  politics  who  was  his 
own  intimate  friend  could  found  an  excuse  for  men- 
tioning him  by  name.  Finally  he  appeals  to  Tacitus 
to  describe  the  courage  with  which  he  challenged 
Baebius  Massa  to  include  him  with  his  friend  and 
colleague,  Senecio,  in  a  threatened  charge  of  impMas,^ 
The  pathos  of  the  situation  is  further  enhanced  by 
the  fact  that  Pliny  in  general  had  so  little  of  the 
stubborn  bravery  that  marked  his  friend  Senecio. 
His  was  essentially  a  fair-weather  spirit.  Like  the 
nautilus,  he  spread  his  sail  to  the  favouring  breeze 
ami  sunlight,  but  was  inclined  to  drop  quietly  out  of 
sight  when  the  storm  lowered.  One  cannot  help 
feeling  that  with  his  later  glorification  of  his  friends 
» VII. :«. 


INTRODUCTION.  xxxi 

who  suffered  under  Domitian  was  mixed  a  iiiiiiiful 
regret  that  he  himself  had  been  content  to  play  no 
more  distinctively  manful  part  in  that  drama  of 
blood.  He  was  perha^js  not  a  coward,  but  he  certainly 
was  not  a  hero. 

As  a  man  of  letters,  also,  Pliny  longed  for  enduring 
fame,  and  seems  to  feel  assured  that  he  would  find  it. 
*I  judge  them  blest,'  he  cries,  *to  whom  the  gods 
have  granted  to  do  noble  deeds  or  to  write  noblo 
words,  but  thrice  blest  those  who  have  attained  both 
glories.'  ^  And  so  ^vith  persistent  energy  and  enthu- 
siasm he  works  for  posterity. ^  And  posterity  has  not 
forgotten  his  work,  though,  as  so  often  happens,  of 
that  of  which  he  perhaps  thought  least  we  think  most. 
For  of  all  his  ^vritings,  Pliny  appears  to  have  cared 
most  for  his  speeches  and  his  verses,  and  least  for  his 
letters.  It  is  very  probable  that  herein  he  may  have 
been  influenced  by  the  supposed  example  of  Cicero, 
whose  published  collections  of  lettere  (to  which,  how- 
ever, Pliny  never  refers)  doubtless  prompted  IMiny  to 
publish  his.  But  Pliny's  orations  are  the  things  he 
dwells  upon  with  loring  devotion.  In  one  he  makes 
Demosthenes  his  model,^  in  another  he  attempts  to 
combine  the  more  characteristic  virtues  of  Demos- 
thenes, Calviis,  and  Cicero  !  ^  He  s]H\iks  for  hours  at 
a  time, — five  hours,* — seven  hours/'» — with  the  utmost 
vehemence,  and  is  never  so  shockcMl  as  when  others 
would  uphold   the   excellence  of  short  and    pointcMl 

» VI.  10.  3  (Sel.  45).  -of.  e.ff.  ix.  14. 

3  VII.  .30.  4.  *i.  -JtSH.  2). 

^11.  11.  14  (Sel.  17).  'Mv.  If). 


zzztt  a  PUNI  EPISTYLAE  8ELBCTAB. 

pleas,^  or  ask  for  only  a  few  minutea  of  the  ooorA 
time.'  After  delivery  he  works  his  long  and  studied 
speeches  over,  and  makes  them  more  long  and  studied.* 
He  sends  them  around  to  his  friends  for  oonreotion 
and  suggestion,^  and  finally  insists,  even  in  the  &oe  of 
much  critkrism  of  such  a  weazisome  prooednre,*  on 
delivering  them  once  more  aloud,  in  tins  perfeeted 
elongation,  before  invited  parties  of  patient  listeners. 
And  then  at  length  they  are  published  to  the  worid. 
The  possession  of  only  one  ot  them,  the  Panmnrie, 
will  go  far  toward  solacing  our  grief  fw  the  loss  of 
the  remainder. 

As  every  man  of  letters  then  or  in  any  period  of 
the  world  ought  to  do,  Pliny  loved  poetry ;  and  as 
few  men  then  or  ever  ought  to  do,  he  tried  to  write 
it.  Naturally  enough,  he  loved  what  he  had  written, 
but  worse  than  that,  he  also  admired  it.  His  early 
Oreek  tragedy  could  not  have  been  undertaken  be- 
cause he  was  conscious  of  the  inspiration  cl  noMe 
Melpomene,  but  doubtless  simply  because  Greek 
iambics  were  comparatively  easy  to  write.  No  man 
could  have  had  much  less  of  the  tragedian  in  him  than 
Pliny.  Indeed,  few  writers  could  have  had  less  of  the 
poet.  But  he  persisted  in  writing  poetry,  or  at  least 
verses, — lyrics,  epigrams,  epics,  elegiacs ; — he  covered 
nearly  the  whole  field  of  verse  composition.^  And  he 
i»  filled  with  naive  delight  at  his  facility.  His  book 
of  lyrics,  he  says,  has  met  with  quite  unprecedented 


>  I.  20  iScl.  13). 

«VI.  2.  6(Sel.  41). 

«III.  IK. 

*t.fj.  I.  2(Sel.  2);  vni.  1». 

•vn.  17. 

«VII.  4(Sel.  47). 

INTRODUCTION.  xxxiu 

success.  His  poems  are  read  everywhere.  Copies 
pass  from  hand  to  hand,  and  arc  multiplied,  and  even 
Greeks  have  learned  Latin  that  they  might  set  to 
music  the  strains  of  this  western  bard.  *  Whether 
their  judgment  is  good  or  bad/  he  ^\Tites,  *  I  am  none 
the  less  delighted.  I  pray  only  that  later  ages  may 
share  in  their  delusion  or  their  appreciation.' 

Our  age  has  no  occasion  to  pass  formal  judgment 
on  Pliny's  claim  to  membership  in  the  choir  of  true 
poets.  The  case  has  not  reached  this  court  of  last 
appeal.  The  middle  ages,  that  stem  arbiter  of 
literary  reputations,  spoke  once  for  all,  and  Pliny's 
volumes  of  verse  disappeared.  Catullus  we  have,  and 
Horace,  and  Vergil,  and  Ovid,  and  Tibullus,  and  Pro- 
pertius,  and  even  Statins,  and  Martial,  and  Silius 
Italicus, — ^but  Pliny  is  lost  beyond  recovery.  He 
has  himself  preserved  to  us  one  or  two  bits  in  his 
letters,^  and  we  can  well  spare  the  rest.  As  might  be 
expected,  there  is  no  spark  of  saving  fire  in  them. 

Indeed,  Pliny  was  much  too  formal  to  be  a  poet. 
He  could  not  tell  the  difference  between  his  verses 
and  those  of  Catullus,  and  so  he  concluded  there  was 
no  difference ; — so  many  feet  to  a  line,  such  and  such 
syllables  to  a  foot,  a  tag  or  two  from  the  epic  vocab- 
ulary, and  a  gracious  and  complimentary  turn  of 
expression, — what  could  be  more  simple  when  one 
gets  the  knack  ?  And  so  he  (h^lightedly  turned  off 
poetry  of  all  varieties  by  the  rciim,  and  was  sure  it 
possessed  the  flavour  of  Helicon.  Most  amusing  is 
the  mixture  of  grief  and  indignation  with  which  he 
*  VII.  4.  6  (Scl.  47) ;  *>.  II  (Scl.  49). 


xxzhr         a  PIJNI  EnSTVLAB  SBLfiCTAE. 

hears  that  some  of  his  friends  think  that  he,  a  man  o< 
most  correot  tastes  and  life,  and  a  most  devoted 
husband,  should  not  write  risqu^  venes.^  He  is  so 
surprised  and  confused  at  anything  like  advene 
criticism  that  at  first  he  hardly  knows  what  to 
answer.  *  Why, — but,'  he  stammers»  *  that  is  the  my 
to  write  poetry !  Don't  you  remember  what  Catullus 
said  1  ^  And  haven't  all  the  great  statesmen,  and  even 
emperors,  done  the  same  1 '  and  he  goes  over  a  long 
list  of  stately  names  in  defence  of  his  proposition, 
without  even  catching  sight  of  the  real  question  at 
issue.  Nor  is  it  merely  in  the  writing  of  amatory 
verses  that  Pliny  fondly  endeavours  to  con>nnce  him- 
self that  he  might  be  very  agreeably  naughty  indeed, 
if  only  he  let  himself  go.  He  even  tries  to  imagine 
at  times  that  he  is  a  radical  by  nature,  and  a  bold 
contravcner  of  established  opinions.  But  Pliny  could 
no  more  be  a  rake  or  an  iconoclast  than  Falstaff  could 
1)0  a  swashbuckler.  He  is  altogether  too  good-natured 
to  be  thoroughly  independent  He  dreams  of  soaring, 
but  he  walks  with  calmest  enjoyment  the  common 
round. 

His  letters  are  full  of  bite  of  unconscious  humour, 
all  the  more  enjoyable  l)ecau8e  Pliny  seems  to  have 
but  little  humour  in  his  l)cing.  He  is  always  en- 
thusiastic, almost  invariably  cheerful,  and  amiable, 
and  quite  correct.  One  can  well  ima^no  how  a 
sunny-tempered  man  of  elegant  tastes  and  universal 
humanity  must  have  won  easily  the  regard  of  a  great 
numlwr  of  fritMids.  He  had  a  facility  of  undorstand- 
»v.  3  (Scl.  .16).  «IV.  14. 


INTRODUCTION.  xxxv 

ing  them  in  a  sort  of  superficial  way  that  has  always 
been  one  of  the  potent  charms  of  a  society  man  or 
woman.  His  fluency  of  spirit  was  most  engaging, 
and  of  this  his  con^espondence  gives  a  perfect  picture. 
Its  themes  are  widely  varied, — introductions,  con- 
gratulations, condolences,  accounts  of  his  latest 
achievements  in  the  forum,  equally  enthusiastic 
praise  for  the  most  extraordinary  promise  of  the  last 
young  recruit  in  the  forensic  field  and  for  the 
accomplished  veteran,  exhortation  to  mutual  zeal  in 
study,  the  freshest  political  news  and  nmiours, 
questions  that  suggest  themes  for  answer  from  his 
correspondent, — ^all  flowing  comfortably  from  his  pen 
with  the  most  charming  air  of  good  humour,  and,  as 
he  would  convince  himself  and  us,  with  the  manner  of 
careless  ease  of  writing.  The  varied  life  and  interests 
of  a  rich  and  popular  Koman  of  high  station  are  admir- 
ably set  forth  in  his  pages,  and  through  them  we  can 
read  the  real  excellence  of  character  of  the  writer,  who 
was  doubtless  not  a  great  man,  nor  an  independent 
thinker  and  leader  of  men,  but  a  conscientious  and 
good  and  agreeable  man, — qualities  that  are  not 
always  joined  together  in  the  same  person.  He  had 
the  *  instincts  of  a  gentleman.'  Thci-e  was  no  bitter- 
ness in  him.  He  ap])reciated  and  was  most  apjne- 
ciated  by  good  and  not  bad  men.  He  was  a  most 
devoted  and  unselfish  friend  and  husband.  His 
lilicrality  was  great.  He  treated  liis  slaves  with 
regard  and  even  tenderness,  «and  was  generous  to  his 
tenant  farmers.  He  was  an  active  and  assiduous 
otheial  even  in  the  dullness  of  routine  work. 


xxxvi         a  PUNI  BFI8TVLAE  SBLBCTAB. 

One  oould  wish  Pliny  had  been  more  of  a  student 
of  philosophy  and  less  of  a  dflettante.  The  age  was 
not  productive  of  philosophic  works,  but  we  know  that 
some  men  were  thinking  deeply,  as  men  sometimes 
are  when  they  are  writing  least.  Yet  of  this  diere  is 
hardly  a  trace  in  Pliny's  letters.  You  cannot  even 
tell  whether  he  believed  in  the  existenoe  cl  God  or 
not.  There  are  no  references  to  any  thouj^t  about 
a  future  life,  even  when  he  is  offering  gentlest  con- 
dolence to  others,  or  speaking  most  regretfully  of  the 
loss  of  intimate  friends.  None  of  the  great  problems 
of  being,  or  of  morality,  or  of  social  life  are  touched 
upon  by  him.  Nor  is  this  because,  he  deems  them 
too  serious  and  personal  subjects  for  literary  toeat- 
ment  in  his  epistles.  There  is  clearly  no  discipline 
of  reserve  in  Pliny.  It  is  simply  that  his  nature  was 
too  exuberant,  too  eager,  too  appreciative  of  the 
moment,  to  make  it  possible  for  him  to  be  seriously 
contemplative.  He  flutters  about  the  outskirts  of 
philosophy,  listening  eagerly  when  a  philosopher 
speaks,  and  carrying  away  from  the  cirele  a  sense  of 
the  charm  of  sweet  and  noble  discourse,  but  not  at  all 
the  incentive  to  self-dotachment  that  a  tiiinker  must 
have.     His  real  interests  lay  elsewhere. 

For  Pliny  is  essentially  self-conscious,  and  a 
rhetorician.  Only  his  abounding  good  nature  and 
tenderness  of  fooling  saves  him  from  being  an  aristo- 
cratic snob :  only  his  real  devotion  to  letters  saves 
him  from  being  a  ^nndbag.  As  it  is  he  is  a  charming 
gentleman, — only  u  little  too  much  given  to  foi-m.  One 
might  almost  fancy  that  culture  in  his  family  was  but 


INTRODUCTION.  xxxvii 

a  generation  old,  and  he  had  not  yet  heconic  ii8cd  to 
the  discovery  of  it  in  himself  When  Euphrates  lays 
down  gravely  some  ethical  principle,  Pliny's  impulse 
is  not  to  say,  *  How  true !  \  but  *  How  well  put ! ',  and 
then  he  tries  to  cap  the  epigram  by  another  in  the 
same  form.  That  is  why  his  letters  seem  at  first 
sight  to  lack  sincerity,  though  to  express  that  as  a 
final  judgment  would  be  to  misread  Pliny's  character. 

There  is,  to  be  sure,  a  great  difference  between 
Pliny's  letters  and  those  of  Cicero.  Cicero's  letters 
are  those  of  a  man  who  wrote  in  a  most  virile  period, 
and  had  no  thought  of  regarding  his  letters  as 
literary  compositions.  Pliny  wrote  a  century  and  a 
half  later, — and  that  is  often  a  long  period  in  literary 
history, — when  rhetoric  had  enslaved  men.  And 
Pliny's  letters,  or  at  least  such  as  he  included  in  the 
first  nine  books,  were  written  as  literary  compositions. 
He  himself  tells  us  they  were  composed  with  especial 
pains.  ^  Yet  letters  are  none  the  less  letters  because 
the  writer  believes  they  may  ultimately  be  put  before 
the  eyes  of  more  persons  than  the  one  addressed.  Nor 
are  they  necessarily  less  charming  and  less  instructive 
because  thus  written.  They  are  likely,  perhaps,  to 
be  less  intensely  personal,  but  they  may  be  none  the 
less  sincere.  Many  of  the  lettei-s  of  Wni.  Cowpcr, 
perha|)s  the  most  agreeable  of  English  letter-writci-s, 
would  furnish  a  fair  pjirallcl  to  the  letters  of  Pliny  in 
this  regard.  But  the  letters  themselves  are  their 
own  best  interpreter. 

The  question  of  the  chronolo^  of  the  corresjmn- 
»1.  1.  1  (Sel.  1). 


xxxrtii       C.  PUXI  EPESTTLAE  SSLBCTAE. 

dence  is  one  that  hu  proiii|iled  macli  study,  and 
the  problem  is  by  no  meun  yet  settled  in  every 
detail.  In  coiisidenng  it,  a  distinction  must  be  made 
between  the  first  nine  booka^  which  jmre  published 
by  Pliny  himself,  and  the  tenth  book  (that  of  the 
correspondence  with  TrajanX  whidi  must  have  been 
put  together  by  one  of  Pliny's  firiends  after  his  death, 
— doubtless  with  the  emperar^s  anthoriiation.  In 
this  tenth  book  the  letters  are  apparently  arranged 
in  strict  chronological  sequence.  With  regard  to 
the  first  nine  books  there  is  more  nxnn  for  doubt. 
All  of  the  letters  are  written  by  Pliny,  but  as  was 
(jerhaps  natural  in  the  case  of  literary  compositions, 
none  of  them  as  published  have  dates  appended. 
Furthermore,  in  the  case  of  very  few  can  the  date 
be  determined  from  internal  considerations.  In  the 
first  letter  of  the  first  book,  to  be  sure,  Pliny  dis- 
tinctly says  that  he  has  compiled  the  collection 
(evidently  not  the  nine  books,  but  some  smaller 
number  first  published)  without  regard  to  chrono- 
logical arrangement,  but  following  mere  chance  in 
order.  Masson,^  the  earliest  writer  of  an  extended 
life  of  Pliny,  was  disposed  to  take  this  statement 
most  seriously,  and  of  the  entire  collection.  And 
such  seems  to  have  been  the  prevailing  opinion  till 
Mommsen,  in  a  searching  article  in  vol.  III.  of 
Hermes,  ventured  to  assert  that  Pliny  was  endeavour- 
in*;  to  give  am  air  of  agreeable  carelessness  to  the 
wliole  work,  and  so  did  not  mean  at  all  what  he  said  ; 

^  For  titles  of  works  see  the  names  of  author»  in  the  list  on 
pp.  xlv  fir. 


INTRODUCTION.  xxxix 

that  as  a  fact  the  individual  books  were  for  the  most 
part  chronologically  distinct  and  successive  groups, 
and  in  each  the  letters  were  arranged  in  chrono- 
logical sequence.  The  first  book,  he  held,  was 
written  in  97,  or  perhaps  at  the  end  of  96,  and 
published  in  97.  The  second  book  he  claimed 
was  composed  of  letters  written  from  97  to  100,  and 
was  published  toward  the  beginning  of  the  latter  year. 
The  third  book  contained  letters  of  101,  or  perhaps 
partly  of  102  also.  The  fourth  book  contained 
letters  from  that  period  till  the  very  beginning  of 
105,  the  date  of  its  publication.  The  fifth  book  was 
Nvritten  in  105  and  published  in  106,  the  year  also  of 
the  sixth  book.  Book  seven  was  apparently  written 
ill  107,  book  eight  perhaps  in  108,  and  the  ninth 
and  last  book  possibly  at  the  same  time  with  the 
eighth,  but  no  later  than  109  ;  while  the  governorship 
of  Bithynia,  and  the  consequent  date  of  most  of  the 
correspondence  with  Trajan  was  in  111  and  112  or 
112  and  113. 

Such  is  the  summary  of  Mommscn's  conclusions, 
and  on  them  in  great  measure  he  based  his  account 
of  Pliny's  life.  His  position  was  not  destined  to 
remain  long  unassailod.  Stobbc,  Gemoll,  Peter, 
AsUich,  and  more  recently  Maximilian  Schultz,  have 
attacked  it  (and  occasionally  each  other)  from  various 
points,  and  as  it  seems  to  the  present  writer  with 
success.  The  argument  is  too  long  to  be  entered 
upon  here,  but  there  appears  to  be  little  doubt 
that  although  for  the  most  jwut  the  1>ooks  follow 
one  another  in  chronological  onler,  yet  Pliny  meant 


2d  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAK  8ELBCTAE. 

what  he  said  in  disclaiming  precision  in  that  matter, 
and  some  of  the  later  books  contain  writings  of  an 
earlier  date.  The  earliest  letter  of  all,  for  example, 
is  very  likely  ii.  '20  (Sel.  22),  which  was  perhaps 
written  in  the  last  part  of  Domitian's  reign,  and  it 
is  the  last  letter  of  the  second  book.  It  seems  on 
the  whole  quite  reasonable  to  believe  that  the  nine 
books  were  published  in  three  groups  (L-ii.,  111.-VI., 
vii-ix.)  of  which  the  first  group  was  issued  in  the 
year  97  or  98,  and  the  last  in  108  or  109.  The  dates 
of  individual  letters  included  in  the  present  selection 
are  discussed  in  the  notes. 

Of  inscriptions  pertaining  to  Pliny  a  number  from 
Como  and  its  neighbourhood  have  been  preserved 
{C.  L  L.  V.  5262,  5263,  5267).  The  longest,  latest, 
and  most  interesting  of  these  is  here  reproduced,  with 
the  restorations  (in  italics)  made  by  Mommsen 
(C.  /.  L.  5262,  =  Dessau  2927,  =  WUmanns  1162): 

C  •  PUNIVS  •  L  •  F  •  OVF  •  CAECILIVS  •  seCUflduS  COS  . 
I   AVGVR  •  LEGAT  •  PRO  •  PR  •  PROVINCIAE  •  PON<t  et 

bithyniae  \  consvlari  •  potesta/  •  in  •  eam  •  provin- 
ciAM  '  EX  s,  c.  missus  ah  \  imp  •  gaesar  •  nerva  • 

TRAIANO   •   AVG   •  GERMANtCO  dodco  p,  p.  |  CVRATOR   • 

alvei  •  TiftERis  •  ET  •  RIPARVM  •  E^  ck/ocar,  wb.  I 

PRAEF  •  AERARl  •  SATVrNl  •  PRAEF  •  AERARI  •  MILt/. 
pr.   trib,  pi   \   QVAESTOR    •    IMP   •    SEVIR    •    EQVITVM    • 

roimnu/rum  \  TRiB  •  mi  lit  •  leg  •  Hi  •  GALLiCAe  .  xuir 

Stli    I  TIB    •    IVDICAXI)    •    THERM(«   ex   IIS 

ADIECTIS  •  IN   I  ORNATVM  •  HS  •  CCC' ei  eo 

ainpXAVii  •  IN  tvtkla;/i  |  lis  •  cc  •  t  •  f  •  I  •  item  in 
alimenta  libertor  •  svorvm  •  homin  •  c  |  lis  •  |xviu| 


INTUODUCTION.  xU 

LXVI  DCLXVI  •  REI     p.  legauU,  qmrum,  mcREMENT  • 

POSTEA    •    AD    •    EI'VLVM   |  plSB   •    VRBAN    •   VOLVIT    • 

PERTINere item  uiuus  •  DEDIT  •  in  •  ALIMENT  • 

PVEROR  I  ET  •  PVELLAR  •  PLEB  •  VRBAN  •  HS  •  3  .  Hem 

bybUothecam^  et   IN  •  tvtelam  •  bybuothe  |  cae  • 

HS  •  C. 

(Gaius  Plinius,  Luci  filius,  Oufentdna  (tribu), 
Gaecilius  Secundus,  consul,  augur,  legatus  pro 
praetore  prouinciae  Ponti  et  Bithyniae,  consulari 
potostate  in  earn  prouinciam  ex  senatus  consulto 
missus  ab  imperatore  Caosare  Nerua  Traiano,  Augusto, 
Germanico,  Dacico,  patre  patriae,  curator  aluei  Tiberis 
et  riparum  et  cloacarum  urbis,  praefectus  aerari 
Satumi,  praefectus  aerari  militaiis,  praetor,  tribunals 
plebis,  quaestor  imperatoris,  seuir  equitum  Roman- 
orum,  tribunus  militum  legionis  tertiae  Gallicae, 
decemuir  stlitibus  iudicandis,  thermas  ex  sestertium 

,  adiectis  in  omatum  sestertium  trecentis 

milibus  et et  eo  amplius  in  tutelam  sester- 
tium ducentis  milibus,  testamento  fieri  iussit,  item  in 
alimenta  libertorum  suorum  hominum  centum  sester- 
tium duodeuiciens  centeua  et  sexaginta  sex  milia 
cum  sexcentis  sexaginta  sex  rei  publicae  legauit, 
quorum  incrementa  postca  ad  epulum  plebis  urbanae 
uoluit  pertinerc  ....  item  uiuus  dcdit  in  alimenta 
puerorum  et  puellarum  plebis  urbanae  sestertium 
quingenta  milia,  item  bybliothecam,  et  in  tutelam 
bybliothccae  sestertium  centum  milia.) 

A  few  words  must  suffice  in  this  place  concerning 
the  MSS.  of  Pliny's  writings.  His  works  must  be 
considered  in  three  detachments,  the  MS.  authority 


xlii  a  PLmi  EPISTVLAE  SELBCTAE. 

for  each  being  distinct  These  three  divisions  are : 
Books  i.-ix.  of  the  Letters,  Book  x.  of  the  Letters 
(the  correspondence  with  Trajan),  and  the  Panegyricus. 
Heiiinch  Keil  is  entitled  to  the  credit  of  establishing 
the  criticism  of  the  text  of  the  Letters  upon  a 
scientific  basis,  though  later  discoveries  and  further 
study  have  led  to  challenge  of  his  estimate  of  relative 
values,  which  is  not  here  followed. 

The  first  and  most  important  family  of  MSS.,  so  far 
as  its  testimony  extends,  is  that  represented  in  best 
foim  by  a  single  codex,  once  in  the  chapter  library 
of  St.  Mary  of  Beauvais,  and  later  in  the  Riocardian 
library  at  Florence.  Thence  it  was  stolen  in  the 
early  part  of  the  last  century,  and  sold  to  Lord  Ash- 
bumham  of  England,  through  the  purchase  of  a  part 
of  whose  collection  by  the  Italian  Gk)vemment  some 
quarter  of  a  century  ago  this  MS.  has  found  its  way 
back  to  Florence,  where  it  now  reposes  in  the  Mediceo- 
Laurentian  Library  (R.  98 — formerly  37— of  the 
Ashburnham  MSS.).  It  is  cited  in  this  book  as  B 
(Beluacensis).  The  writing  is  in  Garolingian  minus- 
cules of  the  early  tenth  century.  It  contains  just  one 
hundred  letters  (i.  1-  v.  6.  32,  omitting  IV.  26),  with 
the  last  incomplete.  But  the  number,  though  strik- 
mg,  is  merely  accidental,  the  title-page  of  the  MS. 
representing  it  to  contain  ten  books,  and  the  last 
page  being  complete  through  the  word  pererraty  the 
remaining  folios  having  been  lost  centuries  ago. 

From  this  arc  apparently  descended  a  considerable 
number  of  *  hun(lre<l-lctter '  MS.s.,  of  which  the 
earliest  known  to  the  present  editor,  and  the  one  to 


INTRODUCTION.  xUii 

which  many  others  in  Italy  apparently  owe  their 
onjzin,  is  in  the  same  library  as  B,  having  l)een  tmns- 
fcrred  thither  from  the  library  of  St.  Mark's  in  the 
Scime  city  (cod.  S.  Marei  284).  The  writing  is  of  the 
twelfth  century.  It  is  cited  in  the  present  edition  as 
F  (Floi-entinus), 

A  second  family  of  MSS.  is  best  represented  by  a 
codex  in  Carolingian  minuscules  of  the  ninth  century, 
in  the  same  Florentine  library  as  B  and  F  (Bibl. 
Mediceo-Laurent.  plut.  XLVII.  No.  36).  It  is  cited  in 
this  edition  as  M  (MecHceus),  It  has  the  great  merit 
of  including  all  the  letters  from  the  beginning  till 
IX.  26.  8,  where  the  long  Greek  quotations  wciiried 
the  scribe  (or  perhaps  his  predecessor),  and  he  stopped, 
not  to  resume  his  work  again.  Whether  the  MS. 
from  which  it  was  copied  contained  ten  books  cannot 
1)6  determined. 

Closely  akin  to  this  is  a  codex  of  the  Vatican 
library,  in  Carolingian  minuscules  of  the  ninth  or 
tenth  century  (cod.  Vat.  lat.  3864).  It  is  cited  in 
this  edition  as  V  (Vatkanus).  Unfortunately  it  con 
tains  only  Books  i.-iv. 

A  third  family  of  MSS  comprises  a  very  consider- 
able number  that  contain,  though  with  some  variations 
in  combination,  I^)oks  l.-vn  and  Hook  ix.,  the  eighth 
lKK)k  being  omitted,  and  the  ninth  commonly 
nunil>ere<l  as  the  eighth.  Those  Mss.,  so  far  as  at 
present  studied,  are  all  of  the  fifteenth  century,  and 
exliibit  a  greatly  int<»r]K)lated  and  correcte<l  text,  with 
many  variations  in  reading,  even  among  themselves. 
Tlieir   origin   and    interrelation    remain    y<»t    to   he 


xliT  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAB  8ELBCTAS. 

determined.  Two  of  them  (both  in  the  Yatioan 
library),  which  at  least  are  less  bad  than  many  others» 
are  cited  in  this  edition  as  n  (ood.  Yrbinas  lat  1153) 
and  0  (cod.  Ottobonianus  lat.  1966). 

Moreover,  though  the  early  editions  of  Pliny's 
letters  followed  for  the  most  part  the  tnMlition  of  tiie 
<  eight-book  MSS.',  the  first  edition  iasned  by  Aldus 
(in  1508)  was  founded  in  great  measure  upon  a  us. 
that  contained  the  ten  books,  and  clearly  belcmged  to 
the  family  of  B  F.  It  is,  therefore,  worthy  of  close 
study,  and  is  here  cited  as  a. 

There  are  many  MSS.  in  existenoe  tiiat  show  a 
mixed  text,  sometimes  because  of  the  interpolation  of 
a  tradition  of  one  *  family '  by  that  of  another,  some- 
times because  one  tradition  is  followed,  for  example, 
through  V.  6,  and  another  for  the  rest  of  the  letters ; 
but  such  MSS.  are  not  of  especial  value,  and  need  not 
be  further  mentioned  here. 

For  the  text  of  the  tenth  book  we  are  dependent  on 
two  printed  editions,  and  on  certain  ifS.  notes 
accompanying  a  printed  volume  in  the  Bodleian 
library  at  Oxfoni,  discovered  by  Mr.  E.  G.  Hardy. 
The  earlier  edition  was  published  by  Avantius  of 
Verona  in  1502,  on  the  basis  of  a  copy  made  in 
*  Gallia '  by  a  certain  Fetor  Lcander  from  a  MS.  there 
existing.  But  the  edition  of  Avantius  contains  only 
X.  Al'fin.,  the  copy  of  the  first  forty  letters  having 
been  lost.     This  edition  is  here  cited  as  A. 

The  entire  corresiiondciice  ^vith  Trajan  appeared  in 
full,  however,  in  the  Ahhis  e<lition  of  1508  (cited  as  a) 
from  a   tcTi-lwok    MS.  in  'Gallia'  (evidently  Paris) 


INTRODUCTION.  xlr 

which  a  Venetian  senator  had  brought  to  him,  and 
from  a  copy  of  the  same  previously  made  for  him 
by  a  certain  lucundus,  a  learned  Veronese  architect 
and  ecclesiastic.  The  Pans  MS.  was  very  likely  the 
same  from  which  the  fragmentary  copy  had  been 
made  for  Avantius ;  but  it  has  disappeared,  and  only 
the  two  printed  books  were  left  us  as  the  basis  for  our 
constitution  of  the  text,  till  Mr.  Hardy's  disooveiy  of 
what  he  believes  to  be  the  actual  book  from  which 
Aldus  set  up  his  edition  of  1508.  This  copy  contains 
X.  1-40  in  MS.,  and  41-121  (Jin.)  in  the  edition  of 
Avantius,  with  marginal  corrections,  the  whole  coming 
from  the  copy  of  the  Paris  codex  made  hy  lucundus. 
Some  of  the  readings  of  this  Oxford  book,  which  is 
thus  our  earliest  authority  for  the  text  of  Book  x., 
are  given  in  this  edition  as  from  0  (Oxaniensis). 

It  will  be  convenient  to  append  here  for  reference  a 
list  (arranged  alphabetically  by  authors)  of  the  fuller 
titles  of  books  most  frequently  referred  to  in  briefer 
form  in  the  introduction  and  the  notes.  Others  are 
but  occasionally  cited  (^rith  the  exception  of  Latin 
texts  and  of  periodicals),  and  are  clearly  enough 
described  under  the  citation  itself : 

AsBACH,  J.  :  Zur  Chronolotrie  <ler  Bricfc  <le8  jiingcren  Pliiii'is 

(in  Rheinisches  Museum.  XX.XVI.,  1S81). 
Baumbister.    a.  :    I>enkinalcr    dcs    klassischcn    AltertuiiiK 

(3  v.,  MUnchen,  1885  18S8). 
Beckkk,  \V.  a.  :  Oallus,  o<ler  nmiische  Sc<'nen  aus  der  Zeit 

Augusts,   neu  gearbeitet   von    H.    (toll  (:{  pis.,  ]«erlin, 

1880-82). 
Bnrr,  Th. :  Das  antikc  Buchwcscn  in  seinem  Verhaltniss  zur 

Litteratur  (Berlin.  lS82i. 


dvi  a  PUNI  EPSSnCVUkM  8BUDCIAB. 


BBI7NS,  K.  O. :  Fonlcs  imnm  Bmmmd  «atiqai.  «d.  %  cam 

MomiuHm  0tGffadeBvtte(8pte..  FMbwg.  IWI). 
De  la  Bkros,  GL  :  Emu  cor  k  r^gne  da  Tlngao  (iWit»  1877). 
1>b-)>Ubchi.  a.  :  n  ealC4>  private  di  Bobm  antfea  (voL  L, 

IfiUn.  1806). 
DBasAr,  H. :  Inaeriptioiiea  fitlMii  HBlaotoB  (voL  L,  ] 

1802). 
Dbaboke,  a.  :  Ifwfairiirhit  grates  di 

(2  T.,  Leiprig.  1878.  1881). 
FBiBDiJCirDKB,  L. :  DvuntrilnvgHi  an  der  SittgngeMhiiGlite 

Roms  in  der  Zeit  ron  Anguafc  Ui  nm  Awtgmg  der 

Antooiiie  (3  ▼.,  Lripai^,  1868-1800). 
Gemoll,  W.  :  Detempomm  latiooa  faiFliBfi  epirtqlanmi  IX 

libris  obMniate  (Halle,  1878). 
GiLBEBT,  O. :  Geechiclite  and  Topqgraphieder  SUdt  Rom  im 

Altertum  (3  v.,  Leipeig,  1883-1890). 
Greexidgb,  a.  H.  J. :  Roman  Pnblie  Life  (London,  1901). 
Gdhl  and  Kohxb:    Leben  der  Grieolien  nnd  R6mer,  Oto 

Aoflage  Ton  B.  Engdmann  (Berlin,  1808). 
Hand,  F.  :  Turaellinna,  eioe  de  particnlie  latinia  conimen- 

Utio  (4  v.,  Leipaig,  1820-46). 
Habdt,  E.  G.  :  a  Bodleian  MS.  of  Pliny'e  Lettera  (in  Jour. 

of  Philology,  XVII.,  1888). 
I<L:   C.    Plinii    Caedlii   Seonndi   Epistelae   ad   Traiannm 

Imperatorem  cam  Eiusdem  Beqiooeia,  edited  with  noCee 

and  introductory  ensays  (London,  1880). 
HiRSCHPELD,  0.  :   Untersucliutigen  aof   dem   Gebiete   der 

romischen  Verwaltungsgeechichte  (vol.  L,  Berlin,  1877). 
HoLSTEiN,  H. :  De  Plinii  minoria  elocntione  (2pt8.,  Nanm- 

Imrg,  1862;  Magdchurg,  1800). 
HuRTiiKN,  Chr.  :    Nomcndator  Topograpliicus  (in  Kiepcrt- 

Huulsen,  Formao  Urhis  Romae  Anticjnae,  Berlin,  18!I6). 
KriIm  Hcinrich :  C.  Plini  Caccili  Sectindi  Epistulartim  Ithri 

nouoin,  Kpint alarum  ad  Traiannm  lil>cr,  Panegyrinn»,  ex 

rcccuRionc  Hcnrici  Keilii ;  accedit  index  nominum  cum 

rennn  cnarratione  auctore  Theodoro  Mommnen  (l^eipxig, 

1870) 


INTRODUCTION.  xlrii 

Kraut,  K.  :    Ucber  Syntax  und  Stil  des  jungeren  Plinius 

(Schonthal,  1872). 
Krbbs,  J.  Ph.  :  Antibarbarufl  dcr  lateinischeu  Sprache,  6te 

Auflage  von  J.  H.  Schinalz  (2  v.,  Basel,  1887  8S). 
Lagebgrbn,  J.  p.  :  De  uita  et  elocutione  C.  Plinii  CaedlH 

Secundi  (Upsala,  1872). 
Lanoiani,  R.  :  Ancient  Rome  in  the  Light  of  Recent  Db- 

coveries  (Boston,  1894). 
LsCKY,   VV.    EL    H.  :    History  of    Earopeau    Morals    from 

Angnstos  to  Charlemagne  (2  v.,  N.  Y.,  1869). 
Marquabdt,  J.  :   Das  Privatleben  der  Romer,  2te  Auflage 

von  A.  Man  (2  v.,  Leipzig,  1886). 
Id.  :  Romische  Staatsverwaltung  (3  v.,  Leipzig^,  1881-1885). 
Ma3SON,   Io.  :   Plinii  Secnndt    lunioris   uita  ordiue  chrono- 

logico  digesta,  etc.  (Amsterdam,  1709). 
Mayor,  J.  E.  B. :  Pliny*s  Letters,  Book  III.,  text  of  Keil 

with  a  commentary  (London,  1880). 
Id, :  Thirteen  Satires  of  Juvenal,  with  a  commentary  (2  v., 

London,  1880>,  1881>). 
MoMMSEN,  Th.  :  ^tude  sur   PHne  le  Jeune,  traduit  par  C. 

Morel  (Paris,  1873) ;  first  printed  as  Zur  Lebensgeschtchtc 

des  jttngeren  Plinius,  in  Hermes  III.,  1868. 
Id.  :   Romische  Gesclitchte,   5ter  Band,  Die   Prox'inzen   von 

Caesar  bis  Diocletian  (Berlin,  1885). 
Id.  :  Romisches  Staatsrecht  (3  v.,  Leipzig,  1887). 
Id.  :  Romisches  Strafrecht  (Leipzig,  1899). 
Nagelsbacu,  K.  F.  von :  Lateinische  Stilistik  fiir  Deutsche, 

8te  Auflage  besorgt  von  Iw.  v.  Miiller  (Niirnberg,  1888). 
NissEN,  H.  :  Itolische  Laiideskunde  (vol  I.,  Berlin,  188.3). 
Orelli,  J.  C,  and  Henzen,  W.  :  Inscriptionum  Latinarum 

Selectarum    Amplissima   CoUectio,   etc.    (3  v.,   Zurich, 

1828, 1856). 
Otto,  A.  :    Die  Sprichwurter  und  sprichwortlichen  Reclens- 

arten  der  Romer  (I^ipzig,  1890). 
PArLY-WisaowA  :  Pnulys  neal-EncycIop:i<lie  der  c1as.sischen 

Altertumswissenschaft,    neuc   liearlieitung  .   .   .  von  G. 

Wisaowa  (Stuttgart,  1894  ff.). 
d 


zHifi         a  PLOri  BPfSITLAB  8BUKTA& 


Pfem^a:  ZwChroBologieckr  AMedn 

(ta  Philologas  XXXIL.  ISTS). 
PfeKLLB,  L. :   KoniKlie  Mytliokti^  3te 

Jocdaa  (2  ▼.,  Berlin,  1»1,  IMQ. 
ScHirLtz,  M. :  De  Ptinii  cpwtolis  qiMMlwnw  chronologies 

(Berlin,  1809). 
aiOBBi^  H.  F. :  Znr  Oueiiol^gie  dar  Brirfe  dee  PliBiw  (in 

Pfnlologiie  XXX.,  1870). 
TsuFPSL»  W.  a :  Qeeehiehte  der  rihnleehen  Litentnr,  aeo 

bearbeitet  von  L.  Sdiwalie  (2  t.«,  Lsipdg,  1800). 
TuoMPSOsr,   E.    llMinde:    Handbook  <if  Oredi  and  Latin 

Palaeograi>hy  (N.  Y.,  1893). 
Wattbnbagh,  W.  :  Daa  Scfariftwiaam  in  If  ittdalter  (Leip- 

rig,  1896«). 
WfLMAXNS,  O.  :  Rxempla  InacripUonain  Latinaram  in  osatn 

praedpue  academicuin  (2  v.,  IMrliii,  1873). 


Pukt's  world — partly  because  it  is  presented  with  snch 
rich  detail — reminds  us,  more  than  that  of  any  other  period 
of  Roman  history,  of  the  society  of  onr  own  day.  To  pass 
from  Cicero's  letters  to  his  is  curiously  like  passing  from  the 
eighteenth  to  the  nineteenth  century.  In  other  respects, 
indeed,  they  have  what  might  be  called  an  eighteenth  century 
flavour.  Some  of  the  more  elaborate  of  them  would  fall  quite 
naturally  into  place  among  the  essays  of  the  Sftectafor  or  the 
RamJbler ;  in  many  others  the  combination  of  thin  and  lucid 
common-sense  with  a  vein  of  calculated  sensibility  can  hardly 
be  paralleled  till  we  reach  the  age  of  Rousseau. — J.  W. 
Mackail. 


LIST  OF  MSS.  AND  EDITIONS  CITED. 

For  readings  in  Books  I. -IX. : 

B  codex  Ashburnham  R.  98  (37)  bibl.  Mediceo-Laurentianae. 

F  codex  S.  Marci  284  bibl.  Mediceo-Laurentianae. 

M  codex  plut.  xlvii.  no.  36  bibl.  Mediceo-Laurentianae. 

V  codex  Vat.  lat.  3864  bibl.  Vaticanae. 

0  codex  Ottobon.  lat.  1965  bibl.  Vaticauae. 

a  codex  Vrbinas  lat.  1153  bibl.  Vaticanae. 

a  editio  Aldina,  Venetiis  a.  1508. 

F  editiones  Pomponii  Laeti,  Romae  a.  1490 : 

Philippi  Beroaldi,  Bonontae  a.  1498  : 
loh.  Mar.  Gatanaei,  Mediolani  a.  1506. 

For  readings  in  Book  X.  (ad  Trat«anum) : 
a  (ut  supra). 

A  editio  Hier.  Anantii  a.  1502. 

0  exemplar  bibl.  Bodleianae  ab  Hardeio  descriptum. 
CcU.^  editio  altera  loh.  Mar.  Catanaci  a.  1518. 

And  other  MSS.  and  editions  oooasionally. 


C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDI 
EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE 

LIBER  I. 


^i.  (I.  1.) 

5  C.  PLINIVS  SEPTICIO  SVO  S. 

Freqventer  hortatus  es  ut  epistulas  quas  paulo  1 
accuratius  scripsissem,  colligerem  publicaremque. 
coUegi  lion  seruato  temporis  ordine  (neque  enim 
histx)riam  componebam),  sed  ut  quaeque  in  manus 
lo  uenerat.  superest  ut  nee  te  consilii  nee  me  paeniteat  2 
obsequii.  ita  enim  fiet  ut  eas  quae  adhuc  neglectae 
iacent  requiram,  et  si  quas  addidero,  non  supprimam. 
uale. 

2.    (I.  2.) 
15  C.  PLINIVS  ARRIANO  SVO  S. 

Quia  tardiorem  aduentum  tuum  prospicio,  librum  1 
i\ucm  prioribus  cpistulis  promisoram  exhibeo.      liunc 
rogo  ex   consuetudiiie  tua  et  legas  et  emendes,  eo 

1  5  Septicio  MV  Septitio  a  Secn*nd<>  B  (ct/m  in  index)  Fou 
6  quas  BF  si  quas  MVoua  7  accuratius  BFoua  cura  (curam  M) 
maiore  WF 

€  A 


2  a  PUNI  GAEdLI  8BCVNDI         %  (L9 

magis,  quod  nihil  antepermeque  eodem  {^kf  soripdaBe 
2  uideor.  temptaui  enim  imitari  Demoethenen  aemper 
tuum,  Galuom  nuper  meum,  dumtaawt  figuria 
orationis:  nam  uim  tantorom  uinmim  'paod  qnoa 
Saequus  amauit'  adaequi  poaaont.  nee  materia  ipaa  S 
huic  (uereor  ne  impiobe  dicam)  aemulationi  repa- 
gnauit :  erat  enim  prope  tota  in  eontentione  dioendi : 
quod  me  longae  deaidiae  indormientem  ezcitanit^  ai 

4  modo  is  sum  ego  qui  excitari  poaafan.    naa  tamen 
omnino    Marci    noatri    XarficABcvs  fagimn%  qnotiena  m 
paulum  itinere  deoedere  non  intempestniia  amoenita- 
tibus  admonebamur:   acrea  enim  non    triatea  eaae 

5  uolebamus.    nee  est  quod  putea  me  sub  hao  esroe- 
ptione  ueniam  postulare.    nam  quo  magis  intendam 
limam  tuam,  oonfitebor  et  ipaum  me  et  ecmtabemalee  15 
ab  edidone  non  abhorrere,  si  modo  tu  fortaaae  enrori 

Bnostro  album  eakulum  adieoeria.  eat  enim  {Ame 
aliquid  edendum,— atque  utinam  hoe  potiaaimum 
quod  paratum  eat  (audis  deaidiae  uotum) !— edendnm 
autem  ex  pluribus  causis,  maxima  quod  libeUi  quoa  » 

a  1  ante  BFdna  nmquani  WTF  ^^  a  ado  oa  stilo  (hiU 
marg.  1  h,  •!  ZHAfi)  B  tUlo  {hut  sti-  app.  aver  digki  bUi) 
F  Ubro  M  libro  {InU  enuL  and  ttiUo  add.  nuung.  M  k,)  Y 
4  nam  uim  aim  BF  {but  inierlin,  t.  materiam  F)  nam  aim 
tantorum  airorum  ona  nam  aim  tantam  nerbonun  HY  9  qui 
BFona  ut  K7  10  quotiens...  admonebamur  BF6aa  nt  etiam 
paulum  itinere  (itenere  M)  cedendo  intempestioia  amoeni- 
tatibus  submouemur  HY  12  acres  (acris  0)  enim  non  triatea 
(tristis  0)  esse  BFoa  acres  (acreis  a  ac  r^  M)  enim  esse  non 
tristes  (tristeis  a)  KVa  {awl  2  h.  B)  14  nam  W9F9l  non  BF 
imo  (corr.  2  h,  ta  non  n)  on  17  plane  aliquid  BFMa  aliquid 
plane  MVF  19  audis  BFoua  audias  MV 


3.  (1. 3)  EPISTVLAE  SfiLECTAK  3 

emisimus  dicuntur  in  manibus  esse,  quamuis  iam 
gratiam  nouitatis  exuerint ;  nisi  tamen  auribus  nostris 
bibliopolae  blandiimtur.  sed  sane  blandiantur,  dum 
per  hoc  mendacium  nobis  studia  nostra  commendent. 
5  uale. 

"  3.  (L  a) 

C.  PLINIV8  CANINIO  RVFO  SVO  S. 
Quid  agit  Comum,  tuae  meaeque  deliciae  ?    quid  1 
suburbanum     amoenissimum  1      quid     ilia    porticus 

louema  semper  t  quid  platanon  opacissimus  ?  quid 
euripus  uiridis  et  gemmeus?  quid  subiectus, 
seruiens  laeus?  quid  ilia  mollis  et  tamen  solida 
gestatiot  quid  balineum  illud,  quod  plurimus  sol 
implet  et  circumit  1  quid  triclinia  ilia  popularia,  ilia 

15  paucorum  ?  quid  cubicula  diuma,  nocturna  1  possident 
te  et  per  uices  partiuntur  1  an,  ut  solebas,  intentione  2 
rei  familiaris  obeundae    crebris  excursionibus  auo- 
caris  ?  si  possident,  felix  beatusque  es ;  si  minus,  unus 
ex  multis.     quin  tu  (tempus  enim)  humiles  et  sor-  3 

2odidas  curas  aliis  mandas  et  ipse   te  in    alto    isto 
pinguique  secessu  studiis  adseris  ?    hoc  sit  negotium 
tuum,  hoc  otium,  hie  labor,  haec  quies :  in  his  uigilia, 
in  his  etiam  somnus  reponatur.     effinge  aliquid   et  4 
excude  quod  sit  perpetuo  tuum.     nam  reliqua  i-erum 

25  tuarum   post  te   alium   atque   alium   dominum  sor- 

3  blandiantur  om.  BFou 

8  11  subiectus  seruiens  BF  subiectus  et  seruiens  MVoua 
18  si  possident  BFona  si  te  possident  MV  19  tempus  enim  BF 
tempus  est  enim  MVFa  ipse  enim  ou  24  excude  oua  excutc 
BF  exclude  MV 


4  C.  PLINI  CABdLI  8ECVNDI  8.  (L  S) 

tientur;  hoc  nunquam  tuum  desinet  esse,  si  semel 
5  coeperit.     scio  quern  animum,  quod  horter  ingenium. 
tu  modo  enitere  ut  tibi  ipse  sis  tanti  quanti  uideberis 
aliis,  si  tibi  fueris.     uale. 


4.    (L  «.)  5 

C.  PLINIVS  VOCONIO  ROMANO  SVO  & 

1  Vidistine  quemquam  M.  Regulo  timidiorem, 
humiliorem  post  Domitiani  mortem  1  sub  quo  non 
minora  flagitia  commiserat  quam  sub  Nerone,  sed 
tectiora.      coepit  uereri  ne  sibi  irascerer ;  nee  falle-  ig 

2  batur,  irascebar.  Rustici  Aruleiii  periculimi  fouerat, 
exultauerat  morte,  adeo  ut  librum  recitaret  publi* 
caretque,  in  quo  Rusticum  insectatur  atque  etiam 
*Stoicorum    simiam'     appellat;    adicit    'Vitelliana 

3  cicatrice  stigmosum.'    agnoscis  eloquentiam  Reguli.  15 
lacerat  Herennium  Senecionem,  tam  intemperanter 
quidem  ut  dixerit  ei  Mettius  Cams  '  quid  tibi  cum 
meis  mortuis  ?  numquid  ego  aut  Crasso  aut  Gamerino 
molestus  sumf   quos  ille  sub  Nerone  accusauerat. 

4  haec  me  Regulus  dolenter  tulisse  credebat,  ideoque  20 
I         etiam  cum  recitaret  librum,  non  adhibuerat. 

Praeterea  reminiscebatur  quam  capitaliter  ipsum 

5  me  apud  centumuiros  lacessissct.  aderam  Arrionillae, 
Timonis  uxori,    rogatu    Aruleni    Rustici ;    Regulus 

1  numqHain  ...  coeperit  BFa  numquam  desinet  esse  si  semel 
coeperit  (ceperit  V)  tuum  MY  numquam  tuum  desioet  esse  si 
semel  coeperit  (ceperit  u)  esse  ou 

4    18  ego  aut  crasso  BFoua  e^o  crasso  KV     20  ideoque 
BFoua  cot^ue  MV     22  me  i|)8um  Foa 


^  ^5)  EFKSTVLAE  8ELBCTA&  * 

^^^    nitebamur  nos  in  parte  caone  sententia 

Metti  Modesti,  optdmi  uiri :  is  tunc  in  exsilio  erat,  a 

Domitiano  reiegatus.      ecce  tibi  Begulus   'quaero' 

^'^^uit,  'Secunde,  qnid  de  Modesto  sentias.'     okka 

5  9^0(1  periculum,  si  respondissem  'bene/  qnod  flagi- 

^um,  si  ( male.'      non  possom  dicere  alind  tunc  inihi 

4^m  deos  adfcdsse.      'respondebo'  inquam   'quid 

^ntiam,  si  de  hoc  centmnuiri  iudicaturi  sunt.'    mrsos 

^6  'quaero  quid  de  Modesto  sentias.'     itemm  eff>$ 

10 ^solebant  testes  in  reos,  non  in  damnatoe  interrogm.' 

^itio  ille  'non  iam  quid  de  Modesto,  sed  quid  de 

pietate  Modesti  sentias.'     'quaeris'  inquam   'quid? 

^ntiam :  at  ego  ne  interrogare  quidem  fas  puto  de  • 

9Q0  pronuntiatum  est.'     contkuit:  me  laus  et  gra- 

istolatio  secuta  est,   quod  nee  famam  meam   aliquo 

responso,  utili  fortasse,  inhonesto  tamen,  laesenun  nee 

me  laqueis  tarn  insidiosae  interrogationis  inuolueram. 

Nunc  ergo  conscientia  exterritus  apprehenditS 
Caccilium  Celerem,  mox  Fabium  lustum,  rogat  ut 
20  me  sibi  reconcilient.  nee  contentus,  peruenit  ail 
Spurinnam :  huic  supplieiter,  ut  est  cum  timet  abiec- 
tissimus,  '  rogo  mane  uideas  Plinium  domi,  sed  plane 
mane  (neque  enim  diutius  perfcrre  sollicitudinem 
possum),  et  quoquo  modo  ctticias  iic  milii  ini-scatur/ 
25  euigilaueram :    nuntius  a  Spuriiuia  :    '  ucnio  ad  te.'  9 

2  erat  ...  rclegatus  BKVfa  erat  rt-lcgatiut  a  diiniitiano  on 
(ami  F  cU  ,finU,  InU  corrtrlrd)  tunc  MVoa  turn  BF  tanicfn  n 
7  rcspondebo  ...  si  BFoiia  respoinlc-lN»  inquam  si  MV  12  wntiax 
qoaeri»  BFooa  tentias  quaero  quaerU  MV  23  perferre  sol- 
licitudinem BF  ferre  soUicitudiucu.  oua  »ollicitudiiieni  ferre 
MV 


^' 


6  C.  PUNI  CAEGIU  8ECVNDI  4.  (L  5) 

'iiniiKi  ego  ad  to/  coimus  in  porticum  Liuiae,  cum 
alter  ad  altenim  tenderemus.  ex]f)onit  Reguli  man- 
data,  addit  preces  suas,  ut  decebat  optimum  uirum 

10  pro  dissimillimo,  parce.  cui  ego  '  dispicies  ipse  quid 
renuntiandum  Regulo  putes:  te  decipi  a  me  non  5 
oportet.  exspecto  Mauricum'  (nondum  ab  ezsilio 
uenerat) :  *  ideo  nihil  alterutram  in  partem  respondere 
tibi  possum,  facturus  quidquid  Ule  decreuerit :  ilium 
enim  esse  huius  consilii  ducem,  me  comitem  decet.' 

11  Paucos  post  dies  ipse  me  Regulus  conuenit  in  10 
praetoris  officio :  illuc  persecutus  secretum  petit :  ait 
timere  se  ne  animo  meo  penitus  haereret  quod  in 
centumuirali  iudicio  aliquando  dixisset,  cum  re- 
sponderet  mihi  et  Satrio  Rufo,  ^Satrius  Rufus,  cui 
non  est  cum  Cicerone  aemulatio,  et  qui  contentus  est  15 

12  eloquentia  saeculi  nostri/  respondi  nunc  me  intelle- 
gere  maligno  dictum,  quia  ipse  confiteretur ;  ceterum 
potuisse  honorificum  existimari.  '  est  enim '  inquam 
'mihi  cum  Cicerone  aemulatio,  nee  sum  contentus 

13  eloquentia  saccuIi  nostri.  nam  stultissimum  credo  ad  20 
imitandum  non  optima  quaeque  proponere.  sed  tu, 
qui  huius  iudicii  meministi,  cur  illius  oblitus  es  in  quo 
mo  interrogasti  quid  de  Metti  Modesti  pietate 
sentiremV  expalluit  notabilitcr,  quamuis  palleat 
semper,  et  haesitabuiidus  *  iiiterrogaui,  non  ut  tibi  25 
nocercm,  sed  ut  McKlesto/  aide  hominis  crudcli- 
tatcni,  (jui  sc  non  dissiniulct  cxsuli  nocere  uoluissc. 

14  subiunxit   cgrct^nni   c.ausam  :    '  scripsit '  inquit    *  in 

I  porticitm  BFoua  porticii  MV  18  existimari  MVoiui  existi 
mare  BF  inquam  mihi  BFoua  mihi  inquam  MV  25  et  om, 
BFa 


5.  (L  6)  EFIKITLAE  SELDCTAE. 

epistula  quadam,  quae  apod  Dainitianum  : 
"Regulos,   omniom  bipedmn  iiequkEnnTis'":  "'quod 
quidem  Modestos  nerissime  scnpBem. 
BKc  fere  nobis  senaonis  tcnxdiiD&.    naqne 
5  uolui  progredi  longius,  ut  mihi  orama  Hben  i 
dum  Mauncos  oenit.    nee  me  prMtent  * 
SviKoBaiperoy  r  est  enim  locoples,  faetaosoB,  < 
multis,  tunetnr  a  plmibos,  qnod  pkmmqiie 
amore  est.      potest    tamen   fieri  ut  haee  caaaamM, 

'o  labantor.     nam  gratia  malomm  tarn  infida  est  qnaiD  16 
ipsi.      uerum,     at    idem    saepios   dicam,    eapecU) 
Mauricum.'    uir  est  graois,  pnidens,  multis  experi- 
mentis  eraditus,  et  qui  futura  possit  ex  praetemiE 
prouidere.     mihi  et  temptandi  aliquid  et  qoieaoeDdi 

^Sillo  auctore  ratio  oonstabit.    haec  uIh  acnpsi,  quia  17 
aequum  erat  te  pro  amore  mutoo  non  aolum  omnia 
mea  facta  dictaque  uerum  etiam  omsilia  oognosoere. 
oale. 

'  5.    (I.  6.) 
20  C.  PUNIVS  OORNEUO  TACITO  8VO  a 

.^'     Ridebis,  et  licet  rideas.    ego  ille  quem  noati  apros  1 
tres  et  quidem  pulcherrimos  cepi.    ipse!  inquis.    ipse; 
non   tamen   ut   omnino  ab    inertia    mea   et  quiete 
discederem.    ad  retia  sedcbam :  erat  in  proximo  non 

H  uenabulum  aut  lancea.  sed  stilus  et  pugillares  :  medi- 
tabar    aliquid   enotabamqne,   ut,    si   manus    uacuas, 

8  fortius  amore  BMVa  amorc  fortius  Fon     9  concussa  KVa 
concisa  B  concissa  F  consilia  {rorr.  2  h.  u)  oa      II    saepius 
dicam  BFoaa  dicam  aaepius  MV 
6  21  ego  ille  MV  ego  plinius  ille  BFoaa 


^..U/  ^:  ^::   : 

r'--   . 

\ 

-X  OH-Kirp-'**'^^^'-^  .2^  *'] 

'  f- 

:"...-    f> 

y^-u  c*iii.*t».  /^*-#'»  J  -     k^f'    ,  , 

\    h  ' 

.S      W.U 

8  C.  PUNI  CAECILI  8BCVNDI         6.  (1. 6) 

2  plenas  tamen  ceras  reportarem.  non  est  quod  con- 
temnas  hoc  studendi  genus,  minim  est  ut  animtis 
agitatione  motuque  corporis  ezcitetur.  iam  undique 
siluae  et  solitudo  ipsumque  illud  silentium  quod 
uenationi  datur  magna  cogitationis  incitamenta  sunt.   5 

3  proinde  cum  uenabere,  licebit  auctore  me  ut  panarium 
et  lagunculam  sic  etiam  pugillares  feras.  expeiieris 
non  Dianam  magis  montibus  quam  Mineruam  iner- 
rare.     uale. 

'  6-    (I.  9.)  ,0 

C.  PLINIVS  MINICIO  FVNDANO  SVO  S. 

j*     1      Minim  est  quam  singulis  diebus  in  urbe  ratio  aut 
constet  aut  constare  uideatur,  pluribus  iunctisque  non 

2  constet.    nam  si  quem  interroges  'hodie  quid  egistif , 
respondeat  *  officio  togae  uirilis  interfui,  sponsalia  aut  15 
nuptias  frequentaui,  ille    me  ad  signandum   testa- 
mentum,    ille    in   aduocationem,    ille   in    consilium 

3  rogauit.'  haec  quo  die  feceris  necessaria,  eadem,  si 
cotidie  fecisse  te  reputes,  inania  uidentur,  multo 
magis  cum   secesseris.     tunc  enim  subit  recordatio  2g 

[  *  quot  dies  quam  f rigidis  rebus  absumpsi ! ' 

4  Quod  cuenit  mihi,  postquam  in  Laurentino  meo  aut 
lego  aliquid  aut  scrilx)  aut  etiam  corpori  uaco,  cuius 

5  fulturis  animus  sustinetiir.     nihil  audio  quod  audisse, 
nihil  ilico  quod  dixissc  pjienitcat :    nemo  me  apud  25 
qucnuiuam  sinistris  sermonihus  carpit,  ncraincm  ipse 
rcprehendo,    nisi    tamon    me,   cum  parum  commode 

6   13  iuiictis<iuc  BFa  cunctisque  ou  cunctacjue  MY    25  me 
apud  BFa  apud  inu  MVon 


7.  (L 10)  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  9 

scribo;  nulla  spe,  nuUo  timore  soUicitor,  nullis  rumo 
ribus  inquietor :  mecum  tantum  et  cum  libellis  loqiior. 
0  rectam  sinceramque  uitam,  o  dulce  otium  hone-  6 
stumque  ac  paene  omni  negotio  pulchrius !  o  mare, 
50  litus,  uerum  secretumque  /wxxreiov^  quam  multa 
inuenitis,  quam  multa  dictatis ! 

Proinde  tu  quoque  strepitum  istum  inanemque  dis-  7 
cursum  et  multum  ineptos  labores,  ut  primum  f uerit 
<^ccasio,  relinque  teque  studiis  uel  otio  trade,     satius  8 
w  est  enim,  ut  Atilius  noster  eruditissime  simul  et  f ace- 
^'^ssime  dixit,  otiosum  esse  quam  nihil  agere.     uale. 


7.    (I.  10.) 
C.  PLINIVS  ATTIO  CLEMENTI  SVO  S. 

Si  quando  urbs  nostra  liberalibus  studiis  floruit,  1 

'5  nunc  maxime  floret,      multa  claraque  exempla  sunt ;  2 

sufficeret  unum,  Euphrates  philosophus.     hunc  ego  in 

Syria,  cum  adulescentulus  militarem,  penitus  et  domi 

inspexi  amarique  ab  eo  laboraui,  etsi  non  erat  labo- 

nuidum.     est  enim   obuius   et   expositus   plenusque 

*>  humanitate  quam  praecipit.    atque    utinam  sic  ipse  3 

quam  spem  tunc  ille  de  me  concepit  implcuerim,  ut 

ille  multum  uirtutibus  suis  addidit !    aut  ctro  nunc 

illas  magis  miror,   quia  magis  intcllcgo.     quanquam 

ne  nunc  quidem  siitis  intcllcgo.     ut  enim  dc  pictorc,  4 

3  o  rectam   BFfa  rectam  HV  o  rcgiaiii   on  o  (iulce   BFoua 
dolceKV 

7  20  ipse  ...  nie  Ba  ipse  spem  quam  tunc  ille  de  me  Fou 
ipse  quam  spem  tunc  et  de  me  MV  22  nunc  illas  magis 
miror  KVF  nunc  illas  miror  BFa  illas  nunc  mil  or  on 


10  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SBCVNDI        7.  (I.  10) 

scalptore,  fictore  nisi  artifex  iudicare,  ita  nisi  sapiens 
noil  potest  perspicere  sapientem. 

5  Quantum  mihi  tamen  cemere  datur,  multa  in 
Euphrate  sic  eminent  et  elucent  ut  mediocriter  quo- 
que  doctos  aduertant  et  adficiant.  disputat  subtiliter,  5 
grauiter,  ornate ;  frequenter  etiam  Platonicam  illam 
sublimitatem  et  latitudinem  effingit.  sermo  est  co- 
piosus  et  uarius,  dulcis  in  primis,  et  qui  repugnantes 

6  quoque  ducat,  impellat.     ad  hoc  proceritas  corporis, 
decora  facies,  demissus  capillus,  ingens  et  cana  bEU*ba;  lo 
quae  licet  fortuita  et  inania  putentur,   illi  tamen 

7  plurimum  uenerationis  adquirunt.  nuUus  horror  in 
cultu,  nulla  tristitia,  multum  seueritatis:  reuerearis 
occursum,  non  reformides.  uitae  sanctitas  summa, 
comitas  par:  insectatur  uitia,  non  homines,  nee  casti-  15 
gat  errantes  sed  emendat.  sequaris  monentem  atten- 
tus  et  pendens  et  persuaderi  tibi,  etiam  cum  persuaserit, 

8  cupias.  iam  uero  liberi  tres,  duo  mares,  quos  diligen- 
tissime  instituit.  socer  Pompeius  lulianus,  cum  cetera 
uita  turn  uel  hoc  uno  magnus  et  clarus,  quod  ipse  20 
prouinciae  princeps,  inter  altissimas  condiciones, 
generum  non  honoribus  principem  sed  sapientia 
elegit. 

9  Quanquam  quid  ego  plura  de  uiro  quo  mihi  frui 
non  licet?  an  ut  magis  aiigar  quod  non  licet  I    nam  25 
distringor  officio  ut  maxirao  sic  molestissimo.     sedeo 
pro  tribuiiah*,  subnoto  libellos,  coiificio  tabulas,  scribo 

3  mihi  tamen  cerncre  datur  BFa  tamen  mihi  cernere  datur  MV 
tamen  mihi  datur  cernere  ou  15  comitas  par  BlCVfa  par 
comitas  Fou  17  i>ersuaderi  MVf  persuadere  BFoua  21  prin- 
ceps hunc  inter  WF 


S.  (I.  12)  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  11 

plurimas   sed  inlitteratissimas   litteras.      soleo  non  10 
nunquam  (nam  id  ipsum  quando  contingit !)  de  his 
occupationibus  apud  Euphratcn  queri.    ille  me  conso- 
latur,  adfirmat  etiam  esse  banc  pbilosopbiae  et  quidem 

5  pulcherrimam    partem,    agere    negotium   publicum, 
cognoscere,  iudicare,  promere  et  exercere  iustitiam, 
quaeque  ipsi  doceant  in   usu  habere,     mihi  tamen  11 
hoc  unum  non  persuadet,  satius  esse  ista  facere  quam 
cum  illo  dies  totos  audiendo  discendoque  oonsumere. 

lo      Quo  magis  te,  cui   uacat,  hortor,  cum  in  urbem 
proxime  ueneris  (uenias  autem  ob  hoc  maturius),  illi 
te  expoliendum  limandumque  permittas.    ncque  enim  12 
ego,  ut  multi,  inuideo  aliis  bonum  quo  ipse  careo,  sed 
contra  sensum  quendam  uoluptatemque  percipio,  si  ea 

15  quae  mihi  denegantur  amicis  uideo  superesse.     uale. 


^8.    (I.  12.) 
C.  PLINIVS  CALESTRIO  TIRONI  SVO  S. 

lacturam  grauissimam  feci,  si  iactura  diccnda  est 
tanti  uiri  amissio.    decessit  Corellius  Kufus,  et  quidem 

20  sponte,  quod  dolorem  mcum  exulcerat.  est  cnim 
luctuosissimum  genus  mortis  quae  non  ex  natura  nee 
fatalis  uidctur.  nam  utcunique  in  illis  qui  mor1>o 
finiuntur  ^magnum  ex  ipsa  necessitate  solacium  est ; 
in  iis  ucro  cjuos  acccrsita  mors  aufert  hie  insanabihs 

25  dolor  est,  quod  crcduntur  potuissc  diu  uiuere.  Corel- 
Hum  quulcni  suninia  ratio,  quae  sapientibus  pro  ncees 

13  bonam  BFona  bono  KV 
S  18  feci  inr^  feroci  B  fero  Vwi 


12  a  Fumm 

flitate  est,  ad   boo   091 
plurimas  uiuendi  < 
tiam»  optimam 
terea  filiam,  luconni,  b< 
4pignora  ueroa 
ualetudine  < 
mortis  rmttonibiia  t 

Tertio  el 
pedum  dobte 
plerumque 

5  ut  alia^  (ndvnmc;  hve  a 
uindttaetaa»  oieitiftfi^ 

6  JngTMieicenlisifc  «oftm  «d 
incTddihiles  oNMilaB  ^  i 
reiwnr.  tam  «Mm  dahr  n 
insidehat«elenBia  mnmb 
««Tn  DoniisaM  %Mif«Bbu. 

«wm   «MansMft  Mdfar  ai 
X4fiitl  ^anMtii 


^ 


12  C.  PUHI  OABCILI  SBOVMBI        8.  (L  IS) 

sitate  est,  ad  hoc  oonsiliuiii  oompulit^  qimnqnam 
plurimas  uiuendi  oauaas  habentem,  optiinain  oonaden- 
tiam,  optimam  famam,  maximam  auctoritatem»  prae- 
terea  filiam,  uxorem,  nepotem,  aororea,  interque  tot 

4  pignora  ueroa  amiooa.    aed  tarn  longa,  tarn  iniqiia  5 
ualetudine  oonfliotabator  ut  haec  tanta  pretia  uiuflodi 
mortis  rationibus  uincerentor. 

Tertio  et  trioeiudnio  anno»  ut  ipaum  audiebam» 
pedum  dolore  correptus  eat  patrius  Uo  ilU:  nam 
plerumque  morbi  quoque  per  auoceaaionea  quaadam,  lo 

5  ut  alia,  traduntor.  huno  abatmeatia»  aanotitate,  quoad 
uiridis  aetas,  uicit  et  fregit ;  nouissime  cum  seneotute 

6  ingrauescentem  uiribua  animi  sustmebat^  cum  quidem 
incredibiles  cruciatua  et  indigniwdma  tonnenta  pate- 
retur.    iam  enim  dolor  ncm  pedibua  aolis,  ut  priua,  15 
insidebat  sed  omnia  membra  peruagabatur.    ueni  ad 
eum  Domitiani  temporibus  in  suburbano  iacentem. 

7  serui  e  cubiculo  recesserunt :  habebat  hoc  moris,  quo- 
tiens  intrasset  fidelior  amicus;  quin  etiam  uxor, 
quanquam  omnia  secreti  capacissima,  digrediebatur.  ao 

8  circumtulit  oculos  et  'cur' inquit  'me  putas  hostantos 
dolores  tarn  diu  sustinerel  ut  scilicet  isti  latroni  uel 
uno  die  supersim/  dedisses  huic  animo  par  corpus, 
fecisset  quod  optabat. 

Adf uit  tamcn  deus  uoto,  cuius  ille  compos,  ut  iam  35 
sccurus  libcrque  moriturus,  multa  ilia  uitac  sed  minora 

9  rctinacula  abrupit.  increuerat  ualetudo,  quam  tem- 
pcraiitia  mitigare  temptauit;  perseuerantem  constantia 

2  optimam  conscientiam  om.  UV  18  habebat  hoc  BHV  babebat 
euim  hoc  Fon  habebat  is  hoc  a    19  quin  am,  Wf 


I 


8.  (L 12)  EMSTVLAE  S£LECTA£  13 

fugit.  iam  dies  alter,  tertius,  quartus :  abstinebat  cilx). 
misit  ad  me  uxor  eius  Hispulla  communem  amieum  C. 
Gcminiiim  cum  tristissimo  iiuntio,  destinasse  Corelliuni 
mori  nee  aut  suis  aut  filiae  precibus  flecti,  solum 
5  superesse  me  a  quo  reuocari  posset  ad  uitam.  cucurri :  10 
perueneram  in  proximum,  cum  mihi  ab  eadem  Hispulla 
luHus  Atticus  nuntiat  nihil  iam  ne  me  quidem 
impetraturum :  tam  obstinate  magis  ac  magis  induru- 
isse.     dixerat  sane  medico  admouenti  cibum  KCfcpiKa, 

10  quae  uox  quantum  admirationis  in  animo  meo  tantum 
dedderii  reliquit. 

Cogito    quo  amico,   quo   uiro   caream.      impleuit  11 
quidem    annum    scptimum   et   sexagensimum,    quae 
aetas  etiam  robustissimis  satis  longa  est :  scio.    euasit 

15  perpetuam  ualctudinem :  scio.     decessit  superstitibus 
suis,  florente  re  publica,  quae  illi  omnibus  suis  carior 
erat :  et  hoc  scio.     ego  tamen  tanquam  et  iuuenis  et  12 
fortissimi  morte  doleo,  doleo  autem,  licet  me  imbe- 
dllum  putes,  meo  nomine,     amisi  enim,  amisi  uitae 

20  mcac  tcstcm,  rcctorem,  magistrum.    in  sumnia,  dicam 
quod  rccenti  dolore  contubemali  meo  Caluisio  dixi, 
•uereor  ne  neglcgentius  uiuam.' 
Proinde  adhibe  solacia  mihi,  non  haec  *  senex  erat,  13 


1  fregit  Momin-'ien  3  pemininni  BFua  geminiim  o  Keil 
germanium  M  gennanum  V  4  flecti  BFoua  inflccti  MV 
9  K^KfHKa  BMVfa  K^KfiriKo  JieroaiduM,  2  h,  over  eras.  F,  in 
blank  o,  om.  in  blank  u  16  suis  om.  aft.  omnibus  MVf  17  ego 
•  om.  MY  et  iuuenis  et  fortissimi  Boa  iuuenis  et  fortissimi  Fu  et 
inuenis  et  firmissimi  MV  18  morte  doleo  doleo  auteni  BFona 
mortem  doleo  doleo  autem  V  mortem  doleo  autem  M 
19  amisi  o»m.  aj'f.  enim  KVF 


I 


12  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDI        8.  (L  12) 

sitate  est,   ad    hoc    consilium  compulit,   quanquam       | 
plurimas  uiuendi  causas  habentem,  optimam  conscien- 
tiam,  optimam  famam,  maximam  auctoritatem,  prae- 
terea  filiam,  uxorem,  nepotem,  sorores,  interque  tot 

4  pigiiora   ueros   amicos.     sod  tam  longa,  tam  iniqua   s 
ualetudine  conflictabatur  ut  haec  tanta  pretia  uiuendi 
mortis  rationibus  uincerentur. 

Tertio  et  tricensimo  anno,  ut  ipsimi  audiebam, 
pedum  dolore  correptus  est.  patrius  hie  illi:  nam 
plerumque  morbi  quoque  per  successiones  quasdam,  lo 

5  ut  alia,  traduntur.  hunc  abstinentia,  sanctitate,  quoad 
uiridis  aetas,  uicit  et  fregit ;  nouissime  cum  senectute 

6  ingrauescentem  uiribus  animi  sustinebat,  cum  quidem 
incredibiles  cruciatus  et  indignissima  tormenta  pate- 
retur.     iam  enim  dolor  non  pedibus  solis,  ut  prius,  15 
insidebat  sed  omnia  membra  peruagabatur.     ueni  ad 
eum  Domitiani  temporibus  in  suburbano  iacentem. 

7  serui  e  cubiculo  recesserunt :  habebat  hoc  moris,  quo- 
tiens  intrasset  Rdelior  amicus;  quin  etiam  uxor, 
quanquam  omnis   secreti  capacissima,  digrediebatur.  20 

8  circumtulit  oculos  et  *cur'  inquit  *me  putas  hos  tantos 
dolores  tam  diu  sustinere  ?  ut  scilicet  isti  latroni  uel 
uno  die  supersim.'  dedisses  huic  animo  par  corpus, 
fecisset  quod  optabat. 

Adfuit  tamcn  deus  uoto,  cuius  ille  compos,  ut  iam  25 
sceurus  liberque  moriturus,  multa  ilia  uitae  sed  minora 

9  retinacula  abrupit.  increuerat  ualetudo,  quam  tem- 
pcrantia  mitigare  temptauit;  perseuerantem  constantia 

2  optimam  conscientiam  om.  MV   18  habebat  hoc  BMV  habebat 
euim  hoc  Fon  habebat  is  hoc  a    19  quin  om.  MV 


8.  (1. 12)  EPISTVLAE  SELECTA£  13 

fugit.  iam  dies  alter,  tertius,  quartus :  abstinebat  cilx). 
misit  ad  me  uxor  eius  Hispulla  communem  amicum  C. 
Gemiiiium  cum  tristissimo  iiuntio,  destinasse  Corellium 
mori  nee  aut  suis  aut  filiae   precibus  flecti,   solum 

5  superesse  me  a  quo  reuocari  posset  ad  uitam.    cucurri :  10 
perueneram  in  proximum,  cum  mihi  ab  eadem  Hispulla 
lulius  Atticus  nuntiat  nihil    iam    ne    me    quidem 
impetraturum :  tam  obstinate  magis  ac  magis  induru- 
isse.     dixerat  sane  medico  admouenti  cibum  K€KpiKa, 

10  quae  uox  quantum  admirationis  in  animo  meo  tantum 
desiderii  reliquit. 

Cogito    quo  amico,   quo  uiro  caream.      impleuit  11 
quidem    annum    septimum   et   sexagensimum,    quae 
aetas  etiam  robustissimis  satis  longa  est :  scio.    euasit 

15  perpetuam  ualetudinem  :  scio.     decessit  superstitibus 
suis,  florente  re  publica,  quae  illi  omnibus  suis  carior 
erat :  et  hoc  scio.     ego  tamen  tanquam  et  iuuenis  et  12 
fortissimi  morte  doleo,  doleo  autem,  licet  me  imbe- 
cillum  putes,  meo  nomine,     amisi  enim,  amisi  uitae 

20  mcae  tcstcm,  rcctorem,  magistrum.    in  summa,  dicam 
quod  rccenti  dolore  contubemali  meo  Caluisio  dixi, 
*  uereor  ne  neglegentius  uiuam.* 
Proinde  adhibe  solacia  mihi,  non  haec  *  senex  erat,  13 


1  f regit  MommAtn  3  peminiuni  BFua  geminiim  o  Keil 
germanium  M  geniianum  V  4  flecti  BFoua  inflccti  MV 
9  KiKpLKo.  BMVfa  K^xfiriKa  Jieroaldus,  2  h.  over  eran.  F,  in 
blank  o,  OM.  in  Uank  u  16  suis  om.  aft.  omnibus  MVf  17  ego 
•  om.  MV  et  iuuenis  et  fortissimi  Boa  iuuenis  et  fortissimi  Fu  et 
inucnis  et  finnissimi  MV  18  morte  doleo  doleo  autem  BFoua 
mortem  doleo  doleo  autem  V  mortem  doleo  autem  M 
19  amisi  o»m.  a/'f.  enim  W/F 


U  C.  PUKI  OAEOILI  8BCVKDI        &  (L  IS) 

infirmus  erat '  (haeo  enim  noui),  aed  noaa  aliqua»  aed 
,  magna,  quae  audierim  nunquam,  legerim  nunquam. 
nam  quae  audiui,  quae  legi,  sponte  suocommt^  aed 
tanto  dolore  superantur.    uale. 

"^B.    (L  IZ.)  5 

0.  PLINIVS  80SI0  8BNECI0NI  SVO  8. 

1  Magnum  proueintum  poetamm  amma  hie  attolii. 
:toto  mense  April!  nuUus  fere  dies  quo  non  redtaret 

aliquis.    iuuat  me  quod  uigent  stadia^  profenmt  ae 
ingenia  hominum  et  ostentant^  tametsi  ad  audiendum  lo 

2  pigre  coitur.     plerique  in  stationibua  sedent  tempua- 
que  audiendi  {abulia  oonterunt  ac  aubinde  aibi  nun- 

;  tiari  iubent  an  iam  reeitator  intrauerit^  an  dizerit 
praef ationem,  an  ex  magna  parte  euduerit  libmm : 
tunc  demum,  ac  tunc  quoque  lente  ounctanterque  15 
ueniunt ;  nee  tamen  permanent,  aed  ante  finem  re- 

I  cedunt^  alii  diasimulanter  et  furtim,  alii  aimplioiter  ^ 

1  libere. 

3  At  hercule  memoria  parentum  Claudium  Caaaarem 
fcrunt,  cum  in  Palatio  apatiaretur  audiaaetque  clamo-  so 
rem,  causam  requiaiaae,  cumque  dictum  eaaet  reoitare 
Nonianum,  aubitum  recitanti  inopinatumque  ueniaae. 

4  nunc  otiosissimua  quisque  multo    ante    rogatua  et 
identidem  admonitua  aut  non   uenit  aut,  ai  uenit^ 

5  qucritur  sc  diem,  quia  non  perdiderit,  perdidiaae.    aed  25 

tanto  magis  laudandi  probandique  aunt  quoa  a  acri- 

« 

9  12  audiendi  BFMVa  audiendis  on  {and  IM  ceni.  com  of 
V)  15  tunc  demum  W  turn  demum  BFona  23  et  identidem 
admonitus  am.  MV    25  perdidit  Oierig 


I 


10.  (L 15)  EPISTVLAE  SELBCTAE.  IS 

bendi  recitandique  studio  haee  auditmiiiD  uel  deadu 
uel  superbia  non  retardat. 

Equidem  prope  nemiiii  defuL     erant  sane  pSerique 
amici:  neque  enim  est  fere  quisquam  qui  studia,  m 

5  non  simul  et  nos  amet.     his  ex  causis  longius  quam  6 
destinaueram  tempus  in  urbe  consumpei    poGBum  iam 
repetere  secessum  et  scribere  aliquid  quod  non  redtem, 
ne  uidear,  quorum  recitationibus  adfni  non  auditrir 
fuisse  sed  creditor,     nam  ut  in  ceteris  rebus  ita  in 

lo  audiendi  officio  perit  gratia,  si  reposcatur.     uale 


10.    (L  15.) 
C.  PLINIVS  SEPTiaO  CLARO  svo  a 

Heus  tu,  promitds  ad  cenam  nee  uenis !  dicitur  ius :  1 
ad  assem  impendium  reddes,  nee  id  modicum,    paratae  2. 

1 5  erant  lactucae  singulae,  cochleae  temae,  oua  bina, 
halica  cum  mujso  et  niue  (nam  banc  quoque  computabis, 
immo  banc  in  primis,  quae  periit  in  ferculo),  olivae, 
betacei,  cucurbitae,  bulbi,  alia  mille  non  minus  lauta. 
audisses  comoedum  uel  lectorem  uel  h^isten  uel,  quae 

ao  mea  liberalitas,  omnes.    at  tu  apud  nescio  quem  ostrea,  3 
uuluas,  echinos,  Gaditanas  maluisti. 

Dabis  poenas,  non  dico  quas.  dure  f ecisti :  inuidisti, 
nescio  an  tibi,  certe  mihi, — sed  tamen  et  tibi  quan- 
tum nos  lusissemus,  risissemus,  sti!Riuissemus  !     potes  4 

1  auditonim  uel  desidia  MVon  auditonini  desidia  (des-  over 
troB,  or  blur  in  B)  BFa 

lO  13  dicetar  A'et/  16  hulica  BFUVou  alica  a  oam  hanc 
quoqae  MVoua  nam  haec  quoqiie  BF  17  periit  MVf  perit 
BPona    24  staduimenins  om.  BF 


16  C.  PLINI  GAECIU  8BCVNDI      10.  (L  10) 

apparatius  cenare  apud  multos,  nusquam  hilarius, 
simplicius,  incautius.  in  summa,  experire,  et  nid 
postea  te  aliis  potius  excusaueris,  mihi  semper  excusa. 
iiale. 

^11.    (L  16.)  5 

C.  PLINIVS  ERVCIO  SVO  8. 

1  Amabam  Pompeium  Satuminum  (hunc  dico  no- 
strum) laudabamque  eius  ingenium,  etiam  antequam 
scirem  quam  uarium,  quam  flexibile,  quam  multiplex 
esset :   nunc  uero  tx)tum  me  tenet,    habet,   possidet  ic 

2  audii  causas  agentem  acriter  et  ardenter,  nee  minus 
polite  et  ornate,  sine  meditata  siue  subita  proferret. 
adsunt  aptae  crebraeque  sententiae,  grauis  et  decora 
constructio,  sonantia  uerba  et  antiqua.  omnia  haec 
mire    placent,    cum    impetu    quodam    et    flumine  15 

3  peruehuntur,  placent,  si  retractentur.  senties  quod 
ego,  cum  orationes  eius  in  manus  sumpseris,  quae 
facile  cuilibet  ueterum,  quorum  est  aemulus,  oompa- 

4  rabis.   idem  tamen  in  historia  magis  satisfaciet  uel  bre- 
uitate  uel  luce  uel  suauitate  uel  aplendore  etiam  et  20 
sublimitate  narrandi.     nam  in  contionibus  idem  qui 
in  orationibus  suis  est,  pressior  tantum  et  circum- 

5  scriptior  et  adductior.  praeterea  facit  uersus,  quales 
Catullus  aut  Caluus.  quantum  illis  Icpbris,  dulcedinis, 

1  iiumquam  BF 

11  10  betjinning  with  uero  KV  omit  mfhout  brtak  or  other 
than  marg.  note  in  late  hand  to  I.  20.  7  {Sel.  IS),  where  they 
rciume  with  retomisisse  13  aptae  BFona  acntae  F  19  idem 
qui  in  orationibus  suis  est  BF  eadem  quae  in  orationibus  uis 
est  oua  22  tantum  BFou  tamen  a  24  ot/^r' Caluus  cod. 
Drt-sil  fv>*rrtn  reuera  quales  catullus  aut  caluus 


IS8.  (1. 18)  EPISTVXAE  SELECTAE.  17 

amaritudinis,  amoris !  inserit  sane,  sed  data  opera, 
mollibus  leuibusque  duriusculos  quosdam,  et  hoc  quasi 
Catullus  aut  Caluus. 
Legit  mihi  nuper  epistulas ;  uxoris  esse  dicebat :  6 
sPlautum  uel  Terentium  metro  solutum  legi  credidi. 
quae  siue  uxoris  sunt,  ut  adfirmat,  siue  ipsius,  ut 
negat,  pari  gloria  dignus  est  qui  aut  ilia  componat  aut 
uxorem,  quam  uirginem  accepit,  tam  doctam  politam- 
que  reddiderit. 

10     Est  ergo  mecum  per  diem  totum :  eundem  antequam  7 
scribam,   eundem  cum  scripsi,   eundem   etiam  cum 
remittor,  non  tanquam  eundem  lego,      quod  te  quo- 
que  ut  facias  et  hortor  et  moneo.     neque  enim  debet  8 
operibus  eius  obesse  quod  uiuit.     an  si  inter  eos  quos 

15  nunquam  uidimus  floruisset,  non  solum  libros  eius 
uerum  etiam  imagines  conquireremus,  eiusdem  nunc 
honor  praesentis  et  gratia  quasi  satietate  languescit  ? 
at  hoe  prauum  malignumque  est,  non  admirari  hominem  9 
admiratione  dignissimum,  quia  uidere,  complecti,  nee 
20  laudare  tantum  uerum  etiam  amare  contigit     uale. 

'  12.    (I.  18.) 
C.  PLINIVS  SVETONIO  TRANQVILLO  SVO  S. 

Scribis  te  pcrterritum  somnio  uercri  no  quid  aducrsi  1 
in  actione   patiaris,   rogas   ut   diktioneni    petani    ct 

2  mollius  leaiusque  dariuscolos  (-culos  ona)  BFoua,  corr,  cod. 
Dreitd,  4  epUtolas  axons  Ba  epistolas  quae  uxoris  Fon 
7  dignas  est  qui  BFon  dignus  qui  a  14  an  oua  at  BF 
16  conquireremus  (conqui  |  remus  B)  BFona  reciuiren»nui8  h 
cod.  Dread.  18  at  ona  et  BF  19  ui<lcre  complecti  BFa 
uiflerc  adloc|ui  andire  complecti  ouf 


18  a  lun  CA  Bdu  ncvHDi    ul  (l  m 

•ede^qperiu-:  «u 7^p  r' om^ cc  Am ottiv. 
2     Relcrt  taiB«ii«iieiitiirmnlaaaneoiitnu^ 

mflii  repmaiiti  «nmnnnn  neum  ktad  qood 
Segregiaaii  actioiMm  poiteiidare  uidelar.    imoeperui  5 

aocnM  nea  adnoliita  gembas  ne  agmn  obaeenure. 
et  ermm  aetnroi  adnhioaitahiB  adhue^  enun.  in  qu»- 
draplki  iodkio^  enun  ooDtrm  polentunnKMi  eimtotM 
aftque  etiam  CSaeourit  amicoB;  quae  aingak  eicatere  lo 
^  4  mentem  mihi  post  tarn  tiiste  aonminm  poterant.  ep, 
tamen  Ai»7ura|icvos  ilfaid 

c?s  oltiros  opcoTos  agivvotcrdai  r€pi  var/nfS. 
nam  mihi  patria  et  si  quid  carina  patria  fides  nide- 
bator.    jHtiepere  oessit^atquekleo  ilia  actio  mihi  anrea  IS 
I .        hominnm,  ilia  ianuam  Usnae  patefedt. 

5  Proinde  diapioe  an  tu  quoque  aub  hoc  ezemplo 
aomnium  iBtnd  in  bonum  uertaa^  ant  ai  tntiuB  poftaa 
illud  cautissimi  cuinaque  praecepium  *qnod  dubitea 

6  ne  feoerisy'  id  ipaum  reacribe.  ego  aliquam  atropham  ao 
inueniam  agamque  causam  tuam,  ut  iatam  agere  tu, 
cum  uoles,  possiB.  est  enim  sane  alia  ratio  tua, 
alia  mea  fuit.  nam  indicium  oentumuirale  differri 
nullo  modo,  istud  aegre  quidem  sed  tamen  potest, 
uale.  35 

la  14  patria  om.  aft,  mihi  BFA,  add,  on  15  ideo  BFa  aHeo 
on  19  diibitas  Sichardus  21  ista  BF  ipsam  ona  24  istac 
{ccrr.  fr,  istud  P)  BF 


la  (L  20)  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  19 

13.    (L  20.)    :j  - 
C.  PLINIVS  CORNEUO  TACITO  SVO  S. 

Frequens  mihi  disputatio  est  cum  quodam  docto  1 
homine  et  perito,  cui  nihil  aeque  in  causis  agendis  ut 
5  breuitas  placet,     quam  ego  custodiendagi  esse  con-  2 
fiteor,  si  causa  permittat:   alioqui  praeuaricatio  est 
taunsire    dicenda,    praeuaricatio    etiam    cursim    et 
breuiter   attingere  quae  sint  inculcanda,   infigenda, 
repetenda.       nam    plerisque    longiore   tractatu    uis3 
10  quaedam  et  pondus  accedit,  utque  corpori  f emnn,  sic 
oratio  animo  non  ictu  magis  quam  mora  imprimitur. 

Hie  ille  mecum  auctoritatibus  agit  ac  mihi  ex  4 
Graecis  orationes  Lysiae  ostentat^  ex  noetris  Graccho- 
rum  Catonisque,  quorum  sane  plurimae  sunt  circum- 
15  cisae  et  breues :  ego  Lysiae  Demosthenen,  Aeschinen, 
Hjrperiden,  multosque  praeterea,  Gracchis  et  Catoni 
Pollionem,  Caesarem,  Caelium,  in  primis  M  Tollium 
oppono,  cuius  oratio  optima  fertur  esse  quae  maxima. 
ct  hercule  ut  aliae  bonae  res  ita  bonus  liber  melior  est 
20  quisque  quo  maior.     uides  ut  statoas,  signa,  pictoras,  5 
hominum  denique  multorumque  animalium  formas, 
arborum  etiam,  a  modo  nnt  deeorae,  nihil  magis 
quam  amplitudo  commendet.    idem  orationibas  eoenit, 
quin  etiam  uoluminibus  ipsis  auctoritatem  quandam 
25  et  pulchritudinem  adicit  magnitudo. 

Haec   ille  multaque  alia  quae  a   me  in   esuulem  6 
sentcntiam  solent  dici,  ut  est  in  dispatando  incompre- 

la  6  permittat  BFooa  penniUit  F  8  stnt  BFoaa  nmt  f 
cod.  Drtmi.  19  melior  est  qoieqiae  Ba  quaqve  melior  cat  tmm 
20  picturas  homiaum  deonunqae,  aaimailioMi  Mmmmttm 


90  a  FLINI  CABGIU  8BCVNDI      18.  (L90) 

hensibilis  et  lubriciu,  ita  eludit  ut  oontendat  hoe 
ipsos  quorum  oratdombus  nitar  pandora  dixisse  quam 
7ediderint  ego  contra  puta  testes  sunt  multae 
multorum  orationes  et  (Soeronis  pro  Murena»  pro 
Vareno,  in  quibus  breuis  et  nuda  quasi  subeeriptio  5 
quorundan^  eriminum  solis  titolis  indioatar.  ex  his 
apparet  ilium  permulta  dixisse,  cum  ederet^  omisisBe. 

8  idem  -pro  Ouentio  ait  se  totam  eausam  uetere  instituto 
solum  perorasse,  et  pro  C.  Ccmielio  quadriduo  ^gisae ; 
ne  dubitare  possimus  quae  per  plures  dies,  ut  neeesse  lo 
erat,  latius  dixerit  postea  redsa  ao  purgata  in  unum 
librum,  grandem  quidem,  unum  tamen,  coartasse. 

9  At  aliud  est  actio  bona,  aliud  oratia    sdo  non 
nullis  ita  uideri,  sed  ego,  forsitan  fallar,  persuasum 
habeo  posse  fieri  ut  sit  actio  bona  quae  non  sit  bona  iS 
oratio,  non  posse  non  bonam  actionem  esse  quae  sit 
bona  oratio.     est  enim  oratio  actionis  exemplar  et 

10  quasi  dpxerviroy.  ideo  in  optima  quaque  mille  figuraa 
extemporales  inuenimus,  in  iis  etiam  quas  tantum 
editas  scimus,  ut  in  Verrem,  '  artificem  quern  t  quern-  ao 
nami  recte  admones:  Polyclitum  esse  dicebant.' 
sequitur  ergo  ut  actio  sit  absolutissima  quae  maxime 
orationis  similitudinem  expresserit,  si  modo  iustum 
et  debitum  tempus  accipiat;  quod  si  n^tur,  nulla 
oratoris,  maxima  iudicis  culpa  est  3> 

7  permulta  quae  dixisset  cum  Mommaen  9  G.  MVoaf,  om, 
BFa  11  pur({ata  BFa  repurgata  MVouf  14  fallar  BMVUa 
fallor  Fo  16  posse  non  BUVa  posse  autem  non  Fa  (om.  non 
posse  ...  bona  oratio  o)  20  quern  {fcUer  erased  B)  BMVU,  om, 
*  Foa  24  accipint  MVFa  accipiet  BF  acceporit  ou  25  oratoris 
MVn  orationis  BFoa 


13.  (L  20)  EPISTVLAE  SBLBCTAE.  21 

Adsunt  huic  opinioni  meae  leges,  quae  loDgiadma  11 
tempora   largiuntur   nee  breoitatem  dicentibus  sed 
copiam,  hoc  est  diligentiam,  suadent ;  quam  praestare 
nisi  in  angustissimis  causis  non  potest  breoitas.     ad- 12 

S  iciam  quod  me  docuit  usus,  magister  egregius. 
frequenter  egi,  frequenter  iudicaui,  frequenter  in  con- 
silio  f ui :  aliud  alios  movet,  ac  plenimque  paruae  res 
maximas  trahunt.  uaria  sunt  hominum  indicia,  uariae 
uoluntates :  inde  qui  eandem  causam  simul  audierunt, 

^^saepe    diuersum,   interdum    idem,   sed    ex    diuersis 
animi    motibus    sentiunt.      praeterea   suae   quisque  13 
inuentioni  fauet  et  quasi  fortissimum  complectitur, 
cum  ab  alio  dictum  est  quod  ipse  praeuidit.     omni- 
bus ergo  dandum  est  aliquid  quod  teneant,   quod 

15  agnoscant. 

Pixit  aliquando  mihi  Segulus,  cum   simul  ades- 14 
semus,  '  tu  omnia  quae  sunt  in  causa  putas  exsequenda, 
ego  iugulum  statim  uideo,  hunc  premo ' :  premit  sane 
quod  eligit^  sed  in   eligendo  frequenter  errat.     re- 15 

^  spondi  posse  fieri  ut  genu  esset  aut  talus,  ubi  iugulum 
putaret:  'at  ego'  inquam    'qui  iugulum  perspicere 
non     possum,    omnia    pertcmpto,    omnia    experior, 
vavra  denique  X,idov  xivta,  utque  in  cultura  agri  non  16 
uineas   tantum   uerum   ctiam   arbusta,    nee    arbusta 

25  tantum  uerum  etiam  cami)os  euro  ct  exerceo,  utque  in 
il)sis  campis  non  far  aut  siliginem  solam  sed  hordeum, 
fabam  ceteraque  legumina  scro,  sic  in  actione  plura 

12  complectitur  BFona  amplectitur  MV  19  eligit  BFia  elegit 
KVon  20  genu  esset  aut  talus  MVofa  genuisset  aut  talu»  B 
genuisset  aut  sibi  aut  aliis  F  genu  esset  aut  tibia  aut  talus  n 
ubi  ille  iugulum  MV,  orn,  BFoua 


22  C.  PLINI  OAfiCaOLI  SBCVMBI      18.  (LflD) 

quasi  semina  latiuB  spargo,  at  quae  prooenerint 
IToolligam.  neque  enim  minus  imperspioQa,  inoerta, 
fallada  sunt  iudicum  ingenia  quam  tempestatum 
terrarumque.  nee  me  praeterit  sommum  oratorem 
Perielen  sic  a  comico  Eupolide  laudari»  5 

wp^  a  y  avrov  rf  tc{x« 

TO  Ktvrpov  eyicaT^XciTf  to«$  iKpomftipwis, 

18  uerum  huic  ipsi  Perioli  neo  ilia  rt «Mi  nee  illud  lnc^Xet  lo 
breuitate  uel  uelocitate  uel  utraque  (differont  enim) 
sine  facultate  summa  contigisset      nam  deleetare, 
persuadere    copiam    dicendi    spatiumque   desklerat> 
relinquere  uero  aculeum  in  audientium   animis  is 

19  demum  potest  qui  non  pungit,  sed  infigit.    adde  quae  15 
de  eodem  Pericle  comicus  alter, 

rjaTparrr^,  ippovroL,  trwtKVKa  lijv  ^^XXdSoL, 
non  enim  amputataoratioetabscisased  lata  et  magni- 
fica  et  excelsa  tonat,  fulgurate  omnia  denique  per- 
turbat  ac  miscet/  ao 

20  'Optimus  tamen  modus  est.'    quis  negatt  sed  non 
minus  non  seruat  modum  qui  infra  rem  quam  qui 

21  supra,  qui  adstrictius  quam  qui  ellusius  dicit.    itaque 
audis  frequenter  ut  illud  '  immodice  et  redundanter ' 
ita  hoe  '  ieiune  et  infirme/     alius  excessisse  mate-  25 
riam,  alius  dicitur  non  implesse.     aeque  uterque,  sed 
ille  imbecillitate,  hie  uiribus  peccat ;  quod  certe,  etsi 

22  non  limatioris,  maioris  t^men  ingenii  uitium  est.     nee 

1  semina  latius  BFoua  latius  semina  MV  2  inperapicua 
incerta  MVa  inperspicua  ec  incerta  BFtt  inpenpicua  et  neoes- 
sariao  * 


13.  (L  20)  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  23 

uero,  cum  haec  dico,  ilium  Homericum  aturpoeirrj 
probo,  sed  hunc 

KoX  €7r€a  vi<f>d8€(r(rLV  koiKora  xeifieptya-iv 
non  quia  non  et  ille  mihi  ualidissime  placeat, 
5  iravpa  fikv^  aXka  fiaka  Xtycws* 

si   tamen    detur    electio,    illam   orationem   similem 
niuibus  hibemis,   id  est  crebram    et    adsiduam  et 
largam,  postremo  diuinam  et  caelestem,  uolo. 
At    est    gratior    multis    actio    breuis.      est,    sed ' 

10  inertibus,  quorum  delicias  desidiamque  quasi  iudicium 
respicere    ridiculum    est.     nam    si    hos   in  consilio 
habeas,   non  solum  satius  est  breuiter  dicere    sed 
omnino  non  dicere. 
Haec  est  adhuc  sententia  mea,  quam  mutabo,   si  1 

15  dissenseris  tu,  sed  plane  cur  dissentias  explices  rogo. 
quamuis  enim  cedere  auctoritati  tuae  debeam,  rectius 
tamen  arbitror  in  tanta  re  ratione  quam  auctoritatc 
superari.      proinde  si  non  errare  uideor,   id  ipsum  * 
quam  uoles  breui  epistula  sed  tamen  scribe  (confir- 

20  maris  enim  iudicium  meum) ;  si  errauero,  longissimam 
para,  num  corrupi  te,  qui  tibi,  si  mihi  accedcres, 
breuis  epistulae  necessitatem,  si  disscntires,  longis- 
simae  imposui  ?    uale. 

12  Ratias  est  breaitcr  BFooa  ««atiiis  breuiter  MV  16  tuac 
debeam  BFona  (le1)eaiii  tuae  MV  10  acd  tamen  om.  F  coii- 
firmaris  Ba  confirmaueris  Foa  coniiriiiabis  MV  20  ermucro 
BFona  errare  MV 


24  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SBOVNDI     14.  (  Lfi8) 

14.    (I.  23.) 
C.  PUNIVS  POMPEIO  FALCONI  SVG  & 

1  Consulis  an  existimem  te  in  tribunatu  canaaa  ageve 
debere.    plurimum  refert  quid  esse  tribunatom  puteo» 
inanem  umbram  et  sine  honore  nomen  an  poteatatem  5 
sacrosanctam  et  quam  in  ordinem  OQgi  at  a  nnllo  ita 

2  ne  a  se  quidem  deceat.  ipse  oum  tribunus  essem, 
errauerim  fortasse  qui  me  esse  aliquid  putaui,  sed 
tanquam  essem,  abstinui  oausis  agendis:  primum, 
quod  def orme  arbitrabar,  cui  adsurgere,  cui  looo  ic 
cedere  omnis  oporteret,  hunc  omnibus  sedentibus 
stare ;  et  qui  iubere  posset  tacere  quemcumque,  huic 
silentium  clepsydra  indici;  et  quern  interfari  nefas 
esset,  hunc  etiam  conuicia  audire,  et  d  inulta 
pateretur,  inertem,  si  ulcisceretur,  insolentem  tdderi  ij 

Serat  hie  quoque  aestus  ante  oculos,  si  forte  me 
appellasset  uel  ilie  cui  adessem  uel  ille  quern  oont^^ 
intercederem  et  auxilium  ferrem,  an  quiescerem 
sileremque  et  quasi  eiurato  magistratu  privatum  ipse 

4  me  facerem.    bis  rationibus  motus,   malui  me  tri- » 
bunum  omnibus  exhibere  quam  pauduB  aduocatum. 

5  sed  tu,  iterum  dicam,  plurimum  interest  quid  esse 
tribunatum  putes,  quam  personam  tibi  imponas,  quae 
sapienti  uiro  ita  aptanda  est  ut  perferatur.     uale. 

14  2  PoMPEio  Falconi  BFoue  Falconio  MV  8  qai  me 
esse  aliquid  B  qai  me  esse  aliquem  a  qui  me  aliqaid  F  qui  ease 
aliquid  on  aliquid  (om,  qui  me  esse)  MV  13  indioere  MV  14 
inulta  BFBIVa  multa  oa 


\a. 


15.  (a  1)  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  26 


LIBER    11. 

/l6.    (H.  1.)    ^^-         .4:1^ 

C.  PUNIVS  ROMANO  SVO  S. 

Post  aliquot  annos  insigne  atque  etiam  memorabile  1 
5popuIi  Romani  oculis  spectaculum  exhibuit  publicum 
funus   Vergini   Rufi,   maximi   et  clarissimi   ciuis  et 
perinde  felicis.     triginta  annis  gloriae  suae  superuixit. 
legit  scripta  de  se  carmina,  legit  historias,  et  posteri-  2 
tati  suae  interfuit.     perfunctus  est  tertio  consulatu, 

10  ut  summum  fastigium  priuati  hominis  impleret,  cum 
principis  noluisset.      Caesares  quibus  suspectus  atque  3 
etiam  inuisus  uirtutibus  fuerat  euasit,  reliquit  inco- 
lumem  optimum  atque  amicissimum,  tanquam  ad  hunc 
ipsum   honorem  publici  funeris  reseruatus.     annum  4 

15  tertium  et  octogensimum  excessit  in  altissima  tran- 
quillitate,  pari  ueneratione.  usus  est  firma  uale- 
tudine,  nisi  quod  solebant  ei  manus  tremere,  citra 
dolorem  tamen.  aditus  tantum  mortis  durior 
longiorque,  sed  hie  ipse  laudabilis.     nam  cum  uocem  5 

20  praepararet  acturus  in  consulatu  principi  £jratias,  liber 
quern  forte  acccperat  grandiorem  et  seni  et  stanti  ipso 
pondere  elapsus  est.  hunc  dum  sequitur  coUigitquc, 
per  leue  et  lubricum  pauimentum   fallente  uestigio 

X5  6  uergini  B  uerginii  F  acrginci  0  uirgini  Ma  uirginii  V 
Virginei  n  ciuU  et  perinde  BFona  ciuis  perinde  MV 


26  a  PLINI  CASCIU  8BCVNDI      1&  (HI) 

cecidit  coxamque  fregit,  quae  paruxn  apte  ooUocal» 
reluctante  aetate  male  coiit. 

6  Huius  uiri  exsequiae  magnum  omamentum  principi, 
magnum  saeculo,  magnum  etiam  foro  et  roetris  attu- 
lerunt.     laudatus  est  a  consule  Gomelio  Tadto :  nam  5 
hie  supremus  felicitati  eiua  cumulus  aooessit^  laudator 

7  eloquentissimus.    et  ille  quidem  plenus  annis  abiit^ 
plenus  honoribus,  illis  etiam  quos  reouaauit:   noMs 
tamen  quaerendus  ao  deaiderandus  est  ut  exemplar 
aeui  prions,  mihi  uero  praedpue,  qui  ilium  non  solum  io 
publice    quantum    admirabar    tantum    diligebam; 

8  primum  quod  utrique  eadem  regio,  munidpia  finitima» 
agri  etiam  possessionesque  coniunctae,  praeterea  quod 
ille  mihi  tutor  relictus  adfectum  parentis  exhibuit. 
sic  candidatum  me  6uffi:^o  omauit,  sic  ad  onmes  ij 
honores  meos  ex  secessibus  accucurrit,  cum  iam  pridem 
eius  modi  officiis  renuntiasset,  sic  illo  die  quo  saoer- 
dotes  solent  nominare  quos  dignissimos  saoerdotio 

9  indicant  me  semper  nominabat.  quin  etiam  in  hao 
nouissima  ualotudine  ueritus  ne  forte  inter  quinque-  sc 
uiros  crearetur,  qui  minuendis  publicis  sumptibus 
iudicio  senatus  constituebantur,  cum  illi  tot  amici 
senes  consularesque  superessent,  me  huius  aetatis  per 
quem  excusaretur  elegit,  his  quidem  uerbis  *  etiam  si 
filium  hal^crcm,  tibi  mandarem/  aj 

10     Quibus  ex  causis  necesse  est  tanquam  immaturam 
mortem  eius  in  sinu  tuo  defleam ;  si  tamen  fas  est  aut 

2  coiit  BFa  ooit  MVon  6  hie . . .  cumuhis  BPa  hie  eius  snpremiis 
felicitati  cumulus  KV  hie  supremus  cumulus  felieitatis  on  7 
abiit  KVona  abit  BF  10  aeui  BFona  uitae  MV  12  regio  om. 
BF 


16.  (IL  6)  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  27 

flere  aut  omnino   mortem    uocare,    qua    tanti   uiri 
mortalitas  magis  finita  quam  uita  est.     uiuit   enim  11 
uiuetque  semper    atque    etiam    latius    in   memoria 
hominum  et  sermone  uersabitur,  postquam  ab  oculis 

5  recessit.      uolo  tibi  multa  alia  scribere,   sed  totus  12 
animus    in    hac    una    contemplatione    defixus    est. 
Verginium  cogito,  Verginium  uideo,  Verginium  iam 
uanis  imaginibus,  recentibus  tamen,  audio,  adloquor, 
teneo ;  oui  fortasse  aliquos  dues  uirtutibus  pares  et 

10  habemus  et  habebimus,  gloria  neminem.     uale. 

^16.    (XL  6.) 
C.  PLINIVS  AVITO  SVO  S. 

Longum  est  altius  repetere,  nee  refert  quem  ad    1 
modum  accident  ut  homo  minime  familiaris  cenarem 

15  apud  quendam,  ut  sibi  uidebatur,  lautum  et  diligentem, 
ut  mihi,  sordidiun  simul  et  sumptuosum.     nam  sibi  et    2 
paucis  opima  quaedam,  ceteris  uilia  et  minuta  ponebat. 
oinum  etiam  paruulis  lagunculis  in  tria  genera  di- 
Bcripserat^  non  ut  potestas  eligendi,  sed  ne  ius  essct 

20  recusandi,  aliud  sibi  et  nobis,  aliud  minoribus  aniicis 
(nam  gradatim  amices  habet),  aliud  suis  nostrisquc 
libertis.     animaduertit  qui  mihi  proximus  recumbebat    3 
et  an  probarem   interrogauit.     negaui.      *tu   ergo' 
inquit    *quam    consuetudinem    sequerisT      *eadem 

^  omnibus  pono :  ad  cenam  enim,  non  ad  notam  inuito 

5  nolo  BFona  uolui  VYF    7  cogito  Verginium  om.  KV     S 
reoentibas  om.  BF   9  aliquos  ciues  BFon  ciues  aliquos  IfVa    (B 
omits  from  IL  4.  2  exstiterim  to  IL  It,  S  monstrandumque) 
16  17  opima  Fooa  optima  MV    24  sequeris  respondi  eoclcm 

wr 


28  a  PLINI  OASCai  SBOVHDI      18.  (IL6) 

ounctisqae  rebus  exaequo  qnotmeiiBaet  toro  aeqiuuiL' 

4  'etiamne  libertost'  'etiAin:  oonuictores  enim  tunc, 
noQ  libertos  puto/  et  ille  'magno  tiU  conitet' 
'minime/  'qui  fieri  potestt'  'potest  quia  sdUoet 
liberti  mei  non  idem  quod  ego  Ubunt^  sed  idem  ego  5 

5  quod  liberti/  et  heroule  si  golae  temperee»  non  est 
oneroeum  quo  utaris  ipse  oommunicare  eum  pluribus. 
ilia  ergo  reprimenda»  ilia  quasi  in  ordinem  redigenda 
est,  si  sumptibus  parcas,  quibus  aliquanto  reotius  toa 

[_     contineQtia  quam  aliena  oontumelia  oonsulas.  10 

6  Quorsus  haecl  ne  tifai,  optimae  indolis  iuueni,  quo- 
rundam  in  mensa  luxuria  spede  frugalitatis  imponat. 
convenit  autem  amori  in  te  meo,  quotiens  tale  aliquid 
incident,  sub  exemplo  praemonere  quid  debeas  fugere. 

7  igitur  memento  nihil  magis  esse  uitandum  quam  iatam  15 
luxuriae  et  sordium  nouam  sodetatem ;  quae  cum  sint 
turpissima  discreta  ac  separata,  turpius  iunguntur. 
uale. 

17.    (IL  11.)  r 
C.  PLINIVS  ARRIANO  8V0  8.  » 

1  Solet  esse  gaudio  tibi,  si  quid  actum  est  in  senatu 
dignum  ordine  illo.  quamuis  enim  quietis  amore 
secesscris,  insidet  tamen  animo  tuo  maiestatis  publicae 
cura.  accipe  ergo  quod  per  hos  dies  actum  est, 
personae  claritate  famosum,  seueritate  exempli  salubre,  25 
rei  magnitudine  aetemum. 

3  et  out.  Fa  4  minime.  qui  6eri  potest?  potest  quia  Siekardm 
minime  fieri  potest .  Potest .  quia  P  minime  qni  fieri  potest 
quia  rell, 

17  21  actum  ua  acti  FMVo  {and  ih,n)    23  iusidit  MV 


17.  (H.  11)         BPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  20 

Marius  Priscus  accusantibus  Af ris,  quibus  pro  con-  2 
sole  praefuit,  omissa  defensione  iudices  petiit.  ego  et 
Cornelius  Tacitus,  adesse  prouincialibus  iussi,  exi- 
stimauimus  fidei  nostrae  conuenire  notum  senatui 
5  facere  excessisse  Priscum  immanitate  et  saeuitia 
crimina  quibus  dari  iudices  possent,  cum  ob  innocentes 
condemnandos,  interficiendos  etiam,  pecunias  acce- 
pisset.  respondit  Fronto  Catius  deprecatusque  est  ne  3 
quid  ultra  repetundarum  legem  quaereretur,  omniaque 

loactionis    suae    uela,   uir    mouendarum    lacrimarum 
peritissimus,  quodam  uelut  uento  miserationis  impl^ 
uit.     magna  contentio,  magni  utrimque  clamores,  aliis  4 
cognitionem   senatus    lege   conclusam,   aliis   liberam 
solutamque  dicentibus,  quantumque  admisisset  reus 

15  tantum  uindicandum.     nouissime  consul  designatus  5 
lulius  Ferox,  idr  rectus  et  sanctus,  Mario  quidem 
iudices    interim    censuit  dandos,   euocandos    autem 
quibus  diceretur  innocentium  poenas  uendidisse.    quae  6 
sententia  non  praeualuit  modo,  sed  omnino  post  tantas 

20  dissensiones  fuit  sola  frequens,  adnotatumque  experi- 
mentis  quod  fauor  et  misericordia  acres  et  uehementes 
primos  impetus  habent^  paulatim  consilio  et  ratione 
quasi  restincta  considunt.    unde  euenit  ut  quod  multi  7 
clamore  permixto  tuentur,  nemo  tacentibus  ceteris 

25  dicere  velit :   patescit  enim,  cum  scpararis  a  tur1>a, 
contemplatio  rerum  quae  turba  teguntur. 

Venerunt  qui  adesse  erant  iussi,  Vitellius  Hono-  8 
ratus  et  Flauiiis  Marcianus:    ex   quibus  Honoratus 

1  proconsul  a  pro  consule  rdl,    2  petiit  BlVa  petit  Fou    28 
et ...  Honoratus  om.  BIVo  Martianus  Foaa,  as  alirays 


ao  a  PLCNI  CABCILl  SBOVNDI   17.  OLU) 

trecentis  milibus  ezrilium  eqnitis  Bomani  aeptemqiia 
amicorum  das  ultimam  poenam,  MareianuB  oniiii 
equitis  Bomani  septingentiB  mitibos  plurs  nipplkia 
arguebatur  emisse:  erat  emmfostibiisoaesuii  daxniiatas 
9  in  metaUum,  strangolatus  in  caroere.  sed  Honontom  s 
oognitioni  senatua  monopportmia  labtnadt^  Maidaaai 
inductuB  est  absente  Priaoa  itaqne  Tnooii»  Oerialu 
consularis  iure  senatorio  poatolauit  nt  Prisciis  oerCior 
fieret,  sine  quia  miserabiliorem,  doe  quia  inuidioiiorem 
fore  arbitrabatar,  ri  praesens  foiaset^  siue^  qnodM 
maxime  credo,  quiaaeqnissimum  eratoommttne  erimi&a 
ab  utroque  defendi,  et  si  dilni  non  potidaaet^  in 
utroque  puniri. 

10  Dilata  res  est  in  proximum  senatom,  emus  ipse 
conspectus  augustissimus  fuit.  prinoeps  praeddebat;  is 
erat  enim  consul :  ad  hoc  lanuarius  menais  earn  cetera 
turn  praecipue  senatorum  frequentia  oeleberrimnt: 
praeterea  causae  amplitudo  aoctaqne  dilatione  eztpe- 
ctatio  et  fama  indtumque  mortalibus  studium  magna 
ot    inusitata    noscendi    omnes    undique    ezduerat  ao 

11  imaginare  quae  sollidtudo  nobis,  qui  metus,  qmbua 
super  tanta  re  in  illo  coetu  praesente  Caesare  dicendum 
erat.  equidem  in  senatu  non  semel  egi,  quin  immo 
nusquam  audiri  benignius  soleo ;  tunc  me  tamen  ut 

12  iioua  omnia  nouo  metu  permouebant.     obuersabatur  2$ 
praeter  ilia  quae  supra  dixi  causae  difficultas :  stabat 
modo  consularis,   modo    septemuir    epulonum,   iam 

4  enim  cerialis  (oerealifi  M)  fustibus  KV  7  tuccius  Y  tnctias  F 
ductius  M  tutius  oa  lucius  a  cerealis  Fpra  16  ad  hoc  MVFa 
adhuc  Fon  25  obuersabatur  VFFa  obuersabatarque  oa 
obaemabatur  M 


17.  (H.  11)         EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  31 

neutnim.      crat   ergo    perquam   onerosum   accusarc  13 
damnatum,  quern  ut  premebat  atrocitas  criminis,  ita 
quasi  peractae  damnationis  miseratio  tuebatur. 
Vtcumque  tamen  animum  cogitationemque  collegi,  14 
Scoepi  dicere  non  minore  audientium  adsensu  quam 
£M)llicitudine  mea.     dixi  horis  paene  quinque:    nam 
duodeeim  clepsydrisquas  spatiosissimas  acceperam  sunt 
additae  quattuor/  adeo  ilia  ipsa  quae  dura  et  aduersa 
dicturo  uidebantur  seeunda  dicenti  fuerunt.     Caesar  15 

loquidem  tantum  mihi  studium,  tantam  etiam  curani 
(nimium  est  enim  dicere  sollicitudinem)  praestitit,  ut 
libertum  meum  post  me  stantem  saepius  admoneret 
uoci  laterique  consulcrem,  cum  me  uehementius 
putarct  intendi  quam  gracilitas  mea  perpeti  posset. 

iSrespondit  mihi  pro  Marciauo  Claudius  Marcelliuus. 
missus   deinde    senatus  et  reuocatus  in    posterum :  16 
neque  enim  iam  incohari  poterat  actio,  nisi  ut  noctis 
interuentu  scinderetur. 

Postero  die  dixit  pro  Mario  Saluius  Liberalis,  uir  17 

ao  subtilis,  dispositus,  acer,  disertus ;  in  ilia  uero  causa 
omnes    artes    suas    protulit.      respondit    Cornelius 
Tacitus  eloquentissime  et,  quod  eximiuni  orationi  eius 
inest,  ar€fjLVios,     dixit  pro  Mario  rui-sus  Fronto  Catius  18 
insigniter,  utquc  iam  locus  ille  poscelmt,  plus  in  pre- 

25  cibus  temporis  (|uam  in  defensioiie  consunipsit.  huius 
actionem  uespera  inclusit,  non  tamen  sic  ut  ab- 
rumperet ;  itaque  in  tertiuni  ditMn  probationes  ex- 
ierunt. 


1  erjr^  KVF  igitur  Foua     17  ut  oni.  Foua    22  f^'uxs  MVou  suae 
F,  ofH.  Fa 


S2  a  PLINI  CABGnJ  8BCVHDI    17.  (H.  11) 

lam  hoc  ipsum  pulchrom  et  antiquum,  aenatom 

19  iiocte  dii-imi,  triduo  uocari,  triduo  contineri.  Gor- 
nutus  Tei-tulluB»  oonaul  deflignatus,  uir  egregius  et  pro 
ueritate  firmissimus,  censuit  fleptmgenta  milia  quae 
aoceperat  Marius  aerario  inferendai  Mario  orbe  i 
Italiaque  interdicendum,  Maroiaiio  hoe  amplius  Afrioa. 
in  fine  sententiae  adiecit^  quod  ego  et  Tacitus  iniunota 
aduocatione  diligenter  et  fortiter  foncti  eflsemua» 
arbitrari  senatum  ita  nos  feoisse  ut  dignum  mandatit 

20  partibus    f uerit.      adsenserunt    conaulee    deognati,  u 
omnes  etiam  consulares  usque  ad  Pompeium  GoUegam: 
ilie  et  septingenta  milia  aerario  inferenda  et  Mar- 
cianum  in  quinquennium  relegandum,  Marium  repe- 
tundarum  poenae,   quam  iam  passus  esset,  consult 

21  relinquendum.     erant  in  utraque   sententia  multi,  15 
fortasse  etiam  plures  in  hac  uel  solutiore  uel  molliora 
nam  quidam  ex  illis  quoque  qui  Gornuto  uidebantur 
adsensi  hunc,  qui  post  ipeos  censuerat^  sequebantur. 

22  8cd  cum  fieret  discessio,  qui  sellis  consulum  adstiterant 
in  Gornuti  sententiam  ire  coeperunt  tum  illi  qui  se  so 
Goliegae  adnumerari  patiebantur  in  diuersum  transi- 
crunt,  Goliega  cum  paucis  relictus.  multum  postea  de 
impulsoribus  suis,  praecipue  de  Regulo,  questus  est^ 
qui  se  in  sententia  quam  ipse  dictauerat  deseruisset 
est  alioqui  Hegulo  tarn  mobile  ingenium  ut  plurimum  25 
audcat,  plurimum  timeat. 

23  Hie  finis  cognitionis  amplissimac.     supercst  tamcn 
kiTovpyiov  non    leue,  —  liostilius   Fimiinus,   legatus 

2  diriini  M  dirimit  V  dimitii  [marff.  1  h.  air  dirimi  0)  Fona 
28  AlTOTPnON  P  MllOTPTION  MV  .w».  in  Mani:  (bnt  iaier 
h.  XeiTOi'/ryiof  O)  OU  Xttroi'ipr^iof  a 


18.  (U.  12)         EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  33 

Mari  Prisci,  qui  permixtus  causae  grauiter  ueheiiien- 
terque  uexatus  est.  nam  et  rationiljus  Marciaiii  et 
sermone  quern  ille  habuerat  in  ordine  Leptitanoruin 
operam  suam  Prisco  ad  turpissimum  ministerium 
S  commodasse,  stipulatusque  de  Marciano  quinquaginta 
milia  denariorum  probabatur,  ipse  praeterea  accepisse 
sestertia  decern  milia,  foedissimo  quidem  titulo, 
*  nomine  unguentarii/  qui  titulus  a  uita  hominis 
compti  semper  et  pumicati  non  abhorrebat.     placuit  24 

10  censente  Cornuto  referri  de  eo  proximo  senatu  :  tunc 
enim,  casu  an  conscientia,  afuerat. 

Habes  res  urbanas ;  in  uicem  rusticas  scribe :  quid  25 
arbusculae  tuae,  quid  uineae,  quid  segetes  agiuit,  (juid 
ones  delicatissimae  ?     in  summa,  nisi  aeque  longam 

15  epistulam  reddis,  non  est   quod   postea   nisi  breuis- 
simam  exspectes.     uale. 


18.    (II.  12.)    n> 
C.  PLINIVS  ARRIANO  SVO  S. 

AiTovpyioi'  illud  quod  superesse  Mari  Prisci  causae 
20  proxime  scripseram,  nescio  an  si^is,  circimicisum 
tamcn  ct  adrasum  est.  Firminus  inductus  in  scnatuni 
respondit  crimini  nolo,  sccutae  sunt  diuersae  sen- 
tontiae  consulum  designatorum :  Cornutus  Tertullus 
censuit  ordine  moucndum,  Acutius  Nerua  in  sortitione 

7  sestertium  Mommwn    11  casu  incertum  an  Fou 

18    H»  AlTOrnOX  F  AinoTPIlOX  MV.  ow.  in  hiank  {hut 
lattr  h.  €iToi>pyioVy  and  xjmrt  left  /or  initial  A  O)  ou  \uTovpyiw 
a    *21  adrasum  MVoa  abrasum  Fa 
c 


a  Finn  GABCni  8BCVNDI    18.  (HIS) 


prouincuie  ritioncm  m»  non  hahmdam.  quae  aen- 
tentia  tanquam  mitaor  nirit^  cum  sit  alioqui  dwnofr 

3  tristiorque.    quid  aniiii  miaeriiia  quam  ezsectum  et 
exemptum  honoribua  aenatoriis  labare  et  moleatiaiion 
carere  f  quid  graoiua  quam  tanta  ignomiiiia  adf eotam   5 
non  in  aditndine  latare»  aed  m  bae  ahaamma  specula 

4  oonspicienduni  se  monstnaiduiiique  praeberel  prae- 
terea  quid  puUioe  minus  ant  eongruens  aut  deoornm, 
quam  uotatum  a  senatu  in  senatu  aedere  ipdaque  iUia 

a  quibus  sit  notatus  aequari,  aummotum  a  proo(m->  10 
sulatu,  quia  se  in  legatione  turpiter  gessarat^  de 
proconsulibus   iudicaie,  damnatnmque  sordium  uel 

5  damnare  alios  uel  absoluere  f    sed  hoc  plnribus  uisum 
est      numerantur  enim  sententiae,  non  pondcrantur ; 
nee  aliud  in  publico  consilio  potest  fieri,  in  quo  nihil  1$ 
est  tarn  inaeqiude  quam  aequalitas  ipsa,   nam  cum  sit 
impfir  pnidcntia,  par  omnium  ius  est 

6  Impleui  promissum  priorisque  epistulae  fidem  ex- 
solui,  quam  ex  spatio  temporis  iam  recepisse  te  colligo : 
nam  et  festinanti  et  diligenti  tabellario  dedi ;   niai  so 

7  quid  inipeclimenti  in  uia  passus  est  tuae  nunc  partes 
ut  prinium  illam,  deinde  hane  remuncreris  litteris 
quales  istine  rodtre  uberrimae  possunt     ualc. 

7  B  rennmcH  m'th  praebere  9  quam  notatum  Sichartlwt  notm- 
tum  MVa  Dotanclum  Fon  10  aer|iiari  suminotnm  BFa  aeqnari 
ct  Huininotuin  MVon  13  se<l  hoc  om.  BF  15  in  pablioo 
CfMiRiHo  potest  fieri  BMVa  in  publico  coufiilio  fieri  potest  F 
in  cousilio  publico  fieri  potest  on 


19.  (ir.  13)         EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  36 

19.    (H.  13.)  ' 
C.  PLINIVS  FRISCO  SVO  S. 

Et  tu  occasiones  obligandi  me  auidissime  amplcc- 1 
tens,  et  ego  ncmini  lil)cntius  dcbeo.     duabus  ergo  de  2 
5  causis  a  te  potissimum  petere  constitui  quod  impetra- 
tum  maxime   cupio.     regis  exercitum  amplissimum : 
hinc  tibi  beneficiorum  larga  materia,  longum  praeterea 
tempus  quo  amicos  tuos  exornare  potuisti.    conuertere  3 
ad  nostros,  nee  hos  multos.     malles  tu  quidem  mul- 

lo  tos,  sed  meae  uerecuiidiae  suffieit  unus  ant  alter,  ae 
potius  unns. 

Is  erit  Voconins  Romanns.     pater  ei  in   eqnestri  4 
gradu    clarus,    clarior   uitricus    (immo    pater   alius, 
nam     huic      quoque      nomini      pietate     successit), 

15  mater  e  primis.     ipse  citerioris  Hispaniae  (scis  quod 
iudieium  prouinciae  illius,  quanta  sit  grauitas)  flamen 
proxime  fuit.     hunc  ego,  cum  simul  studeremus,  arte  5 
familiaritcrqne    dilexi :    illc  mens    in    urbe,    ille    in 
secessu  contul)ernalis,  cum  hoc  scria,  cum  hoc  iocos 

20  miscui.     quid  enim  illo  aut  fidelius  amico  ant  so<lale  6 
iucundius?     mira  in  sermone,  mira  etiam  in  ore  ipso 
uultuque  suauitas.   ad  hoc  ingenium  excelsum,  suljtile,  7 
dulce,  facile,  eruditimi   in  causis   agciulis :   epistulas 
quidem   scnbit,  ut  Musiis  ipsas  l><itiiic   loqui   eredas. 

10  8  coimertcrc  BFBIVoua  comiertc  te  Sichariiuji  9  hos 
multos  BMVa  hos  qiiiilcm  multos  Fou  10  ac  HVoa  uut  (cot. 
from  ad  B)  BFu  1*2  ei  MV  plini  B  plinii  Foua  14  huic  MVou 
huius  BFa  lt5  mater  e  primis  (mater  .  K  primis  Cat,  a)  ip.se 
(ipse  om.  M)  citerioris  (es  u)  BFUVoufa  et  scis  BF  16  ipse 
flameli  ffhi.     20  illo  aut  MVf  aut  illo  BFona 


36  C.  PLINI  CAECIU  SBCVNDI     19.  (II.  IS) 

8  amatur  a  me  piurimum  nee  tamen  uincitur.  equidem 
iuuenis  statim  iuueni,  quantum  potui  per  aetatem, 
auidissime  contuli,  et  nuper  ab  optimo  principe  trium 
liberorum  ius  impetraui.  quod  quanquam  parce  et 
cum  delectu  daret,  mihi  tamen,  tanquam   eligeret^  5 

9  indulsit.  haec  beneficia  mea  tueri  nullo  modo  melius 
quam  ut  augeam  possum,  praesertim  cum  ipse  ilia  tarn 
grate  interpretetur  ut,  dum  priora  accipit^  poeteriora 
mereatur. 

10  Habes  qualis,  quam  probatus  canisque  sit  nobis,  ic 
quem  rogo  pro  ingenio,  pro  fortuna  tua  exomes. 
in  primis  ama  hominem  :  nam  licet  tribuas  ei  quantum 
amplissimum  potes,  nihil  tamen  amplius  potes  amicitia 
tua ;  cuius  esse  eum  usque  ad  intimam  familiaritatem 
capacem  quo  magis  scires,  breuiter  tibi  studia,  mores,  15 

11  omnem  denique  uitam  eius  expressi.  extenderem 
preces,  nisi  et  tu  rogari  diu  nolles,  et  ego  tota  hoc 
epistula  fecissem :  rogat  enim,  et  quidem  efficacissime, 
qui  reddit  causas  rogandi.     uale. 

20.    (II.  14.)  <^^  20 

C.  PLINIVS  MAXIMO  SVO  S. 

1  Vornm  opinans  :  distriiigor  centum uiralibus  causis, 
quae  nic  cxerccnt  magis  quam  delectant.  sunt  enim 
plerao<iuc  paruae  et  exiles  :  raro  incidit  uel  personarum 

2  statim  om,  MV  5  eligeret  BFoua  liceret  MVF  12  nam]  ama 
BF  13  ampHsflimum  potes  MVoua  amplisRimum  potest  BF 
nihil  tainen  umplius  potes  orn.  KV  potes  B  {by  corr.)  a  potest 
Fou     14  uil]  in  BFa 


20.  (II.  14)         EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  37 

claritate  uel  negotii  magnitudine  insignis.   ad  hoc  per-  2 
pauci  cum  quibus  iuuat  dicere :  ceteri  audaces  atquc 
etiam  magna  ex  parte  adulescentuli  obsciiri  ad  de- 
clamandum    hue    transienmt,    tam    irreuerenter    et 

S  temere  ut  mihi  Atilius  noster  expresse  dixisse  uideatur 
sic  in  foro  pueros  a  centumuiralibus  causis  auspicari 
ut  ab  Homero  in  scholis.     nam  hie  quoque  ut  iilic 
primum  coepit  esse  quod  maximum  est.     at  hercule  3  -J 
ante  memoriam  meam  (ita  maiores  natu  solent  dicere) 

10  ne  nobilissimis  quidem  adulescentulis  locus  erat  nisi 
aliquo  consulari  producente:  tanta  ueneratione  pul- 
chemmum  opus  colebatur.     nunc  refractis  pudoris  et  4 
reuerentiae  claustris  omnia  patent  omnibus,  nee  in- 
ducuntur  sed  imimpunt. 

»5     Sequuntur  auditores  actoribus  similes,  conducti  et 
redempti :  manceps  conuenitur  :  in  media  basilica  tam 
palam  sportulae  quam  in  triclinio  dantur :  ex  iudicio 
in  iudicium  pari  mercede  transitur.     inde   iam   non  5 
inurbane    2o<^*fX€?s    uocantur   [dirh    rod  <ro<f>Ms  Kal 

» ifa Acio-^ai] :    isdem   Latinum    nomen    impositum   est 
I^udiccni.  ^  et  tamen  crescit  in  dies  foeditas  utraque  6 
lingua  notata.     heri  duo  nomenclatores  mei  (habent 
sane  aetatem   corum   qui  nuper   togas   sumpserint) 
ternis  denariis  ad    laudandum   trahcbantur.      tanti 

ao  1  perpauci  Foua  in  pauci  B  pauci  MVf  2  iuuat  BFoua 
iuuet  MV  10  adulescentulis  BFon  odulescentibus  MVfa  13 
inducuntur  BFoua  ducuntur  MV  15  comlucti  et  redempti 
manceps  (mancipes  F,  om.  B)  BUYF  conuenitur  a  conductis  et 
re<leniptis  {om.  manceps)  F  conducti  et  redempti  mancipes 
conuenitur  a  conductis  et  redemptis  oua  22  heri  (neri  n) 
BFooa  here  MV    23  sumpserint  MV  sumpeerunt  BFoua 


88  C.  J^Um  OkECtLt  SBCVKDt    M.  (tL  14) 

I 

-^   constat  ut  sis  disertissimiis.     hoc  pretio  quamlibet 

numerosa   subsellia    implentur,   hoc  ingens   corona 

colligitur,  hoc  infiniti  damores  commouentur,  cum 

7  mesochoriis   dedit    signum:    opus  est    enim    signo 

Sapudnon  intellegentes,  ne  aud^entes  quidem;    nam   S 

plerique     uon     audimit,    nee    uUi  magis    laudant. 

si  quando  transibis  per  basilicam  et  uoles  scire  quo 

modo  quisque  dicat^  nihil  est  quod  tribunal  ascendas, 

nihil  quod  praebeas  aurem ;  &cilis  diuinatio :  scito 

eum  pessime  dicere  qui  laudabitur  maxime.  lo 

9     Primus    hunc   audiendi    morem   ioduxit   Lardus 

Licinus,   hactenus  tamen   ut   auditores    oorrogaret: 

10  ita  certe  ex  Quintiliano^  praeceptore   meo,   audisse 

memini.    nan*abat  ille  *  adsectabar  Domitium  Afrum: 

cum  apud  centumuiros  diceret  grauiter  et  lente  (hoc  15 

enim  illi  actionis  genus  erat),  audit  ex  proximo  im- 

modicum  insolitumque  clamorem.    admiratus  reticuit. 

ubi  silentium  factum  est,   repetit  quod  abruperat. 

U  iterum  clamor,  iterum    reticuit,  et  post    silentium 

cocpit  idem  tertio.     uouissime  quis  diceret  quaesiuit :  so 

responsum    est    "Licinus.''     tum    intermissa  causa 

12  "centurauiri "  inquit,  "hoc  artificium  periit" '    quod 
alioqui  perire  incipiebat,  cum  perisse  Afro  uideretur, 
nunc  ucro  prope  funditus  exstinctum  ct  euersum  est. 
pudct  refeire  quae  quam  fracta  pronuntiatione  dican-  25 
tur,   quibus    quam    tencris    clamoribus  cxcipiantur. 

13  plausus  tantum  ac  potius  sola  cyniliala  ct  tympana 
illis  caiiticis  dcsunt :  ululatus  quidem  (noque  enim  alio 

U  larcius  BFa  largius  MVon  12  licinus  MV  licinius  BFona 
18  ubi  sibi  silentium  RF  21  licinus  MV  licinius  a  lioentius 
BFou    26  teneris]  Uetris  JHotnmteu 


f 

I 


21.  (H.  17)         EPIS'H'LAE  SELECTAE  39 

uocabulo  potest  exprimi  theatris  quoqiic  indecora 
laudatio)  large  supersunt  nos  tameii  adhue  et  utilitas  14 
amicorum  et  ratio  aetatis  moratur  ac  retiiiet :  ueremur 
enim  ne  forte  non  has  iiidignitates  reliquisse  sed  labo- 
5  rem  fugisse  uideamur.  sumus  tamen  solito  rariorcs, 
quod  initium  est  giadatim  desiiieiidi.     uale. 

'21.  (II.  17.)       ^*.  •  '  . '  ■' 

a  PLIXIVS  GALLO  SVO  S. 

Miraris   cur  me   I^urentinum   iiel,  si   ita   maiiis,    1 

lo  Laurens  meum  tanto  opere  delectet :  desiues  miiari, 
cum  cognoueris  gratiam  uillae,  opportuiiitatein  loci, 
litoris  spatium.     decern  et  septem  milibus  passuum    2 
ab   urbe   secessit,  ut   peractis   quae   agenda   fuerint 
saluo  iam  et  composito  die  possis  ibi  manerc.     aditur 

15  non  una  uia ;  nam  ct  Laurentina  et  Osticnsis  cod  em 
fenint,  sed  Laurentina  a  quarto  decimo  lapide, 
Osticnsis  ab  undecimo  relinquenda  est.  utnmque 
excipit  iter  aliqua  ex  parte  harcnosum,  iunctis  paulo 
grauius  et  longius,  equo  breue  et  molle.    uai-ia  hinc   3 

20  atque  inde  facies  :  nam  modo  occunentibus  siluis  uia 
coartatur,  modo  lati.ssimis  pratis  diffunditur  et  pate- 
scit ;  multi  i^roiies  ouinni,  innlta  ibi  equorum,  bourn 
arnienta,  quae  niontibus  hieme  depulsii  be'rl)is  et 
tejKHv  ueriin  nitcscinit. 

25      Villa  usilms  ca|>.ix.  non  sumptiiosii   tntcla.      cuius   4 
in  prima  |)arte  atrium  frugi    nee   tamen    sordidum, 

21   12  et  om.  BMV     Mi  recessit  Kd/     1.')  et  Osticiisi»  ...  sed 
Laurentina  om.  MV    24  tepore  BFVfa  teitiiNire  BIou 


40  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDI     21.  (IT.  17) 

deinde  porticus  in  D  litterae  similitudinem  circum- 
actae,  quibus  paruula  sed  festiua  area  includitur. 
egregium  hae  aduersus  tempestates  receptaculum : 
nam  specularibus  ac  multo  magis  imminentibus  tectis 

5  muniuntur.    est  contra  medias  cauaedium  hilare,  mox   5 
triclinium  satis  pulchrum,  quod  in  litus  excurrit,  ac  si 
quando   Africo   mare   impulsum   est,  fractis  iam  et 
nouissimis  fluctibus  leuiter  adluitur.    undique  ualuas 
aut  fenestras   non  minores   ualuis  habet,  atque  ita 

a   lateribus   a  fronte  quasi   tria   maria   prospectat ;  lo 
a    tergo    cauaedium,     porticum,     aream,     porticum 
rursus,    mox  atrium,   siluas    et   longinquos    respicit 
montes. 

6  Huius  a  laeua    retractius    paulo    cubiculum    est 
amplum,   deinde  aliud  minus,  quod  altera  fenestra  i5 
admittit  orientem,  occidentem  altera  retinet,  hae  et 
subiacens  mare  longius  qiiidem  sed  securius  intuetur. 

7  huius  cubiculi   et  triclinii  illius  obiectu  includitur 
angulus,  qui  purissimum  solem  continet  et  accendit. 
hoc  hibcrnaculum,  hoc  etiam  gymnasium  meorum  est :  ao 
ibi  omnes  silent  uenti  exceptis  qui  nubilum  inducunt 

8  et  sercnum  ante  quam  usum  loci  eripiunt.  adnectitur 
angulo  cubiculum  in  hapsida  curuatum,  quod  ambitum 
solis  fcnestris  omnibus  sequitur.  parieti  eius  in  bi- 
bliothecae  siKJciem  armarium  insertum  est,  quod  non  25 

9  Icgendos  libros  sed  lectitandos  capit.  adhaeret  dormi- 


1  in  D  litterae  F  in  delitterae  B  in<le  litterae  MV  in  0  litterae 
oua  3  egregium  hae  (he  F,  e  B,  haec  a)  aduersum  BFooa 
egregium  aduersus  (om.  hae)  MV  7  iam  BFooa  siinul  MY 
12  prospicit  KtU     19  plurimum  Mommsen 


21.  (II.  17)         EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  41 

torium  membrum  transitu  interiacente,  qui  suspensus 
et  tubulatus  conceptum  uaporem  salubri  tempera- 
mento  hue  illuc  digerit  et  ministrat.  reliqua  pars 
lateris  huius  seruorum  libertorumque  usibus  detinetur, 

5  plerisque  tam  mundis  ut  aecipere  hospites  possint. 

Ex  alio  latere  cubiculum  est  politissimum ;  deinde  10 
uel  cubiculum    grande    uel    modica    cenatio,    quae 
plurimosole,  plurimo  mari  lucet;  post  banc  cubiculum 
cum    procoetone,    altitudine  aestiuum,    munimentis 

10  hibemum :  est  enim  subductum  omnibus  uentis. 
huic  cubiculo  aliud  et  procoeton  communi  pariete 
ionguntur.  inde  balinei  cella  frigidaria  spatiosa  et  11 
effiisa,  cuius  in  contrariis  parietibus  duo  baptisteria 
aelut  eiecta  sinuantur,  abunde  capacia,  si  mare  in 
15  proximo  cogites.  adiacet  unctorium,  hypocauston, 
adiacet  propnigeon  balinei,  mox  duae  cellae  magis 
elegantes  quam  sumptuosae :  cohaeret  calida  piscina 
mirifica,  ex  qua  natantes  mare  aspiciunt^  nee  procul  12 
sphaeristerium,  quod  calidissimo  soli  inclinato  iam  die 
«ooccurrit.  hie  turris  erigitur,  sub  qua  diaetae  duae, 
totidem  in  ipsa,  praeterea  cenatio,  quae  latissimum 
mare,  longissimum  litus,  amocnissimas  uillas  prospicit. 
est  et  alia  turris :  in  hac  cubiculum,  in  quo  sol  13 
nascitur  conditurque :  lata  post  apotheca  et  horreum  : 
35  sub   hoc   triclinium,   quod    turbad   maris    non    nisi 

1  qui  suspensns  et  subulatus  BF  qai  Buspenttm  et  tabiilatus 
Cat.  a  qui  suspensus  et  (ct  om.  o)  soblatus  on  quod  sus|>enKnin 
et  tnbalatum  MV  5  poesint  et  ex  BF  6  pollitissimum  (poli- 
oaa)  BFoua  potissimnm  MV  8  plurimo  sole  om.  MV  14  t^i 
mare  MVF  sin  mare  BFoa  si  innare  a  22  amoeniMimns  uillas 
BFoua  uillas  auioenissimas  MV  prospicit  BFoua  povsidei  MV^ 


42  a  FUNI  CABCOLl  8BCVNDI    91«  (ILIT) 

fragorem  et  sonum  patitur,  eumque  iam  languidum 
ac  desin^tem;  hoitum  et  ge8tat«mem  uidet^  qua 
j hortus  incladitur. 

14     Gestatio  buzo  aut  rore  marino,  ubi  deficit  buxiifl, 
ambitur:   nam  buxua,  qua  parte  defenditur  tectum   $ 
abunde  uiret;  aperto  cado  apertoque  ueuto  et  quan- 

15quam  longiiiqua  aspergine  maris  inareedt.  adkoet 
gestationi  interi(»e  circumitu  uinea  tenent  et  um- 
broeanudisqueetiampedibua  mollis  etcedeiuu  hortum 
morus  et  ficua  frequena  ueatit^  quarum  arborum  ilia  lo 
uel  maxime  ferax  terra  est^  malignior  oeteria.  hao 
non  deteriore  quam  maris  &cie  cenatio  lemota  a 
man  f ruitur :  dngitur  diaetis  duabus  a  tergo^  quarum 
fenestris  subiaoet  uestibulum  uillae  et  hortus  alius 
pinguis  et  rusticus.  15 

16  Hinc  cr3rptoporticu8  prope  publici  opens  extenditur. 
utrimque  fenestrae,  a  mari  plures,  ab  horto  paucioreSi 
sed  altemis  singulae.  hae,  cum  sereuus  dies  et  imr 
motus,  omnes,  cum  hinc  uel  inde  uentus  inquietus, 

17  qua  uenti  quiescunt^  sine  iniuria  patent  ante  crypto-  so 
porticum  xystus  uiolis  odoratus :  teporem  solis  infusi 
repercussu  cryptoporticus  auget^  quae  ut  tenet  solem 
sic  aquilonem  inhibet  summouetquc,  quantumque 
caloris  ante  tantum  retro  frigoris.  similiter  Africum 
sistit,  atque  ita  diuersissimos  ucntos  alium  alio  latere  <5 

2  ac  BFoiui  et  WTF  1.3  cingitur  BFooa  uincitur  KV  17  pan- 
ciores  sed  altemis  singulae  KtU  singulae  sed  (et  BFdiui) 
altemis  (alterius  on,  altius  a)  pauciores  BFMVoiui  10  iMntiit 
BFoua  uentis  {corr.  fr.  uentus  V)  MV  20  ante...  22  tenet 
BFooa  ante  cryptoporticuni  auget  (area  MV)  quae  ut  tenet  MV 
cofL  Drtad,    *23  submouet<|Uo  (sum-  B)  BFoua  continetqae  MV 


^l»  (ttl7)         ^ISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  43 

irangit  et  finit.     haec  iucunditas  eiiis  hieme,  maior 
^^tate.    nam  ante  meridiem  zystum,  po6t  meridiem  IS 
^^^tatiouis   hortique    proximam   partem   umbra   sua 
^^iperat,  quae,  ut  dies  creuit  decreuitue,  modo  breuior 

5  ^odo  loDgior  hac  uel  illa  cadit.      ipsa  uero  crypto- 19 
l^t'ticus  turn  maxime  caret  sole,  cum  ardentiasimus 
^^Imini  eius  insistit.      ad  hoc  patentibus  feoestris 
^^Vonios  accipit   transmittitque,    nee    unquam    aere 
Pigro  et  manente  ingrauescit. 

^^      In  capite  xysti,  deinceps  cryptoporticus,  horti,  diaeta  20 
^t,  amores  mei :  re  uera  amores :  ipse  posui.     in  hac 
heliocaminus   quidem  alia  xystum  alia   mare   utra- 
que  solem,  cubiculum  autem  ualuis  cr}'ptoporticum, 
fenestra  prospicit  mare,     contra  parietem  medium  21 

'5  zotheca  perquam  eleganter  recedit,  quae  specularibus 
et  uelis  obductis  reductisue  modo  adicitur  cubiculo 
modo  aufertur.  lectum  et  duas  cathedras  capit:  a 
pedibus  mare,  a  tergo  uillae,  a  capite  siluae :  tot  facies 
locorum   totidem  fenestris  et  distinguit  et  miscet. 

ao  iunctum  est  cubiculum  noctis  et  sonini.  non  illud  22  ' 
uoces  seruulorum,  non  maris  murmur,  non  tempcsta- 
turn  motus,  non  fulgurum  lumen  ac  ne  diem  quidem 
sentit,  nisi  fenestris  apertis.  tam  alti  abditique 
secreti  illa  ratio,  quod  interiacens  andron  parietem 
25  cubiculi  hortique  distinguit  at(|ue  ita  onineni  .s«>iiuni 
media  inanitate  consumit.  applicitum  est  cubiculo  23 
hyix)eauston  perexiguum,  quod  angusta  fenestra 
suppositum  ealorem,  ut  ratio  exigit,  aut  ertundit  aut 
retinct.     procoeton  inde  et  cubiculum  pon-igitur  in 

6  turn  KV  tunc  BFoua    28  exigit  BFoaa  «aegit  MY 


a  PLtm  GABCILI  8ECVNDI    81.  (H  17) 


I 


solem,  quern  orientem  statim  exceptum  ultra  meridiem    ^ 
Siobliquum  quidem  sed  tamen  seruat     in  hanc  ego    * 
diaetam  cum  me  recepi,  abesse  mihi  etiam  a  uiUa 
mea  uideor,  magnamquo  eios  uoluptatom  praecipue 
Saturnalibus  oapio,  cum  reliqua  pan  teeti  Ijoentia  5 
dierum  f estdaque  damoribos  peraonat :  nam  neo  ipee 
meorum  Insibus  neo  illi  studiis  meis  obstrepnnt. 

25  Haeo  utilitas,  haec  amoenitaa  defidtur  aqua  ealienti, 
sed  puteos  ac  potius  fontea  habet:   sunt  enim  in 
aummo.    et  omnino  litoria  illius  mira  natora:  quo-  k 
cumque  loco  moueris  humum,  obuius  et  panttus  omcHr 
ooourrit,  isque  dncerus  ac  ne  leuiter  quidem  tanta 

26  maris  uicinitate  comiptus.  auggerunt  adiatim  ligna 
proximae  sUuae:  ceteras  copias  OstimuriB  oolonia 
ministrat.    frugi  quidem  homini  suffidt  etiam  uioua  15 

.i«^^l;cv«  q^Q2Q  ^,||^  |j^]|^  diacernit:  in  hoc  balinea  meritoria 
1^»..   tria,  magna  commoditaa,    si   forte  balineum '  domi 
■  ^s^-7     uel  aubitua  aduentua  uel  breuior  mora  eaUaoere  dia- 
/  auadeat 

27  Idtua  omant  uarietate  gratiadma  nunc  continua» 
nunc  intermiaaa  tecta  uillarum,  quae  jnaeatant  mul- 
tarum  urbium  faciem,  due  mari  due  ipao  litore  utare ; 
quod  non  nunquam  longa  tranquiUitaa  mollit^  aaepiua 

28frequena  et  conttariua  fluctua  indurat.     mare  non 
aane   pretiosis    piacilms  abundat,   aolcaa    tamen    eti 
aquillaa  optimaa  egerit.      uilla    uero  noatra    edam 
mediterraneaa  copiaa  pracatat,   lac  in   primia:  nam 

3  reoepi  KVF  recipi  B  recipio  Foiui  0  poUiit]  poUles 
Afommaeu  13  comiptus  BFooa  salsus  MVf  17  donii  (2  A. 
al*  domini  0)  uel  MVoa  doniiui  uel  BFa  uel  domini  F  2*2 
siue  mart  (niAris  M)  MVF  siue  ipao  nmri  BFooa 


28.  (H  20)        EPISTVLAB  SELECTAE.  45 

illuc  e  pascuis  pecora  conueniunt,  si  quando  aquam 
umbramue  sectantur. 

Iiistisnede  causis  eumtibi  uideor  incolere,  inhabitare,  29 
diligere  secessum,  quem  tu  nimis  urbauus  es  nisi  coii- 
5  cupiscis  ?     atque  utinam  concupiscas !  ut  tot  tantisque 
dotibus  iiillulae  nostrae  maxima  commendatio  ex  tuo 
contubernio  accedat.     uale. 


^22.    (n.  20.) 
C.  PLINIVS  CALVISIO  SVO  S. 

lo  *Assem  para  et  accipe  auream  fabulam/  fabulas 
immo  :  nam  me  priorum  noua  admouuit,  nee  refert  a 
qua  potissimum  incipiam. 

Verania  Pisonis  gi-auiter  iacebat,  huius  dico  Pisonis 
quem   Galba   adoptauit.      ad   banc   Regulus    uenit. 

15  primum  impudentiam  hominis  qui  uenerit  ad  aegram 
cuius  marito  inimicissimus,  ipsi  inuisissimus  fuerat. 
esto,  si  uenit  tantum :  at  ille  etiam  proximus  toro 
sedit,  quo  die,  qua  bora  nata  csset  interrogauit.  ubi 
audiit,  componit  uultum,  intendit  oculos,  mouet  labra, 

2oagitat  digitos,  computat.  nihil,  ut  diu  miseram 
exspectatione  suspendit,  *  halves '  inquit  *  climactericum 
tern  pus,  scd  euadcs.  quod  ut  tibi  magis  liqucat, 
baruspicem  consulam  quem  sum  fiequcnter  cxpertus.' 
nee  mora;  sacrificium  facit,  adfirmat  cxta  cum  siderum 

2    umbramue  MVoa  umbramque  BFu      3    eum   BFoua  iaiii 
WfF 

22  IG  ii>8i  inuisisshniis  om.  WiF     18  quo]  qua  WfF    20 
nihil  ut  iliu  BFon  nihil  diu  KVfa 


46  G  mm  CAECHJ  secvndi  sb.  olw 

.  -  significatione  congruere.  ilia,  ut  in  pericolo  ereduhi 
poecit  codicillos,  legatum  Regulo  scribit :  mox  ingm- 
uescit:  clamat  moriens  'hominem  nequam,  peiiBduniy 
ac  plus  etiam  quam  periunmi,'  qui  nbi  per  salutem 

6  filii  peierasset.    fodt  hoc  Regulus  non  minus  scelerate  s 
quam  frequenter,  quod  iram  deorum,  quos  ipee  ootidie 
fallit,  in  caput  inf elicis  pueri  detestatur. 

7  Velleius  Blaesus,  ille  locuples  eonsularis,  nouissima 
ualetudine  conflictabatur :  cupiebat  mutare  testamen- 
turn.     Begulus,  qui  speraret  aliquid  ex  nouis  tabulis,  ic 
quia  nuper  captare  eum  coeperat^  medicos  hortari, 
rogare  quoquo  modo  spiritum  homini  prorogarent. 

8  postquam  signatum  est  testamentum,  mutat  personam, 
uertit  adlocutionem,   isdemque  medicis    'quousque 
miserum  cruciatis  Y  quid  inuidetis  bonam  mortem  cui  15 
dare  uitam  non  potestis  ? '    moritur  Blaesus,  et  tan- 
quam  omnia  audisset,  Regulo  ne  tantulum  quidem. 

9  Sufficiunt  duae  fabulae,  an  scholastica  lege  tertiam 
lOposcisY    est  unde  fiat.    Aurelia,  omata  femina,  signa- 

tura  testamentum  sumpserat  pulchcrrimas  tunicas,  ao 
I  Regulus  cum  uenisset  ad  signandum,  'rogo'  inquit 

11  *  has  mihi  leges/  Aurelia  ludere  honiinem  putabat, 
illc  serio  instabat :  no  multa,  coegit  mulierem  aperirc 
tabulas  ac  sibi  tunicas  quas  crat  induta  Icgarc :  obscr- 
uaiiit  scri1>entcm,  inspoxit  an  scripsissct  et  Aureh'a  25 
(luidcm  uiuit,  illc  tanien  istud  tanquam  merit umm 
ctK»«rit  ,  et  hie  hercditates,  hie  Icgata,  quasi  niei-eatur, 
accipit. 

.*{  honiinem  BBIV  o  honiinem  Foua  15  bonam  mortem  ona 
1>ona  mortis  BF  Imna  mortc  MV  16  moritur  hlacsun  ct 
tam(|imm  BFona  men  turns  blaesus  taniquam  MV 


22.  (IL  20)        EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  47 

'AXXa  TA  SMT€ivofuu  ui  ca  ciuitate,  in  qua  iam  pri- 12 
dem  non  minora  praemia,  immo  maiora,  nequitia  et 
improbitas   quam   pudor  et  uirtus   habent  ?     aspice  13 
Kegulum,  qui  ex  paupere  et  tenui  ad  tantas  opes  per 

5  flagitia  processit  ut  ipse  mihi  dixerit,  cum  consuleret 
quam    cito    sestertium    sescenties    impleturus  esset 
inuenisse  se  exta  duplicia,  quibus  portendi  milies  et 
ducenties  habiturum.     et  habebit,  si  modo,  ut  ooepit,  14 
alieiia  testamenta,   quod   est  improbissimum  genus 

^0  falsi,  ipsis  quorum  sunt  ilia  dictauerit.     uale. 

7  duplicia  KVF  duplicata  BFona 


48  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDI    28.  {HL  1) 


I 


LIBER  III 

^'23.    (HI.  1.) 
C.  PLINIVS  CALVISIO  RVFO  SVO  S. 

1  Nescio  an  ullum  iucundius  tempus  exegerim  quam 
quo   nuper  apud   Spurinnam  fui,   adeo   quidem   ut   5 
nemiiiem  magis  in  senectute,  si  modo  senescere  datum 
est,  aemulari  uelim  :  nihil  est  enim  illo  uitae  genere 

2  distinctius.     me  autem  ut  ecrtus  siderum  cursus  ita 
uita  hominum  disposita  delectat,  senum  praesertim. 
nam  iuuenes  adhue  eonf usa  quaedam  et  quasi  turbata  lo 
non  indecent ;  senibus  placida  omnia  et  ordinata  con- 
ueniunt,  quibus  industria  sera,  turpis  ambitio  est. 

3  Hanc  regulam  Spurinna  eonstantissime  seruat ;  quin 
ctiam  parua  haec,  parua,  si  non  cotidie  fiant,  ordine 

4  quodam  et  uelut  orbe  circumagit.     mane  lectulo  con- 15 
tinetur,  hora  secunda  calceos  poscit,  ambulat  milia 
passuum  tria  nee  minus  animum  quam  corpus  exercet 

si  adsunt  amici,  honcstissimi  sermones  explicantur: 
si  non,  liber  legitur;    intcnlum  etiam  praesentibus 
6  amicis,  si  tamen  illi  non  grauaiitur.     dcinde  considit,  20 
et  liber  rursus  aut  scmio  libro  potior :  mox  uchiculum 
ascendit,    adsumit    uxorem    singularis    exempli    uel 

23  3  Rvpo  om.  codd.  {hut  R  in  index  Adcaluisiumrufum. ) 
10  arlhuc  confusa  BFoua  confusa  adhuc  MV  20  considit  MV 
oonsidet  BFoua 


23.  (ni.  1)         EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  49 

aliquem  amicorum,  ut  me  proxime.     quam  pulchrum   6 
illud,  quam  dulce  secretum !   quantum  ibi  antiquitatis ! 
quae   facta,   quos   uiros   audias !    quibus    praeceptis 
imbuare  !  quamuis  ille  hoc  temperamentum  modestiae  > 
5  suae  indixerit,  ne  praecipere  uideatur.     peractis  scp-   7 
tem  milibus  passuum  iterum  ambulat  mille,  iterum 
residit  uel  se  cubiculo  ac  stilo  reddit.     scribit  eiiim, 
et  quidera  utraque  lingua,  lyrica  doctissima  :  mira  illis 
dulcedo,  mira  suauitas,  mira  hilaritas,  cuius  gratiam 

lo  cumulat  sanctitas  scribentis.    ubi  hora  balinei  nuntiata  8 
est  (est  autem  hieme  nona,  aestate  octaua),  in  sole,  si 
caret  uento,   ambulat  nudus.     deinde  mouetur  pila 
uehementer  et  diu:  nam  hoc  quoque  exercitationis 
genere  pugnat  cum  senectute.    lotus  accubat  et  pauli- 

15  sper  cibum  differt :  interim  audit  legentem  remissius 
aliquid  et  dulcius.  per  hoc  omne  tempus  liberum 
est  amicis  uel  eadem  facerc  ucl  alia,  si  malint.     ad-  9 

{\,  ponitur  cena  non  minus  nitida  quam  frugi  in  argento 
puro  et  antiquo:   sunt  in  usu  et  Corinthia,  quibus 

» delectatur  nee  adficitur.     frequenter  comoedis  cena     « 
distinguitur,  ut  uoluptates  quoque  studiis  condiantur. 
sumit  aliquid  de  noctc  et  aestate  :  nemini  hoc  longum 
est ;  tanta  comitate  conuiuium  "trahitur.    inde  illi  post  10 
scptimum   et  scptuagensiniuni  annum    aurium    ocu- 
2S  lomm  uigor  integer,  inde  agile  ct  uiuidum  corpus 

solaquc  ex  senectute  prudent ia.  i 

Hanc   ego   uitam    uoto   et   cogitatione   pracsunio,  U 

7  residit  BMV  residet  Foua  8  lyrica  doctissima  BFa  lyrica 
(li-  u)  et  doctissima  on  lyrica  doctis^iinc  MVF  14  lotus  BFoua 
illic  MV  20  nee  MV  et  BFoua  24  oculorum  BBIV  oculo- 
mnique  Fona 

D 


50  C.  PLINI  GAECILI  SECVNDI    28.  (m.  1) 

ingressurus  auidissime,  ut  primum  ratio  aetatis  re- 
ceptui  canere  pormiserit.  interim  mille  laboribus 
conteror,  quorum  mihi  et  solacium  et  exemplum  est 
idem  Spurinua:  nam  ille  quoque,  quoad  honestum  fuit^ 
obiit  oflicia,  gessit  magistratus,  prouinciaa  rexit^  5 
12  multoque  labore  hoc  otium  meruit,  igitur  eundem 
mihi  cursum,  eundem  terminum  statuo,  idque  iam 
nunc  apud  te  subsigno,  ut  si  me  longius  euehi  uideria, 
in  ius  uoces  ad  hanc  epistulam  meam  et  quiescere 
iubeas,  cum  inertiae  crimen  effugero.    uale.  lo 


24.    (III.  6.) 
C.  PLINIVS  BAEBIO  MACRO  SVO  S. 

1  Pergratum  est  mihi  quod  tam  diligenter  libros 
auunculi  mci  kctitas  ut  habere  omnes  uelis  quaeras- 

2  que  qui  sint  omnes.     fungar  indicia  partibus  atque  15 
etiam  quo  sint  online  scripti  notum  tibi  faciam :  est 
cnim  hacc  quo<iuo  studiosis  non  iniucunda  cognitio. 

3  '  Do  iaculatione  equcstri  unus ' :  hunc,  cum  praefectus 
alae  militaret,  ])ari  ingenio  curaque  composuit.     'de 
uita  Pomponi    Sccundi    duo ' ;    a    quo    singulariter  ao 
aniatiis  hoc  nionioriao  aniici   quasi   debitum   munus 

4  exsoluit.      *bcllonnn    (M'linaiiiao     uiginti';     quibus 
omnia  (|iia(;  v\m\  (ivtvmiinh  gessimus  bella  collcgit. 
incohain't  ciini  in  (n'rniania  militaret,  somnio  monitus: 
adstitit    oi    (luicsccnti    Dnisi    Neronis    effigies,    i{u\  25 
(fcnnaiiiao  latissime  uict^ir  ibi   pcriit,  commenda1>at 

4  fuit ...  III.  ^.  0  rriMlorc  iw»les  om.  MV 

24   1*J  itAKHM  <nn.  codtl.  {hnf  B  i»  imlix  mlliacbiuinmacTUin) 


24.  (in.  5)         EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  51 

memoriam  suam  orabatque  ut  se  ab  iiiiuria  obliuionis 
adsereret.  *Studiosi  tres,'  in  sex  uolumina  propter  5 
amplitudinem  diuisi,  quibus  oratorem  ab  incu- 
nabulis  instituit  et  perfecit.  *dubii  sennonis 
5  octo '  sciipsit  sub  Nerone  nouissimis  annis,  cum 
omne  studiorum  genus  paulo  liberius  et  erectius 
periculosum  seruitus  fecisset.  *a  fine  Aufidi  Bassi  6 
triginta  unus.'  *  naturae  historiarum  triginta 
septem/  opus  diffusum,  eruditum,  nee  minus  uarium 

10  quam  ipsa  natura. 

Miraris    quod    tot    uolumina     multaque     in     his   7 
tarn  scrupulosa   homo   occupatus   absolueiit?    magis 
miraberis,     si     scieris      ilium      aliquandiu      causas 
actitasse,    decessisse    anno     sexto     et     quinquagen- 

15  simo,  medium  tempus  distentum  impeditumque  qua 
officiismaximis  qua  amicitia  principum  egi^e.     sed   8 
erat    acre     ingenium,    incredibilc    studium,    summa 
uigilantia.      lucubrare   Vulcanalibus   incipiebat,    non  %  1 
auspicandi  causa  sed  studendi,  statim  a  nocte  mult  a, 

20  hieme   uero    ab   hoi*a   scptima,  uel  cum   tardissime,    i 
octaua,   saepe   sexta.     erat  sane  somni   paratissimi, 
non   nunquam  etiam  inter  ipsa  studia   instantis  et«^ 
deserentis.    ante  lucom  ibat  ad  Vespasianum  impcra-   9' 
torem  (nam  ille  quoque  noctibus  utelxitur),  inde  ad    / 

2sdelegatum  sibi  otKciimi.     reucrsus  domum,  quml  re- 
liquum  temporis  stii<liis  red<le1)at.    post  cibum  saeix?,  10 
quern  interdiu  leucm  et  facilcm  ueterum  more  sunie- 
bat,  aestate,  si  quid  otii,  iacebat  in  sole,  li1)er  Iqgebatur, 

4  perfecit  BFoa  pcrfu-it  HVu  0  erectius  BFVooa  rectius  M 
8  naturae  MVouFa  iiatuni  BF  iiaturaliura  Sichardwi  11  his 
MVoua  lis  BF 


52  a  PLmi  CABdU  SBOVin>I    24i  OILS) 

adnotabat  exoerpebatque.    nihil  enim  legit  quod  nxm 
exoerperet :  dicere  etiam  solebat  nullom  esse  librom 

Utam  malum  ut  non  aliqua  parte   prodesset    post 
solem  plerumque  frigida  lauabatur :  deinde  gustabat 
donniebatque  minimum  :  mox  quasi  alio  die  studebat  s 
in  oenae  tempus.    super  banc  liber  legebator»  adnotft- 

12  batur,  et  quidem  cundm.   memini  quendam  ex  amieis» 
cimi  lector  quaedam  perperam  prohuntiasBet^  reuocaase 
et  repeti  coegisse,  huic   auunculum  meum   dixisse 
'intellexeras  nempet'  cum  ille  adnuisset,  *cur  ergo  lo 
reuocabas  ?    decem  amplius  uersus  hao  tua  interpella- 

IS  tione  perdidimus.'  tanta  erat  parsimonia  temporis. 
surgebat  aestate  a  cena  luce,  hieme  intra  primam 
noctis,  et  tanquam  aliqua  lege  cogente. 

14  Haec  inter  medios  labores  urbisque  fremitum.    in  15 
secessu  solum  balinei  tempus  studiis  eximebatur:  com 
dicobalinei,  de  interioribus  loquor ;  nam  dum  destringi- 

15  tur  tergiturque,  audiebat  aliquid  aut  dictabat  in  itinere 
quasi  solutus  ceteris  curis  huic  uni  uaeabat :  ad  latus 
notarius  cum  libro  et  pugiUaribus,  cuius  manus  hieme  ^ 
manicis  muniebantur,  ut  ne  caeli  quidem  asperitas 
ullum  studiis  tempus  eriperet ;  qua  ex  causa  Romae 

15  quoque  sella  uehelmtur.  repeto  me  correptom  ab  eo 
cur  ambularcm :  *  poteras  *  inquit  '  has  horas  non 
pcrdcre ' ;  nam  perire  omne  tempus  arbitrabatur  quod  25 

17  studiis  lion  impcrtiretur.  hac  intentione  tot  ista  uolu- 
mina  |>orcgit  clcctorumquc  commentarios  centum 
sexagiiita   mihi  rcliquit,   opisthographos    quidem  et 

2*2  studiis  Cffhriuf  stucUi  codd,    28  inpcrtiretur  (-par-  on) 
BFoua  (r/.  ///.  15.  1:  IV,  SS.  3)  inpcnderetur  MV 


24.  (in.  6)         EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  53 

minutissime  scriptos ;  qua  ratione  multiplicatur  hie 
numerus.  referebat  ipse  potuisse  se,  cum  procurarct 
in  Hispania,  uendere  hos  commentarios  Larcio  Licino 
quadringentis  milibus  nummum,  et  tunc  aliquanto 
5  pauciores  erant 

Nonne  uidetur    tibi    recordanti  quantum  legerit,  18 
quantum    scripserit,    nee    in    officiis    ullis    nee     in 
amieitia    principis  fuisse,    rui-sus,    cum    audis    quid 
studiis   laboris  impendent,   nee   seripsisse   satis   nee 

JO  legisse  ?   quid  est  enim  quod  non  aut  illae  oecupationes 
impedire  aut  haec  instantia  non  possit  efficere  ?   itaque  19 
soleo  ridere,  cum  me  quidam  studiosum  uocant,  qui,  si 
comparer   illi,  sum  desidiosissimus.     ego  autem  tan- 
tum,  quem  partim  publica  partim  amieorum  officia 

15  distringunt  1  quis  ex  istis  qui  tota  uita  litteris  adsident 
collatus  illi  non  quasi  somno  et  inertiae  deditus 
erubescat  ? 

Extendi  epistulam,  cum  hoc  solum  quod  requirebas  20 
scribere  destinassem,  quos  libros  reliquisset :   eonfido 

20  tamen  haec  quoque  tibi  non  minus  grata  quam 
ipsos  libros  futui-a,  quae  te  non  tantuni  ad  legendos 
eos  uerum  ctiam  ad  simile  aliquid  elaboraiidum 
possunt  aemulationis  stimulis  excitare.     uale. 


J 


1  minutissiinc  MVf  ininutissimis  BFotta  .*)  larcio  Bo  lartio  ua 
{awl  app.  F)  largio  HV  licino  HV  licinio  (Ly-  a)  BFoua  13 
oompararcr  B  IS  cum  BFoua  quainuis  MV  21  quae...  iii. 
11.  9  pluris  oni.  B,  two  harts  haviwj  been  nU  o\U 


64  C.  PUNI  CAECILI  SECVNDI     25.  (in.7) 

26.    (III.  7.) 
C.  PLINIVS  CANINIO  RVFO  SVO  S. 

1  Modo  nuntiatus  est  Silius  Italicus  in  Neapolitano 

2  suo  incdia  finisse  uitam.    causa  mortis  ualetudo.    erat 
illi  natus  in'sanabilis  clauus,  cuius  taedio  ad  mortem    5 
irreuocabili  constantia  decucurrit,  usque  ad  supremum 
diem  beatus  et  felix,  nisi  quod  minorem  ex  liberie 
duobus  amisit,  sed  maiorem   melioremque  florentem 

3  atque   etiam   consularem   reliquit.      laeserat   famam 
suam  sub  Nerone  (credebatur  sponte  accusasse) ;  sed  in  lo 
Vitelli  amicitia  sapienter  so  et  comiter  gesserat,  ex 
proconsuliitu   Asiae   gloriam   reportauerat,   maculam 

4  uctoris  industriae  laudabili  otio  abluerat.     fuit  inter 
principcs  ciuitatis  sine  potentia,  sine  inuidia :  salutar 
batur,  colebatur,  multumque  in  leetulo  iacons  cubiculo  15 
semper  non  ex  fortuna  frequenti  doctissimis  sermoni- 

6  bus  dies  transigebat,  cum  a  scribendo  uacaret.  scribe- 
bat  carniina  maiore  cura  quam  ingenio,  non  nunquam 

6  indicia  hominum  recitationibus  experiebatur.     nouis- 
sime  ita  suadcntibus  annis.  ab  ur1>c  secessit  seque  in  20 
Campania  tcnuit,  ac  ne  aduentu  quidem  noui  principir 

7  indc  conimotus  est  magna  Cacsaris  laus,  sub  quo 
hoc  liberuni  fuit,  magna  illius,  (jui  hac  libcrtate  ausus 
est  uti.     erat  ilnkoKa\o<s  us<iuc  ad  emacitatis  repre- 

8  hensioneni.     phiros  isdeni  in   locis  uillas  posside1)at  25 
a(laniatis(iue  nouis  priorcs  ncglcgobat.     multum  ubi- 
quc  librorum,  multum  statuarum,  multum  imaginum, 
quas  non  habelwt  modo  uerum    otiam   uenera1)atur, 

26  IG  frcciuenti  Foua  pracsenti  MV 


25.  (in.  7)         EPISTV^LAE  SELECTAE.  65 

;  V;  .Vergili  ante  omiics,  cuius  natalem  religiosius  quam 
siium  celebrabat,  Xcajx)li  maxime,  ubi  monimeiitum 
eius  adire  ut  templuni  solebat. 

In  hac  tranquillitate   annum   quintum   et   septua-   9 

5  gensimumexcessit,delicatomagiscorporcquani  infinno; 
utquc  nouissimus  a  Xerone  f actus  est  consul,  ita  i>o- 
stremus  ex  omnil  )us  quos  Nero  consules  f ecerat  decessi t. 
illud  etiam  notabile,  ultimus   ex   Neronianis   consu- 10 
laribus   obiit  quo  consule   Nero   periit.      quod    nic 

lo  recordantem   fragilitatis    humanae    misei-atio    subit. 
quid  enim  tarn  circumcisum,  tarn  breue  quam  homiiiis  11 
uita  longissima?    an  non   uidetur   tibi   Nero   niodo 
modo  fuissc  ?  cum  interim  ex  iis  qui  sub  illo  gesscrant 
consulatum  nemo  iam  superest.     quanquam  quid  lioc  12 

15  mirorl  nupcr  L.  Piso,  pater  Pisonis  illius  qui  a  \aloiio 

lo  r^  Festo   per  snmmum   facinus   in   Africa   occisus   est, 

dicere  solebat  neminem  se  uiderc  in  scnatu  (juoni  consul 

ipse  sententiam   rogauisset.     tam   angustis   terminis  13 

tantac  multitudinis    uiuacitas   ipsa   concluditur!     ut 

20  mihi    non   ucnia   solum   dignac   uorum  ctiani   laudo 
uideantur  illae  regiao  lacrimae.     nam  ferunt  Xerxcn, 
cum  immensum  exercitum  oculis  obissct,  illacrimassc, 
quod  tot  milibus  tam  brcuis  immincret  occasus.     scd  14 
tanto    magis    hoc   quicouid   est   temporis  futtilis  ot 

25  ca<luci,  si  non  datur  fnctis  (nam  borum  materia  in 
aliona  manu),  certo  sindiis  profcramus,  ct  qnatcmis 
nobis  dencgatnr  din  uiuorc,  relinquannis  ab'<|ui(l  (pio 

1  ucrgilii  MVa  uirgilii  Fou  5  excessit  UVFa  <lcce8sit  («lo-  orer 
trasiw-  F)  Fou  12  mn^lo  iikmIo  MV  iiuhIo  Foua  1.*^  iis  Fa  illis 
oa  Ilia  MV  23  breiii  Lfithauwr  24  taiito  Foua  eo  MV  26 
certe  Foua  nos  certe  M  uoscere  {at  end  of  lint)  V 


66  C.  FLINI  CAEGILI  8BCVNDI    80.  <IIL7) 

15  no6  uixissc  testemur.  acio  te  stimulis  non  egere ;  me 
tamen  tui  caritas  enocat  ut  currentem  quoque  instigem, 
sicut  tu  soles  me.  dya&ri  &  €pi^  cum  in  uicem  ae 
mutuis  exhortationibus  amioi  adamoremimmortalitatis 
exacuunt.    uale. 


M.    (in.  11.) 
C.  PUNIVS  IVLIO  GENITORI  SVO  a 

1  Est  omnino  Artemidori  nostri  tam  benigna  natura 
ut  officia  amicorum  in  mains  extollat:  inde  etiam 
meum  meritum  ut  uera  ita  supra  meritum  praedica-  lo 

2  tione  circumfert.  equidem,  cum  essent  philosophi  ab 
ur1)e  summoti,  fui  apud  ilium  in  subnrbano,  et  quo 
notabilius,  hoc  est  periculosius,  esset,  fui  praetor, 
pecuniam  etiam,  qua  tunc  illi  ampliore  opus  erat,  ut 
aes  alienum  exsolueret  contractum  ex  pulcherrimis  15 
causis,  mussantibus  magnis  quibusdam  et  locupletibus 

3  amicis  mutuatus  ipse  gratuitam  dcdi.    atque  haec  feci, 
cum  septem  amicis  meis  aut  occisis  aut  relegatis, 
occisis  Scnecionc,  Rustico,  Heluidio,  relegatis  Maurioo, 
Gratilla,  Arria,  Fannia,  tot  circa  me  iactis  fulminibus  ao 
quasi  ambustus  mihi  quoque  impendere  idem  exitium 

4  cei-tis  quibusilam  notis  augiuarer.  iion  ideo  tamen 
exiiiiiani  gloriam  meruissc  nie,  ut  ille  praedicat,  credo  * 

5  sod  taiituni  eflfugissc  flatritiuni.    nam  et  C.  Musonium, 
soccrum  eius,  quantum  licit  urn  est  per  actatcm  cum  25 
admiratione  dilexi,  et  Arteniidorum  ipsumiam  turn, 

1  me  om,  F 
ae  7  IvLio  om.  MV 


27.  (in.  12)       EPISTVLAE  SELBCTAE.  57 

cum  in  Syria  tribuiius  militarem,  arta  familiaritate 
complexus  sum,  idque  primum  non  nullius  indolis  dedi 
specimen,  quod  uiriun  aut  sapientem  aut  proximum 
simillimumque  sapienti  intellegere  sum  uisus.  nam  6 
5  ex  omnibus  qui  nunc  se  philosophos  uocant  uix 
unimi  aut  alterum  inuenies  tanta  sinceritate,  tanta 
ueritate.  mitto  qua  patientia  corporis  hiemes  iuxta 
et  aestates  ferat,  ut  nuUis  laboribus  cedat,  ut  nihil 
in    cibo,    in    potu    uoluptatibus   tribuat,   ut  oculos 

lo  animumque  contineat.    sunt  haec  magna,  sed  in  alio ;  7 
in  hoc  uero  minima,  si  ceteris  uirtutibus  comparentur, 
quibus  meruit  ut  a  C,  Musonio  ex  omnibus  omnium 
ordinum   adsectatoribus   gener  adsumeretur.      quae  8 
mihi  recordanti  est  quidem  iucundum  quod  me  cum 

15  apud  alios  tum  apud  te  tantis  laudibus  cumulat,  uereor 
tamen  ne  modum  excedat,  quern  behignitas  eius  (illuc 
enim  unde  coepi  reuertor)  non  solet  tenere.     nam  in  9 
hoc  uno  interdum  uir  alioqui  prudentissimus  honesto 
quidem  sed  ttimen  errore  uersatur,  quod  pluris  amicos 

ao  suos  quam  sunt  arbitratur.     uale. 


'      27.    (HI.  12.) 
C.  PLINIV8  CATILIO  SEVERO  SVO  S. 

Vcniam  ad  ccnam,  sed  iam  nunc  jwciscor  sit  expodita,  1 
sit  ptirca,  *Socraticis'  laiitum  *scniionibus'  abuiidet, 
25  in  his  cjuoque  tencat  nioduni.    erunt  officia  antelucana,  2 

1 7  non  solct  Foua  solct  non  HV 

27  22  Severo  om.  BMVa  [but  B  in  index  seucr  •)    23  sit 
expedita  sit  MVoua  sit  expcdita  BF 


58  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDI    27,  (UL  12) 

in  quae  incidere  impune  ne  Catoni   quidem   licuit, 
qiiem   tamen   C.   Caosar  ita  reprehendit  ut  laudet. 

3  describit  enim  eos  quibus  obuius  fuerit,  cum  caput 
ebrii  retexissent,  eru])ui8se:  delude  adicit   'putares 
non  ab  illis  Catonem,  sed  illos  a  Catone  deprehensos.'  s 
potuitne  plus  auctoritatis  tribui  Catoni  quam  si  ebrius 

4  quoque  tarn  uenerabilis  erat  1  nostrae  tamen  cenae 
ut  apparatus  et  impendii  sic  temporis  modus  constet. 
neque  enim  ii  sumus  quos  uituperare  ne  inimici 
quidem  possint  nisi  ut  simul  laudent.     uale.  lo 


"28,    (III.  16.) 
C.  PLINIVS  NEPOTI  SVO  S. 

1  Adnotasse  uideor  facta  dictaque  uirorum  femina- 

2  rumquc  alia  clariora  esse,  alia  maiora.  confirmata  est 
opinio  mea  hesterno  Fanniae  sermono.  neptis  haec  15 
Arriae  illius  quae  marito  et  solacium  mortis  et  exem- 
plum  fuit.  multa  referelxit  auiac  suae  non  minom 
hoc  sed  obscuriora ;  quae  tibi  cxistimo  tam  mirabilia 
legenti  fore  quam  mihi  audicnti  fucrunt. 

3  Aegrotabat  Caocina  Paetus,  maritus  eius,  aegrotabat  20 
et  filius,  uterque  mortifere,  ut  uidelmtur.   filius  decessit 
cximia  pulchritudinc,  |mri  uorccundia,  ct  parentibus 

4  non  miiuis  ob  alia  cams  quam  qu(Kl  filius  erat.  huic 
ilia  ita  funus  pju-jiuit,  ita  duxit  cxswjuias  ut  ignoniret 
maritus  :  quin  inimo,  quoticns  cubiculum  eius  intraret,  25 

3  scribit  Ccutaulkon  fuerit  BFoua  fuerat  MV 

28  20  Coecina    ..   aegrotabat  om.    BF   iiiaritiis   eius  oin. 
MV 


28.  (ni  16)       EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  69 

uiuere  filium  atque  etiam  commodiorcm  esse  simulahat, 
ac  persacpe  interroganti  quid  ageret  puer,  respondobat, 
*  bene  quiciiit,  libenter  cibum  sumpsit/     deinde,  cum  5 
diu   cohibitae   lacrimae   uincerent   pronimperentque, 

S  egrediebatur :  tunc  se  dolori  dabat :  satiata,  siccis 
oculis,  composito  uultu  redibat,  tanquam  orbitatem 
foris  reliquisset.  praeclarum  quidem  illud  eiusdem,  6 
femim  8tringere,perfodere  pectus,  extrahere  pugionem, 
porrigcre  marito,  addere  uocem  immortalem  ac  paene 
Xo  diuinam  *  Paete,  non  dolet/  sed  tamen  ista  facienti, 
dicenti  gloria  et  aeternitas  ante  oculos  erant;  quo 
mains  est  sine  praemio  aeteniitatis,  sine  praemio 
gloriae  abdere  lacrimas,  operire  luctum,  amissoque 
filio  matrem  adhuc  agere. 

15     Scribonianus  arma    in   Illyrico   contra    Claudium  7 
mouerat :  fuerat  Paetus  in  partibus :  occiso  Scriboniano 
Romam  trahebatur.      erat  ascensiu-us  nauem  :    Arria  8 
milites  orabat  ut  simul  imix)neretur.     *  nempe  enim ' 
inquit  *daturi  estis  consulari   uiro  seiuulos  aliquos, 

20  quorum  c  maiui  cibum  capiat,  a  qui1)us  uestiatur,  a 
quibus  calcietur :  omnia  sola  praestabo.'     non  impe-  9 
trauit :    conduxit   piscatoriam   nauiculam    ingensque 
nauigium  minimo  secuta  est. 

Eadem  apud  Claudium  uxori  Scriboniani,  cum  ilia 

25  profitcrotur  indicium,  *cgo'  inquit  *tc  nudiam,  cuius 
in  grcmio  »Scribonianus  cK'cisus  est,  ot  uiuis  ? '  ex  quo 
manifcstum  est  ci  consilium  pulcliernmac  moi-tis  non 

5  tunc  MVfa  tarn  BFou  10  paete  non  dolet  BFona  non  dolet 
pactc  MV  ista  facienti  dicenti  BFa  ista  fucienti  diligcntique 
on  ista  facienti  isU  dicenti  MV  16  occiso  BFona  et  occi«o  MV 
22  nauiculam  BFona  nanculam  MV 


60  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDI    28.  (III.  16) 

10  subitum  f uisse.  quin  etiam,  cum  Thrasea,  gener  eius, 
deprecaretur  ne  mori  pergeret,  interque  alia  dixisset 
*  uis  ergo  filiam  tuam,  si  mihi  pereundum  fuerit,  mori 
mecum  1 '  respoiidit  *  si  tarn  diu  tantaque  concordia 

11  uixerit  tecum  quam  ego  cum  Paeto,  uolo/     auxerat   5 
hoc  responso  curam  suorum,  attentius  custodiebatur : 
sensit  et  *  nihil  agitis  '  inquit :  *  potestis  enim  efficere 

12  ut  male  moriar,  ut  non  moriar  non  potestis/     dum 
haec  dicit,  exsiluit  cathedra  aduersoque  parieti  caput 
ingenti  impetu  impBgit  et  corruit.    focilata  *  dixeram  *  lo 
inquit  *  nobis  inuenturam   me   quamlibet  duram  ad 
mortem  uiam,  si  uos  facilem  negassetis/ 

13  Videnturne  haec  tibi  maiora  illo  *  Paete,  non  dolet/ 
ad  quod  per  haec  peruentum  est  1    cum  interim  illud 
quidem  ingens   fama,  haec  nulla  circumfert.      unde  15 
colligitur  quod  initio  dixi,  alia  esse  clariora  alia  maiora. 
uale. 


^29.    (III.  21.) 
C.  PLINIVS  CORNELIO  PRISCO  SVO  S. 

1  Audio  Yalerium  Martialem  decessisse  et  moleste  20 
fero.      erat  homo   ingeniosus,   acutus,   acer,   et  qui 
plurimum  in  scril)endo  et  sal  is  habcret  et  fellis,  nee 

2  candoris  minus,     prosecutus  oram  uiatico  secedentem  : 
dederam  hoc  amicitiae,  dedoram  etiam  uersiculis  quos 

8  ut  non  moriar  MVoa  nc  moriar  BFa     14  per  quorl  ad  haec 
MommMen 

29  19  (DoRNELio  pRisco  F  {both  text  ami  mutilated  margin) 
on  [aiifl  B  in  index)  pRisco  B  (in  text)  BfVa 


28.  (in.  21)       EPISTVLAE  SELBCTAK.  CI 

de  me  composuit.  fuit  moiis  antaqui  eo6  qm  iiel3 
singulorum  laudes  uel  urbiam  sciipeerant  ant  hooori- 
bus  aut  pecunia  omare ;  noetris  aero  tempoffibus,  at 
alia  speciosa  et  egregia,  ita  hoc  in  prunis  exoleah. 
5  nam  postquam  desiimus  iacere  l^nHaiw^  laudari 
quoque  ineptum  putamus. 

Quaeris  qui  sint  aersicnli  qoibos  grmtiam  rettaHf4 
remitterem    te  ad    ipsum    uolomen,   nisi    quoedam 
tenerem :  tu,  si  placuerint  hi,  ceteroe  in  libro  requires, 
lo  adloquitur  Musam,  mandat  at  domom  meam  Esqailii»  $ 
quaerat,  adeat  reuerenter : 

sed  ne  tempore  non  tuo  disertam 
pulses  ebria  ianuam  uideto : 
totos  dat  tetricae  dies  Mineniae, 
1 5  dum  centum  studet  auribus  uirorum 

hoc  quod  saecula  posteriqae  possint 
Arpinis  quoque  comparare  chartis. 
seras  tutior  ibis  ad  lucemas : 
haec  hora  est  tua,  cum  furit  Lyaeus, 
2o  cum  regnat  rosa,  cum  madent  capilli : 

tunc  me  uel  rigidi  legant  Catoncs. 
Meritonc  cum  qui  haec  de  me  scripsit  ct  tunc  dimisi  6 
amicissime  et  nunc  ut  amicissimum  dcfunctum  esse 
dolco?  dedit  enim  mihi  quantum  maximum  potuit, 
25  daturus  amplius,  si  potuisset.  tametsi  quid  homini 
potest  daii  mains  quam  gloria  ct  laus  et  acteriiitas  ? 
at  noil  eruiit  aoterna  quae  scripsit :  non  erunt  foitass<% 
ille  tameii  scripsit  taiiquam  essent  futura.     uale. 

26  gloria  et  laus  ct  aeternitas  MVooa  gloria  et  (et  nm.  F)  laus 
et  aeternitas  liarum  BF 


62  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDI     30.  (IV.  2) 


LIBER  IV. 

^30.    (IV.  2.) 
C.  PLINIVS  ATTIO  CLEMENTI  SVO  8. 

«      Regulus  filium  amisit,  hoc  uno  malo  indignus,  quod 
nescio  an  malum  putet.      erat  puer  acris  ingenii  sed    5 
ambigui,  qui  tamen  posset  recta  sectari,  si  patrem  non 

2  referret.  hunc  Regulus  emancipauit,  ut  heres  matris 
exsisteret ;  mancipatum  (ita  uulgo  ex  moribus 
hominis  loquebantur)  foeda  et  iiisolita  parentibus 
indulgentiae   simulatione  captabat.     incredibile,  sed  10 

3  Regulum  cogita.  amissum  tamen  luget  insane, 
habebat  puer  mannulos  multos  et  iunctos  et  solutos, 
habebat  canes  maiorcs  minorcsque,  habebat  luscinias, 
psittACOs,    morulas :     omnes    Regulus    circa    rogum 

4  trucidaAat.     nee  dolor  erat  ille,  sed  ostentatio  doloris.  15 
conuenitur  ad   cura   mira  cclcbritate.     cuncti   dete- 
stantur,  oderunt,   ct   quasi    probent,  quasi   diligant, 
cursant,    frequentant,    utquc    brcuiter    quo<l    scntio 
enuntiem,  in   Kogulo  domorendo  Regulum  imitantur. 

6  tenet  se  trans  Ti1>crim  in  hortis,  in  quibus  latissimum  20 
solum  porticibus  immensis,ri|>ixm  statuis  suis  occuptiuit, 
ut  est   in    summa   aiiaritia   sumptuosus,    in    sunima 

30  3  Attio  om.  cotld.  (hut  B  in  hiilrr)  A<lattiuiii  •  clemen  ) 
8  maiicipatiiin  BFoua  ciii:iiu*i|Kituiii  WF  9  liomines  MV 
1 1  insane  om.  BF 


81.  (IV.  7)         EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  « 

infamia  gloriosus.   uexat  ergo  ciuitatem  iiisaluberrimo  6 
tempore,  et  quod  uexat  solacium  putat.     dicit  se  uelle 
ducere   uxorem:    hoe  quoque,   sicut  alia,    peruersc 
audies  brcui  nuptias  lugentis,  nuptias  senis ;  quorum  7 
5  alterum  iminaturum,  alterum  serum  est.     uude  hoc  8 
augurer  quaeris  ?  non  quia  adfirmat  ipse,  quo  mend^ 
cius  nihil   est,  sed  quia  certum  est   Regulum 
facturum  quidquid  fieri  non  oportet.     uale. 


'31.    (IV.  7.) 
lo  C.  PLINIVS  CATIO  LEPIDO  SVO  s. 

Saepe   tibi  dico  inesse   uim  Kegulo.     minim  est  1 
quam  efficiat  in  quod   incubuit      placuit  ei   lugere 
filium;    luget    ut    nemo:     placuit  statuas    eios    et 
imagines  quam  plurimas  faccre ;  hoc  omnibus  officinis 

15  agit,  ilium  coloribus,  ilium  cera,   ilium  aere,    ilium 
argento,  ilium  auro,   ebore,  marmore   effingit.     ipse  2  — ^ 
uero  nu|)er  adhibito  ingenti  auditoiio  librum  de  uita 
cius    rccitauit,    dc     uita    pucn :     recitauit    tamen ; 
cundem   librum   in   exemplaria    transscriptum   mille 

20  per  totam  Italiam  prouinciasque  dimisit.  scripsit 
pnblice  ut  a  <lecurionibu8  cligerctur  tioealissimtis 
alitfuis  ex  ipsis  qui  legeret  cum  |io]Mi1o  :  factum  est. 

Hanc  illc  uini,  sou  <|Uo  alio   nfinn'ne  ufxanda  est  3 
intent io   (|uidqui<l    uelis    obtincn<li,     si    ad    potioiii 

81  10  Catioohi.  codfl.  {but  B  m  imlex  Adcatiom  •  lepidum) 
17  nuper  MV  et  nnper  BFoaa  IK  ilc  uita  piieri  n^citanit  am. 
BFa  (amd  1  k.  n),  W«/.  KVo  19  lilirnin  oni.  KY,  a/id.  BFona 
trarMscriptniii  inille  Wa  iiiille  transscripiuiii  KVon 


64  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDI    81.  (IV.  7) 

uertisset,  quantum  boni  efficere  potuissetl  quan- 
quam  minor  uis  bonis  quam  malls  inest,  ac  sicut 
dfJLaOCa  fi€v  Opacros,  X.oyur/xhs  8k  okvov  ^/9€t,  ita  recta 
ingenia    debilitat    uerecundia,     peruersa    oonfirmat 

4  audacia.     exemplo  est  Regulus.      imbecillum  latus,    5 
OS  confusum,  haesitans  lingua,  tardissima  inuentio, 
memoria    nulla,    nihil    denique     praeter    ingenium 
insanum  ;  et  tamcn  eo  impudentia  ipsoque  illo  furore 

5  peruenit     ut     orator    habeatur.      itaque  Herennius 
Senecio  mirifice  Catonis  illud  de  oratore  in  hunc  e  ic 
contrario   uertit   'orator  est  uir  malus  dicendi  im- 
peritus.'     non  me  hercule  Cato  ipse  tarn  bene  uerum 
oratorem  quam  hie  Regulum  expressit. 

6  Habesne  quo  tali  epistulae  parem  gratiam  ref eras  ? 
habes,  si  scripseris  num  aliquis  in  municipio  uestro  ex  15 
sodalibus  meis,  num  etiam  ipse  tu  hunc  luctuosum 
Reguli  librum  ut  circulator  in  foro  legeris,   hraipa^ 
scilicet,  ut  ait  Demosthenes,  rrfv  <fxovrfv  koI  ytyrfSm 

7  KOi   Xapvyyl^iav,      est   enim   tam    ineptus   ut   risum 
magis  possit  exprimere  quam  gemitum :  credas  non  20 
de  puero  scriptum  sed  a  puero      uale. 


32.    (IV.  11.)     l^' 
C.  PLINIVS  CORNFXIO  MINICIANO  SVO  S. 

1      Audistinc  Valcrium  Licinianum  in  Sicilia  profitcri  ? 
nondum  tc   puto  juidisse ;  est  enim   rccens  luuitius.  25 
praetorius  hie  modo  inter  cloqucntissimos  causiimm 

9  ut  orator  IfV  ut  pluriinis  orator  BFon  ut  a  plurimis  oi-ator 
a    19  risum  ...20  gemitum  om.  Wf 


32.  (IV.  11)       EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  65 

actorcs  habebatur;  nunc  co  dccidit  ut  cxsul  do 
senatore,  rhetor  de  oratorc  fierct.  itaquc  ipse  in  2 
praefationc  dixit  dolentcr  ct  giauiter  *quos  tibi, 
Fortuna,  ludos  facisi  facis  cniui  ex  profcssoribus 
5  senatores,  ex  senatoribus  professores/  cui  sententiae 
tantum  bilis,  tantum  amaritudinis  inest  ut  mihi 
uideatur  ideo  professus  ut  hoc  diceret.  idem,  cum  3 
Gracco  pallio  amictus  intrassct  (carent  enim  togae 
iure  quibus  aqua  et  igni  interdictum  est),  postquam 

lo  se  composuit  circumspexitque  habitum  suum,  *Latine' 
inquit  *  declamaturus  sum/ 

Dices  tristia  et  miseranda,  dignum  tamen  ilium,  4 
qui  haec  ipsa  studia  inccsti  scelerc  macularit.  con-  5 
fessus  est  quidem  incestum,  sed  incertum  utrum  quia 

15  uerum  erat  an  quia  gi-auiora  metuebat,  si  negasset. 
fremebat  enim  Domitianus  aestuabatque   in  ingenti 
inuidia  destitutus.     nam  cum  Corneliam,  Yestalium  6 
maximam,  dcfodere  uiuam  concupisset,  ut  qui  illu- 
strari  saeculum  suum  eius  modi  exemplo  arbitraretur, 

20  pontificis  maximi  iurc  sen  potius  immanitatu  tyranni, 
licentia  domini,  reliquos  pontificcs  non  in  Kegiam  sed 
in  Albanam  uillam  conuociivit.  nee  minore  scelerc 
quam  quod  ulcisci  uidebatur  abscntem  inauditamquc 
damnauit  inccsti,  cum  ipse  fratris  filiam  inccsto  non 

25  polluisset  solum  uerum  etiam  occidisset :  nam  uidua 
abortu  pcriit. 

32  4  ex  ...  «5  professorcs  BFoua  ex  senatoribus  profes- 
sores  ex  professoribu»  senatores  WfF  16  in  ingenti  BF 
ingenti  MVoua  17  uestalium  iiiaxiinani  MV  maximillani 
uestalem  BFoua  IS  conciipis.<<ct  MVou  ciipisset  BFa  19 
exemplo  BFa  exempUs  MVou 

K 


66  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDI   32.  (IV.  11) 

7  Missi  statim  pontifices  qui  defodiendam  necan- 
damqiic  ciii-arent.  ilia  nunc  ad  Vestam  nunc  ad 
coteros  deos  manus  tendons,  multa,  sed  hoc  frequen- 
tissime  clamitabat  'mc  Caesar  incestam  putat,   qua 

8  sacra  faciente  uicit,  triumphauit  1 '  blandiens  haec  an   5 
irridens,  ex  fiducia  sui  an  ex  contemptu  principis 
dixerit  dubium  est.     dixit,    donee    ad    supplidum, 
nescio  an  innocens,  certe  tanquam  innocens,  ducta  est. 

9  quin  etiam  cum  in  illud  subterraneum  cubiculum  de- 
mitteretur  haesissetque  descendenti  stola,  uertit  se  ac  10 
recoUegit,  cumque  ei  carnifex  manum  daret,  auersata 
est  et  resiluit  foedumque  contagium  quasi  plane  a 
caste  puroque  corpore  nouissima  sanctitate  reiecit, 
omnibusque  numeris  pudoris  iroAA^y  irpovoiav  6trx€v 

10  «w-xi/ZAwi/  TTco-cti/.     praeterea  Celer,  eques  Romanus,  15 
cui    Cornelia    obiciebatur,    cum    in    comitio    uirgis 
caederetur,  in  hac  uoce  perstiterat  *quid  feci^  nihil 
feci.' 

IX      Ardebat  ergo  Domitianus  et  crudelitatis  et  iniqui- 
tatis  infamia.     arripit  Liciiiianum  quod  in  agris  suis  20 
occultasset  Corneliae  libertam.    ille  ab  iis  quibus  erat 
curao  praemonetur,  si  comitium  et  uirgas  pati  nollet, 
ad  confessionem  confugeret,  quasi  ad  ueniam :  fecit. 

12  locutus    est    pro    absente    Herennius    Senecio    tale 
quiddam  quale  est  illud  Ktlrai  narpoicXos.     ait  enim  25 
*  ex  aduocato  nimtius  factussum  :  recessit  lacinianus.' 

S  tanquam  innocens  W  tanquam  nocens  {corr.  from  innocens 
B)  BFooa  9  cubiculum  om.  MV,  add.  BFona  11  carnifex 
manum  BFona  manum  carnifex  MV  12  contagium  BFa  con- 
tiictum  MVou  plane  MVa,  om.  BFon  21  iis  KYa  his  BTotaiF 
20  recessit  liciuiauus  BFoa  licinianus  recessit  ICVte 


S8.  (IV.  13)       EPISTVLAE  SELEOTAE.  «7 

gratum  hoc  Domitiano,  adeo  quidem  ut  gaudio  pro- 13 
deretur,  diceretque  *  absoluit  nos  Licinianus/     adiecit 
etiam  non  esse  uerecuiidiae  eius  iiistandum  :  ipsi  uero 
permisit,  si  qua  posset,  ex  rebus  suis  raperet,  ante 

S  quam   bona  piiblicarentur,  exsiliumque   molle    uelut 
praemium  dedit.     ex  quo  tamen  postea   dementia  14 
diui  Neruae  translatus  est  in  Siciliam,  ubi  nunc  pro- 
fitetur  seque  de  fortuna  praefationibus  uindicat. 
Vides  quam  obsequenter    paream   tibi,    qui    non  15 
*^  solum  res  urbanas  uerum  etiam  peregrinas  tarn  sedulo 
scribo  ut  altius  repetam.     et  sane  putabam  te,  quia 
tunc  afuisti,  nihil  aliud   de  Liciniano  audisse  quam 
relegatum     ob    incestum.      summam     enim    rerum 
nuntiat    fama,   non   ordinem.      mereor   ut    uicissim  16 

^5  quid  in  oppido  tuo,  quid  in  finitimis  agatur  (solent 
enim  notabilia  quaedam  incidere)  perscribas  :  deniquc 
quidquid  uoles,  dum  modo  non  minus  longa  epistula 
nunties.  ego  non  paginas  tantam  sed  etiam  uersu^ 
syllabasque  numerabo.     uale. 


,  33.    (IV.  13.) 

C.  PUNIVS  CORNEUO  TACITO  SVO  S. 

Saluum  in  urbem  uenisse  gaudeo;  uenisti  autem, 
si  quando  alias,  nunc  maxime  mihi  desideratus.  ipse 
pauculis  adhuc  diebus  in  Tusculano  commora1x)r,  ut 

16  notabilia  qaaedam  BFona  (r/.  ///.  1.  S  coufusa  quaedam) 
quaedam  notabilia  KY     18  nunties  BFooa  nuntia  IfV  <tiam 
oersua  BFooa  neraus  etiam  KVF 
88  22  «alnnm  te  in  a,  am,  tc  rell. 


68  C.  PUNI  CABdU  SBCVNDI  88.  (IV.  IS) 

2opu8Culiim  quod  est  in  manibus  abaoluam.  uereor 
enim  ne,  si  hanc  intentionem  iam  in  fine  laxauero^ 
aegre  resumam.  interim  ne  quid  festinationi  mofte 
pereat,  quod  sum  praesens  petiturus  hac  quasi  praa- 
cursoria  epistula  rogo.  sed  priua  aodpe  cauaas  ro-  5 
gandi. 

3  Proxime  cum  in  patria  mea  fui,  uenit  ad  me  aafah 
tandum  municipis  mei  filius  praeteztatus.     huio  ego 
'studesVinquam.  respondit ' etiam.'  'ubit'  *Medio- 
lani/    'cur  non  hioT    et  pater  eiufl  (erat  enim  mia  lo 
atque  etiam  ipse  adduxerat  puerum)  'quia  nuUos  hie 

4  praeceptores  habemus.'  Square  nulloet  nam  uehe- 
.menter  intererat  uestra,  qui  pat^  estis,'  et  opportone 
complures  patres  audiebant,  '  liberos  uestros  hie  potis- 
simum  discere.  ubi  enim  aut  iucundiua  morarentur  15 
quam  in  patria,  aut  pudicius  continerentur  quam  sab 
oeulis  parentum,  aut  minore  sumptu  quam  domit 

5  quantulum  est  ergo  oollata  pecunia  oondueere  prae- 
ceptores, quodque  nunc  in  habitationes,  in  uiatioa»  in 
ea  quae  peregre  emuntur  (omnia  autem  peregre  emun-  20 
tur)  impenditis  adicere  mercedibus?  atque  adeo  ego, 
qui  nondum  liberos  habeo,  paratus  sum  pro  re  publica 
nostra,  quasi  pro  filia  uel  parente,  tertiam  partem  eius 

6  quod  confcn-e  nobis  placebit  dare,     totum  etiam  pol- 
licerer,  nisi  timerem  nc  hoc  munus  meum  quandoque  25 

2  6ne  IfVu  fincni  BFoa  laxaucro  BFooa  intennisero  KVf  4 
praccursoria  KVF  pracccptoria  (praccursoria  3  h.  0)  BFoa, 
om.  n  5  rogandi  proxime  BfV  rogandi  deinde  ipsuin  quod 
peto  proximo  RFoua  {but  dciude  ips  o»w  eras,  of  proxime  cfi 
til  F)  20  011111  iii  autem  peregre  emuntur  cm.  BFooa,  add,  MV 
21  addiccrc  o  AfomniMCH  adeo  om,  BFooa,  culd.  KV 


93.  (IV.  13)        EPISTVLAE  SELBCTAE.  9» 

sonbitu  comimperctur,  ut   aecidere  multis  in   k«eis 
iiideo,  in  qiubus  praeceptores  pablice  ctMid«ciintur- 
huic  uitio  uno  remedio  oecurri  potest,  si  parentibus  7 
soils  ius  conducendi  relinqimtur  isdemque  religio  rectc 

3    iudicandi   necessitate  eollationis  addatur.     nam  qui   8 
fortasse  de  alieno  neglegentes,  eeite  de  sue  dfligmites 
erunt  dabuntque  operam  ne  a  me  pecuniam  [non]  nisi 
dignus  accipiat,  si  accept  iinis  et  ab  ipsis  crit.     proinde   9 
consentite,  conspiratc  niaioremqiie  animum  ex  meo 

^^  sumite,  qui  cupio  esse  qiiam  plurimum  quod  debeam 
conferre.  nihil  honcstius  praestare  Hberis  uestris, 
nihil  gratius  patriae  pot  est  is.  edueentur  hie  qui  hie 
nascuntiir  statimqiie  ab  iiifaiitia  natale  solum  amare, 
frequeutare  consuescant.  atque  utinam  tarn  claros 
15  praeceptores  inducatis  ut  finitimis  oppidis  studia  hinc 
petantur,  utquc  nunc  libcri  uestri  aliciia  in  loca,  ita 
mox  alicni  in  hune  locum  coiifluant ! ' 

Haec  putaui  altius  et  quasi  a  fonte  repetenda,  quo  10 
magis  scires  quam  gratum  mihi  forct,  si  susciperes 
20  quod  iniungo.  iniungo  autmi  et  |n>)  rei  magnitudinc 
rogo  ut  ex  eopia  studiosonun,  cjuac  ad  tc  ex  admira- 
tione  iiigciiii  tui  conueuit,  circumspicixs  praeceptores 
quos  soUicitarc  possinuis,  sub  ea  tanicn  coudiciouc  nc 
cui  fidem  meam  obstringjini.  omnia  enim  lilwra  paren- 
ts tibus  seruo.  ilH  iudicciit.  illi  rligaut :  ego  mihi  ciu*am 
tantum  et  imj^eiulinm  uindico.  pmimlc  si  quis  fuerit  11 
rc|K;rtus  qui  ingciiio  siio  fi'lat.  eat  illuc  ea  lege  ut  liine 
nihil  aliud  mtiun  «inain  li<lii(-i  iin  snani  ferat.     iialc 

'\  uno  iviiicMlio  «HTiirri  potest  BFa  «Hviirri  imo  renuMlio  |K)test 
MVu  ncciirri  |Mitfst  uin»  n-iiHMlin  o  7  a  iin?  MVon  cam  BFa 
nou  bi-ackttttl  by  ti'tfuitr    'J7  va  lege  BFoaa  ex  lege  MV 


70  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDl    34.  (IV.  19) 

34.    (IV.  19.) 
C.  PLINIVS  CALPVRNIAE  HISPVLLAE  SVAE  S. 

1  Cum  sis  pietatis  exemplum,  fratrenique  optimum  et 
amantissimum   tui  pari  caritate  dilexeris,  filiamque 
eius  ut  tuam  diligas,  nee   tantum  amitae  ei  uenim   5 
etiam  patris  amissi  adfeetum  repraesentes,  non  dubito 
maximo   tibi  gaudio  fore,   cum  cognoueris  dignam 

2  patre,  dignam  te,  dignam  auo  euadere.     summum  est 
acumen,  summa  frugalitas.     amat  me,  quod  castitatis 
indicium  est.     accedit  his  studium  litterarum,  quod  10 
ex  mei  caritate  concepit.     meos  libellos  habet,  lecti- 

3  tat,  ediscit  etiam.     qua  ilia  soUicitudine,  cum  uideor 
acturus,  quanto,  cum  egi,  gaudio  adficitur !     disponit 
qui   nuntient   sibi   quem    adsensum,    quos  clamores 
excitarim,  quem  euentum  iudicii  tulerim.     eadem,  si  15 
quando  recito,  in  proximo  discreta  uelo  sedet  laudes- 

4  que  nostras  auidissimis  auribus  excipit.  uersus 
quidem  meos  Ciuitat  etiam  formatque  cithara,  non 
artifice  ali(j[uo  docente  sed  amore,  qui  magister  est 

6  optimus.     his  ex  causis  in  spem  certissimam  adducor  20 
perpetuam  nobis  maioremque  in  dies  futuram  esse 
concordiam.      non  cnim  aetatem  meam  aut  corpus, 
quae    paulatiin    occidunt  ac    senescunt,   scd   gloriam 

6  diligit.     lu'c  aliiid  dccet  tiiis  manibus  educatam,  tuis 
praeceptis  iiistitutani,  quae  nihil  in  contubernio  tuo  25 
uidcrit    nisi    sanctum    lionestumque,    t|uac    dcnique 

34  5  ei  (eius  Foua)  iutuiu  etiam  patris  amissi  ailfcctiim 
(etfectuin  a)  BFoua  ei  iulfectuin  ueniui  etiam  patris  amissi  IfV 
16  proximo  UVu  proxiinuui  BFoa 


36.  (IV.  22)      EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  71 

amare   me   ex   tua  praedicatione  coiisueuerit.     nam  7 
cum  matrem  meam  parentis  loco  uerereris,  me  a  puc- 
ritia  statim  formare,  laudare,  talemque  qualis  nunc 
uxori  meae  uideor  ominari  solebas.     certatim  ergo  8 
5  tibi  gratias  agimus,  ego  quod  illam  mihi,  ilia  quod 
me  sibi  dederis,  quasi  in  uicem  elegeris.     uale. 


'35.    (IV.  22.) 
C.  PLINIVS  SEMPRONIO  RVFO  SVO  S. 

Interfui  principis  optirai  cognitioni,  in  consilium  1 
lo  adsumptus.      gjnnnicus   agon    apud    Viennenses    ex 
cuiusdam  testamento  celebrabatur.     hunc  Trebonius 
Rufinus,  uir  egregius  nobisque  amicus,  in  duumuiratu 
suo  toUendum  abolendumque  curauit.     negabatur  ex 
auctoritate  publica  fecisse.      egit   ipse  causam  non  2 
15  minus  feliciter  quam  disertc.     conmiendabat  actionem 
quod  tanquam  homo  Romanus  ct  bonus  ciuis  in  nego- 
tio  suo  mature  et  grauitcr  loquebatur.    cum  sentcntiae  3 
perrogarentur,  dixit  lunius  Mauricus,  .quo  uiro  nihil 
finnius,  nihil  uerius,  non  esse  restituendum  Vienncn- 
20  sibus  agona :  adiecit '  uellem  etiam  Romac  tolli  posset.' 
Ck)nstanter,  inquis,  et  fortiter.     quidni  ?   sed  hoc  4 
a   Maurico   nouum   non   est.      uh*m   apud    Neiiiain 

2  uene|reri8  nie  B  (/>m^  -ne-  projeftiwj  /urthir  than  umiuiI  into 
morffin,  and  pofiMtfily  2  A.)  ueinToris  inc  F  m-iicrcre  inc  oua 
dilexcris  mccjue  Wf  «lilcxoris  ni.-  f 

35  8  SVO  BFoa,  om.  BlVtt  21  Iuk^  a  iiiaurico  IfV  hoc  iimiirico 
BFFa  hoc  fortiter  nKiuri<  ci  ou  '22  iu*i nam  iinp'ratoruin  BFoua 
(*/.  ///.  .7.  .'/ ;  I  v.  17.  S  hut  Vll.  .il.  4'  iin|Kratorein  Xeriiain 
KVF 


^ 


72  C.  PLINI  OAECILI  SECVNDI   35.  (IV.  22) 

imperatorem  non  minus  fortiter.  cenabat  Nerua  cum 
paucis  :  Veiento  proximus  atque  etiam  in  sinu  recum- 

5  bebat :  dixi  omnia,  cum  hominem  nominaui.  incidit 
sermo  de  Catullo  Messalino,  qui  luminibus  orbatus 
ingenio  saeuo  mala  caecitatis  addiderat :  non  uereba-  5 
tur,  non  erubescebat;  non  miserebatur ;  quo  saepius  a 
Domitiano  non  secus  ac  tela,  quae  et  ipsa  caeca  et 
improuida  feruntur,  in  optimum  quemque  contorque- 

6  batur.     de  huius  nequitia  sanguinariisque  sententiis 
in  commune  omnes  super  cenam  loquebantur,  cum  10 
ipse   impci'ator    *  quid   putamus   passurum  fuisse,  si 
uiueret  V  ot  Mauricus  *  nobiscum  cenaret/ 

7  Longius  abii,  liliens  tamcn.  placuit  agona  tolli, 
qui  mores  Viennonsium  infecerat,  ut  noster  hie 
omnium,  nam  Viennensium  uitia  intra  ipsos  rcsi-  15 
dunt,  nostra  late  uagantur,  utcjue  in  corporibus  sic  in 
imperio,  gmuissimus  est  morbus  qui  a  capite  dift'un- 
ditur.     uale. 

1  «on  minus  om.  BF,  add.  reli.  forte  BF  fortiter  veil.  4  catullo 
om.  BF,  cuid,  (Catulo  a)  rffl.  orbatus  BFua  orbus  o  captus  IfV 
6  quo  am.  BFa,  add.  reJI.  10  cum  "BWfF  turn  {ajyp.  corr.  Jr. 
cum  F)  Fona     12  et  om.  BFou,  add,  MVa 


36.  (V.3)  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  73 


LIBER    V. 

36.    (V.  3.)    (nrv- 
a  PMNIVS  TITIO  ARISTONI  SVO  S. 
Gum  plurima  officia  tua  mihi  grata  et  iucnnda  sunt,  i 

5  turn  uel  maxime  quod  me  celandum  non  putasti  fuisse 
apud  te  de  uersiculis  mcis  multum  copiosumque  ser- 
monem,  eumque  diuersitate  iudicionim  longius  pro- 
cessisse,  exstitisse  ctiam  quosdam  qui  scripta  quidem 
ipsa  non  improbarent,  mc  tamen  amice  simplicitcrque 

lo  reprehenderent   qnod   haec   scriberem   rccitarcmque. 
quibus  ego,  ut  augeam  meam  culpam,  ita  respondeo :  2 
facio  non  nunquam  uersiculos  seueros  parum,  facio; 
nam   etiam   comoedias   audio,    et   specto   mimos,   et 
lyricos  lego,  et  Sotadicos  intellego;  aliquando  prae- 

15  terca  ridco,  iocor,  ludo,  nt<iue  omnia  innoxiac  remis- 
sionis  genera  breuiter  aniplectar,  homo  sum. 

Ncc  u(»ro  mol(»ste  fcro  banc  esse  de  moribus  nu*is  3 
existimationem,    ut   qui    neseiunt   talia    doctissinios, 
grauissimos,  sanctissimos  homines  scriptitasse  me  scri- 

20  l>ere  mirentur.     alj  illis  autem  quibus  notum  est  <juos  4 
quantosque   auctoros   seipiar    facile   impctniri    posse 
confide)  ut  errare  mo,   scd   cum   illis  sinant  quorum 
iK)n  scria  nuxb»  U(Tum   ctiar.i    lusus   cxprimcrc    lau- 
dabil(»  fst.     an  ci;<>  upi'oar  (ncniincm    niucntiinn,   no  5 

25  <|uani  in  s|M'<i«Mn  a<bjliti<»!n*s  incidam,  nominalM»),  scd 
ego    ucrcar    n<'    uw    non    Siit is    dccoat    qufwl    dornit 

36  12  f.u'io  nam  «•!  (rt  rorr.  t  h./roni  ctiain  B)  i-oiiMM'ilia.s 
BFBIa  fufin  «•!  «'ofiuKMlias  audio  ovlF  14  Sotadicos  voni. 
Cafamtewi'  socraticos  '  tx/</.  satvricos  F 


74  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDI      36.  (V.  3) 

M.  Tullium,  C.  Caluum,  Asiuium  PoUionem,  M.  Messal- 
1am,  Q.  Hortensium,  M.  Brutum,  L.  SuUam,  Q. 
Catulum,  Q.  Scaeuolam,  Ser.  Sulpicium,  Varronem, 
Torquatum,  immo  Torquatos,  C.  Memmium,  Len- 
tulum  Gaetulicum,  Annaeum  Senecam,  et  proxime  5 
Yerginium  Ruf um,  et  si  non  sufficiunt  exempla  priuata, 
diuum  lulium,  diuum  Augustum,  diuum  Neruam,  Tibe- 

6  rium  Caesarem?  Neronem  eiiim  transeo, quamuis  sciam 
non  corrumpi  in  detenus  quae  aliquando  etiam  a  malis, 
sed  honesta  manere  iquae  saepius  a  bonis  fiunt.  inter  lo 
quos  uel  praecipue  numerandus  est  P.  Vergilius,  Cor- 
nelius Nepos,  et  piius  Ennius  Acciusque.  non  quidem 
hi  senatores,  sed  sanctitas  morum  non  distat  ordinibus. 

7  Recito  tamen,  quod  illi  an  fecerint  neseio.     etiam : 
sed  illi  iudicio  suo  poterant  esse  contenti,  mihi  mode-  15 
stior  constantia  est  quam  ut  satis  absolutum  putem 

8  quod  a  me  probetur.  itaque  has  recitandi  causas 
sequor,  primum,  quod  ipse  qui  recitat  aliquanto  acrius 
seriptis  suis  auditorum  reuerentia  intendit,  deinde, 
quod  dc  quibus  dubitat  quasi  ex  consilii  sententia  20 

9  statuit.  multa  etiam  a  multis  admonetur,  ct  si  non 
admoneatur,  quid  quisque  sentiat  perspicit  ex  uultu, 
oculis,  iiutu,  nianu,  murmure,  silcntio ;  quae  satis 
apertis    notis    indicium   ab    humanitate  discernunt. 

10  atque  adeo,  si  cm*  forte  eorum  qui  interfucnuit  curac  25 
fucrit  cadom  ilia  legerc,  intellogct  mo  (juawlain  aut 

5  annaeum  senccaiu  (soncccam  BF)  BFooa  annaeum  scnecam 
lucanum  M  Annaeum  Somoam  et  Lncanum  F  Annaeum 
Senecam,  Annaeum  Lucanum  Ke.U  11  uerj»ilius  M  uirv^ilius 
BFOUA  enniu»  accius4|ue  (actius(|Ucoa)  BFoua  «icvius  cnniusiiuo 
M  10  t-onstintia)  conscientia  C*a<«aM/#oii  {hut  #7*  I'.  12.  i) 
19  rcuei-eutia  a  reucrcnliain  BFMoa 


37.  IV.  5}  EPISTVLAB  SELECT AE.  75 

commutasse  aut   praeterisse,   fortasse  etiam  ex  sun 
iudicio,  quamuis  ipse  nihil  dixerit  mihi.     atqiie  hacc  11 
ita  dispute,  quasi  populum  in  auditorium,  non  in  ciibi 
culura  amicos  aduocarim,  quos  plures  habere  mult  is 
5  gloriosum,  reprehensioni  nemini  fuit.     ualc 

^37.    (V.  5.) 
C.  PLINIVS  NOVIO  MAXIMO  SVO  S. 

Nuntiatum  mihi  est  C.  Fannium  dccessisse,  qui    1 
nuntius  me  gi'aui  dolore  eonfudit,  primum,  qurxl  aniaui 

lohominem  elegantem,  disertimi,  deindc,  quod  iudicin 
«US  uti  solebam.     erat  enim  natura  acutus,  usu  tixor 
citatus,  ueritatc  promptissimus.     angit  mc  super  i.stu   2 
Cfisus  ipsius :  decessit  ueteri  testamento,  omisit  quos 
™axime  diligebat^  prosecutus  est  quibus  offensior  erat. 

IS  ^  hoc  utcumque  tolcrabilc,  grauius  illud,  quwl  pul- 
cherrimum  opus  impcrfcctum  rclitjuit.     quamuis  cnini    3 
^ndis  causis  distringeretur,  scribebat  tamen  exitus 
^isorum   aut  relegntonnn  a   Neronc,   et   iani    tros 

'ibros  absoluerat,   subtiles   et   diligentcs   et  I^itinos 
aoatquc  inter  sennoncm  histonamque  mo<lios,  ac  tinto 

magis  reliquos  pcrficcre  cupielKit  quanto  frequontius 

hi  lectitabantur.    mihi  autoni  uidetur  acerba  sonii>cr   4 

etimmatuni  moi-s  eonim  qui  inimortale  aliquid  [Kirant. 

nam   (pii   uoluptatibiw  diiliti   quiwi  in   «limi  uiuunt 
^Suiuciuli    causas   cotidie  iiiuunt  :    qui    ucro    iH)?:trros 

2  attjiu'  li  IOC  ita  disputo  BAi  ati|uc  ita  Ikm-  «lispnto  oa  si-«l 
liaec  itii  (lisputo  M 

37  S  niintiatiiin  mihi  tvt  ■  iiuntiatur  fn<>ii<i:itiir  F 
nunciatiir  u)  mihi  BPwwi  11  natura  acutus  BFoua  acutus 
Datura  M     i*2  ueritaU]  nlmtaU  Mamuutn 


f6  a  PUNI  GABCtU  fflCVNm      S7.  <V.ft) 

cogitant  et  menKmam  sui  operibos  cortenduntj  Ub 
nulla  m<nr8  non  lepentina  est^  ut  quae  semper  inodha- 
turn  aliquid  abmmpat. 
'  5  GaiuB  quidem  Faimiaa  qood  aeddit  multo  ante 
praeeeiisit.  inaiu  est  sifai  per  noetumani  quieteni 
iacere  in  lectulo  suo  oompositas  in  haUtom  8tiideDti% 
habere  ante  se  scrinium(ita8Qlebat):  moz  imaginatos 
est  uenisse  Neronem,  in  toro  sedisBe^  prompsian 
primum  librom  quern  de  soeioribas  eins  ediderat 
eumque  ad  extremum  reuoluisse,  idem  in  secondo  iQ 
6ac  tertio  fecisse,  tunc  abisse.  expamt^  et  sic  inter- 
pretatus  est,  tanquam  idem  sibi  futunis  esset  scribendi 
finis  qui  fuissot  illi  legendL    et  fuit  idem. 

7  Quod  me  recordantem  miseratio  ra^t  quantum 
uigiliarum,  quantum  lalioris  exhauseiit  frustra.  occur- 15 
sant  animo  mea  mortalitas,  mea  scripta.    nee  dubito 
to  quoque  eadom  cogitatione  terreri  pro  istis  quae 

8  inter  manus  habos.  proinde,  dum  suppetit  uita,  eni- 
tamur  ut  mors  quam  paucissima  quae  abolcre  possit 
inueniat.     uale.  ao 

^38.    (V.  14.) 
C.  PLINiyS  PONTIC  ALLIFANO  SVO  S. 

1  Scccsscram  iti  munieipium,  cum  mihi  nuntiatum  est 
Coriiutimi  Tertulliini  accepisse  Acmiliac  uiac  curam. 

2  expriinerc  noti  i)o.ssiim  qiiauto  sim  gaudio  adfeetus  et  35 
ipsiiis  et  Tiico  iioiiiiiK» :  ij)siuR,  (|uo(l,  sit  licet,  sicut  est, 
ail)   onini   atiibitioiu»   loti^c.  reniotus,  (lel>ot  tsinieii  ei 
iiiciitKliis  honor  «\ss<.»  ultro  datus  ;  nieo,  quod  aliqnaiito 
nia;<is  iiu;  drlectat  inan< latum  niilii  «ilHciuin,  iK)st(|iuiii 

8  HcMli(4Kc  BFa  rcscMlittso  Mott     10  rvuoluisse  oua  reuoluisset 
M  uoluissc  BF 


38.  (V.  14)         EPISTVLAE  SELECTAR  77 

par  Cornuto  datum  uideo.     neque  enim  augeri  digni-  3 
tate  quam  aeqiiari  bonis  gratius.    Cornuto  autem  quid 
melius  1  quid  sanctius  1  quid  in  omni  genere  laudis  ad 
exemplar  antiquitatis  expressius?     quod  mihi  cogni- 

5  turn  est  non  fama,  qua  alioqui  optima  et  meritissima 
fruituTy   sed  longis    magnisque    experimentis.      una  4 
diligimus,  una  dileximus  omnes  fere  quos  aetas  nostra 
in  utroque  sexu  aemulandos  tulit ;  quae  societas  ami- 
citiarum  artissima  nos  familiaritate  coniunxit.     acces-  6 

10  sit  uinculum  necessitudinis  publicae ;  idem  enim  mihi, 
ut  scis,  collega  quasi  uoto  petitus  in  praefectura 
aerarii  fuit,  fuit  et  in  consulatu.  tum  ego  qui  uir  et 
quantus  esset  altissime  inspexi,  cum  sequerer  ut  magi- 
strum,  ut  parentem   uererer,  quod  non  tam  aetatis 

15  maturitate  quam  uitae  merebatur.    his  ex  causis  ut  illi  6 
sic  mihi  gratulor,  nee  priuatim  magis  quam  publico, 
quod  tandem  homines  non  ad  pericula,  ut  prius,  ucrum 
ad  honojes  uirtute  perueniunt. 

In  infinitum  epistulam  extendam,  si  gaudio  meo  in-  7 

2odulgeam.     praeuertor  ad  ea  quae  me  agentem   hie 
nuntius  deprehendit.    eram  cum  prosocero  meo,  eram  8 
cum  amita  uxoris,  eram  cum  amicis  diu  desideratis, 
circumibam   agellos,   audiebam    multum    rusticarum 
querelarum,  rationes  legebam  iiuiitus  et  cursim  (aliis 

25  enim  chartis,  aliis  :«um  litteris   initiatus),  coei)crani 
etiam  itineri  me  pniei>arare.     tiam  iiicludor  angustiis  9 
commcatus,  eoque  ipso  quod  delegatum  Cornuto  audio 
orticium  mci  admoneor.     cupio  te  quoquc  sub  idem 

38  4  exemplar  ona  excmplnin  M  1*2  aerarii  fuit  fuit  ct 
Ma  aerarii  fuit  et  ou  Mi  \uh\wx\  oua  inapcxeram  M  20 
praeuertor  Moa  praeuertam  u 


78  C.  PLINI  CABCILI  SBCVNDI  38.  (V.  14) 

tempos  Campania  tua  remittat,  ne  quis,  cum  in  m*bem 
rediero,  contuheniio  nostro  dies  pereat.     iiale. 

39.    (V.  16.) 
C.  PLINIVS  AEFVLANO  MARCELLING  SVO  S. 

1  Tristissimus  haec  tibi  scribo,  Fundani  nostri  filia   5 
rainorc  defuncta,  qua  puella  nihil  unquam  festiuius, 
amabilius,  ncc  modo  longiore  uita  sed  prope  immor- 

2  talitatc  dignius  uidi.  nondum  annos  xiii.  impleuerat, 
et  iam  illi  anilis  prudentia,  matronalis  grauitas  erat, 

et  tamen  suauitas  puellaris  cum  uirginali  uerecundia.  10 

3  ut  ilia  patris  ceruicibus  inhaerebat !  ut  nos  amicos 
patemos  et  amanter  et  modeste  complectebatur !  ut 
nutrices,  ut  paedagogos,  ut  praeceptores  pro  suo 
quemque  officio  diligebat !  quam  studiose,  quam  intel- 
legentcr  lectitabat!  ut  parce  custoditeque  ludebat!  '5 
qua  ilia  temperantia,  qua  patientia,  qua  etiam  con- 

4  stantia  nouissimam  ualetudinem  tulit !  medicis  obse- 
quebatur,  sororem,  patrera  adhortabatur,  ipsamque  se 
destitutam  corporis  uiribus  uigore  animi  sustinebat. 

5  durauit  hie  illi  usque  ad  extremum,  nee  aut  spatio  20 
ualetudinis  aut  metu  mortis  infractus  est,  quo  plures 
grauioresque  nobis  causas  relinqueret  et  desiderii  et 

6  doloris.     o  tristc  plane  acerbnmqne  fnnus !  o  morte 
ipsa   mortis    tempus   indignius !    iam   destinata   erat 
egrcgio  inuciii,  iam  clectus  nuptianim  dies,  iam  nos  25 
uocati.     quod  gaudiiim  quo  maerorc  miitatum  est ! 

30  5  6Iia  minore  (6Iiam  inore  M)  Ua  61ia  minor  ou  filia 
minor  est  aid.  8  xiii.  /  hart  torxtten^  /ofiowing  the  inacription 
on  h^tomhMtone  (C.I.L.w.  10r»31  v  •  a  •  xii  m  •  xi  •  n  •  vii) 
xiiii.  Mou  (|uatuonlcoiin  a  impleuerat  Mua  expleuerat  o 


40.  (V.  19)         EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  79 

Non  possum  oxprimcre  uerbis  quantum  animo  uul-  7 
luis  acceperim,  cum  audiui  Fundanum  ipsum,  ut  multa 
luctuosa  dolor  inueuit,  praecipieiitem,  quod  in  ucstcs, 
margarita,  gemmas  fuerat  erogaturus,  hoc  in  tus  et 
5  unguenta  et  odores  impenderetur.  est  quidem  ille  8 
eruditus  et  sapiens,  ut  qui  se  ab  ineunte  aetate  altiori- 
bus  studiis  artibusque  dediderit,  sed  nunc  omnia  quae 
audiit  saepe,  quae  dixit,  aspematur,  expulsisque  uirtu- 
tibus  aliis  pietatis  est  totus.    ignosces,  laudabis  etiam,    9 

ID  si  cogitaueris  quid  amiserit.     amisit  enim  filiam  quae 
non  minus  mores  eius  quam  os  uultumque  referel>at^ 
totumque    patrem    mira    similitudine    exscripserat 
proinde  si  quas  ad  eum  de  dolore  tarn  iusto  litteras  10 
mittes,  memento  adhibere  solacium,  non  quasi  casti- 

15  gatorium  et  nimis  forte,  sed  molle  et  humanum.    quod 
ut  facilius  admittat,  multum  faciet  medii  temporis 
spatium.     ut  enim  crudum  adhuc  uulnus  medeiitium  11 
manus  reformidat^  deinde  patitur  atque  ultro  requirit, 
sic  recens  animi  dolor  consolationes  reicit  ac  refugit, 

2o  mox  desiderat  et  clementer  admotis  adquiescit.    uale. 

40.    (V.  19.)    r- 
C.  PLINIVS  VALERIO  PAVLINO  SVO  S. 
Video  quam  molliter  tuos  habeas:  quo  simplicius   1 
tibi   eonfitebor  qua   indulgcntia  nicos  traetcm      est   2 
25  mihi  semper  in  animo  et  Homericum  ilhid  ira-njf}  S'  ws* 
yirio^  >/€!',  et  hoc  nostrum  *  jKiter  faniiliae/     ([xux]  si 
essem  natuni  asperior  et  (huior,  frangeret  mc  tanicn 
infirmitas  lil»crti  moi  Zosimi,  cni  tan  to  maior  huniani- 

4  niargarita  M  inarL'aritJis  ona  tus  et  nnguenta  M  tura  et 
luiguenta  a  tura  et  in  unguenta  on 


80  a  PUNI  GABdLI  SBCVNIH    M.  (V.  19) 

3  tas  exhibenda  est,  qaanto  imnciDamagiBCget.  homo 
prohus,  ofiiciosus,  HUentos;  et  an  qiiidem  eius  et 
quasi  inscriptio  oomoediis,  in  qua  plurimum  fsdt 
nam  pronuntiat  acriter,  aapienter,  apte»  deoenter  etiam ; 
utdtur  et  cithara  peiite»  ultnt  quam  oomoedo  neoesse  5 
est  idem  tarn  eommode  ontioiies  et  Ustorias  et  ear- 
mina  legit  ut  boe  solum  didicisBe  uideator. 

4  Haec  tibi  sedulo  expoeuiy  quo  magia  acires  quam 
multa  unus  mihi  et  quam  iueunda  miidsteria  praestaret. 
aooedit  longa  iam  caritas  bominis,  quam  ipsa  pericubi  '^ 

6  auxenmt.  est  enim  ita  natura  oompantum  ut  nibil 
aeque  amorem  incitet  et  aooendat  quam  earendi  metus, 

6  quem  ego  pro  boo  non  semel  pador.  nam  ante  aliquot 
annos,  dum  intente  instanterque  pronuntiat,  sanguinem 
reiedt,  atque  ob  boo  in  Aegyptum  missus  a  me,  post  15 
longam  peregrinationem  oonfirmatus  rediit  nuper: 
deiude  dum  per  oontinuos  dies  nimis  imperat  uoci, 
ueteris  infirmitatis  tussicubi  admonitus,  rursus  san- 
guinem  reddidit. 

7  Qua  ex  causa  destinaui  eum  mittere  in  praedia  tua 
quae  Foro  luli  possides.     audiui  enim  te  sacpe  refe-  20 
rentcm  esse  ibi  et  acra  salubrem  ct  lac  eius  modi  cura- 

8  tionibus  accommodatissimum.  rogo  ergo  scribas  tuis 
ut  illi  uilLo,  ut  domus  pateat,  offcrant  etiam  sumptibus 

9  ciiis,  si  quid  ojnis  erit ;  crit  autem  opus  modico.     est 
enim  tarn  jmrcus  et  contincns  ut  non  sohmi  dclicias  25 
ucrnni  ctiam    necessitates  ualctudinis  fnigsiHtate  re- 
stringat.    ego  proficisccnti  Umtum  uiatici  dabo  quan- 
tum sutficiat  eunti  in  tua.     uale. 

40  11  est  enim  ita  natura  M  est  enim  a  natura  a  est  enim 
iiatuni  ou  *211  sutliciut  eunti  M  sufficit  et  eunti  on  Hutlicit  eunti  a 


41.  (VL2)         EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  81 


LIBER   VI. 

'41.    (VI.  2.) 
C.    PLINIVS  ARRIANO  SVO  S. 

Soleo  non  luinquam  in  iudiciis  quaerere  M.  Regu- 1 

5  lum,  nolo  enim  dicere,  desiderare.     cur  ergo  quaere? 
habebat  studiis  honorem,  tiraebat,  pallebat,  scribebat,  2 
quamuis    non   posset   ediscere.      illud    ipsum,   quod 
oculum  modo  dextruni  modo  sinistrum  circumlinebat, 
dextrum,  si  a  petitore,  alterum,  si  a  possessore  esset 

lo  acturus,  quod  candiduni  splenium  in  hoc  aut  in  illud 
supercilium  transferebat,  quod  semper  haruspices 
consulebat  de  actionis  euentu,  a  nimia  superstition  e, 
sed  tamen  et  a  magno  studiorum  honore  ueniebat. 
iam  ilia  perqnam  iucunda  una  dicentibus,  quod  libera  3     1{) 

15  tcmpora  petebat,  quod  audituros  corrogabat.  quid 
enim  iucundius  quam  sub  alterius  inuidia  quam  diu 
uclis  et  in  alieno  auditorio  quasi  deprehensum  com- 
mode dicere  ? 

Sed  utcumque  se  habent  ista,  bene  fecit  Rcgulus  4 

20  quod  est  mortuus  ;  melius,  si  ante,  nunc  enim  sane 
poterat  sine  malo  publico  uinere  sub  eo  princi|)e  sub 
quo  nocere  non  poterat.     ideo  fas  est  non  ininquam 

41     7  iK)SSct   etliscore    (fwsse   te   tliscere   M)   Mou    |>o88Ct 
dcdiscore  a      1*2  sinintia  {rorr.  Jr.  aniiiii  J  h.)  VI  aniiiii  ooa 
13  c*t  a  niagiu)  Ma  ct  magno  ou 
F 


82  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDI     41.  (VL  2) 

6  eum  quaerero.  nam  postquam  obiit  illc,  increbruit 
passim  et  inualuit  consuetude  binas  uel  singulas 
clepsydras,  interdum  etiam  dimidias  et  dandi  et 
petendi.  nam  et  qui  dicunt  egisse  malunt  quam 
agere  et  qui  audiunt  finire  quam  iudicare.  tanta  5 
neglegentia,  tanta  desidia,  tanta  denique  irreuerentia 

L  6  studiorum  periculorumque  est.  an  nos  sapientiores 
maioribus  nostris,  nos  legibus  ipsis  iustiores,  quae  tot 
horas,  tot  dies,  tot  comperendinationes  largiuntur) 
hebetes  illi  et  supra  modum  tardi,  nos  apertius  lo 
dicimus,  celerius  intellegimus,  religiosius  iudicamus, 
quia    paucioribus    clepsydris    praecipitamus     causas 

7  quam    diebus    explicari    solebant  1     o   Regule,    qui 
ambitione  ab  omnibus  obtiiiebas  quod  fidei  paucissimi 

; praestant!  15 

Equidem  quotiens  iudico,   quod  uel  saepius  facio 
quam  dico,  quantum  quis  plurimum  postulat  aquae 

8  do.  etenim  temerariura  existimo  diuinare  quam 
spatiosa  sit  causa  inaudita  tcmpusquc  negotio  finire 
cuius  modum  ignores,  praesertim  cum  primam  20 
reli^ioni  suae  iudex  {latientiam  debeat,  quae  pars 
magna  iustitiae  est.  at  quaedam  superuacua  dicuntiir. 
etiam  :    scd   satius  est  et  haec   dici  quam  non  dici 

9  nccessaria.     praeterca  an  sint  superuacua,  nisi  cum 
audicris,  scire  non  possis.     sod  de  his  melius  coram,  25 
ut  (1(3  pluribus  uitiis  ciuitatis.     nam  tu  quoque  amore 
connnuniuni  soles  cmendari  cuperc  quae  iam  corrigcre 
(litticilc  est. 

s  quae  tot  horaa  «juac  tol  «lies  a  20  primum  Sirharfiiis 
2(>  ainorc  coninmuiinii  Moua  amoro  coinmuniiim  ciuiuni  F 
anion'  conimuni  SirhorduH  ;\u\orvt  coniinuni  oinniuin  Mommsm 


42.  (VL4)         EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  83 

Nunc  respiciamus  domos  nostras,     ecquid   omnia  10 
in  tua  recte?     in  mea  noui   nihil,     mihi  autom  ct 
gratiora  sunt    bona,   quod    perseuerant,   et    leuiora 
incoQunoda,  quod  adsueui.     uale. 

S  42.    (VL  4.) 

C.   PLINIVS  CALPVRNIAE  SVAE  S. 

Nunquam     sum    magis    de    occuimtionibus    meis  1 
questus,  quae  me  non  sunt  i>assao  aut  proficiscentem 
te  ualetudinis    causa   in   Campaniam   prosequi    aut 

lo  profectam  e  uestigio  subsequi.     nunc  enim  praecipue  2 
simul  esse  cupiebam,  ut  oculis  meis  crederem  quid 
uiribus,  quid  coi-pusculo  adparares,  ecquid   denique 
secessus  uoluptates  regionisque  abundantiam  inoffensa 
transmitteres.     equidem  etiam  fortem   te  non   sine  3 

15  cura  desidcrarem ;  est  enim  suspensum  et  anxium  de 
60  quem  ardentissime  diligas  interdum   nihil  scire: 
nunc  uero  me  cum  absentiae  turn  infirmitatis  tuae  4 
ratio  incerta  et  uaria  soUicitudine  exterret.     uereor 
omnia,  imaginor  omnia,  quaeque  natum  metuentum 

20  est,  ea  maxime  mihi  quae  maximc  alK)minor  fingo. 
quo  impensius  rogo  ut  timori  meo  cotidic  singulis  ucl  5 
ctiam   binis   epistulis  consulas.     ero   em'ra   securior, 
dum  lego,  statim(|ue  timcbo,  cum  legcro.     uale. 

42  12  adparares  H  ailjKireres  a  ac(|uircrc*s  ou  13  imlnp- 
tAtes  a  uoluptatis  Mou  inoficiisa  iialetudiiic  Sichardwt  19 
inia«^iior  oniiiia  M,  om.  ona 


84  C.  PUNI  OAEdU  SBCVNDI     48.  (VLT) 

43.    (VI.  7.)   <r- 
C.  PLINIVS  CALPVRNIAB  SVAE  a 

1  Scribis  te  absentia  mea  non  mediocriter  adfid 
unumque  habere  solacium,  quod  pro  me  Itbellos  meoe 

2  teneas,  saepe  etiam  in  uestigio  meo  colloces.    gratam   5 
est  quod  nos  requiris,  gratum  quod  his  fomentis 
adquiescis :  in  uicem  ego  epistulas  tuas  lectito  atqae 
identidem  in  manus  quasi  nouas  sumo ;  sad  eo  magis 

3  ad  desiderium  tui   accendor.      nam   cuius    litterae 
tantum  habent  suauitatis,  huius  sermonibus  quantum  lo 
dulcedinis    inest!     tu  tamen  quam    frequentissime 
scribe,  licet  hoc  ita  me  delectet  ut  torqueat    uale. 

44.    (VI.  10.) 
C.  PLINIVS  ALBINO  SVO  a 

1  Cum  uenissem  in  socrus  meae  uillam  Alsiensem,  15 
quae  aliquando  Rufi  Vergini   fuit,  ipse  mihi  locus 
optimi  illius  et  maximi  uiri  desiderium  non  sine 
dolore  renouauit     hunc  enim  incolere  secessum  atque 
etiam  sonectutis  suae  nidulum  uocare  consuouerat. 

2  quocumque  me  contulissem,  ilium  animus,  ilium  oculi  20 
re<iuirobant.     libuit  etiam  monimcntum  eius  uidero, 

3  et  uidisse  paenituit.  est  cnim  adhuc  imperfectum, 
nee  difticultjis  operis  in  causa,  modici  ac  ))0tiu8  exigui, 
sed  inoitia  cius  cui   cura  mandata  est.     subit  indi- 

43  6  cat ...  grntum  H,  om,  oua    11  quam  M«  om,  ona 

44  1()  aliquamlo  oua  alic|uaiicliii  M     IS  incolere  oa  (r/.  //. 
/7.  Jii)  in  colon*  u  colore  M 


45»  (VL 16)       EPISTVUIE  SELBGTA&  85 

gnatio  cum  miseiatione,  post  decimmn  mortis  annum 
reliquias  neglectumque  cinerem  sine  titnlo,  sine 
nomine  iacere,  cuius  raemoria  orbem  terrarom  gloria 
peruagetur.     at  ille  mandauerat  caueratque  nt  dioi- 4 

5   num  illud  et  immortale  factum  uersilius  inscriberetnr : 
hie  situs  est  Rufus,  pulso  qui  Vindice  quondam 
imperium  adseniit  non  sibi  sed  patriae, 
tarn  rara  in  amicitiis  fides,  tarn  paiata  obliuio  mortu-  5 
orum  ut  ipsi  nobis  debeamus  etiam  conditoria  ex- 

lo  stniere  omniaque  heredum  officia  praesumere.     nam  6 
cui    non    est     uerendum    quod    uidemus     accidisse 
Verginio?   cuius  iniuriam  ut  indigniorem  sic  etiam 
notiorem  ipsius  claritas  facit.     uale. 


46.    (VL  16.) 
15  C.  PLINIVS  TACrrO  SVG  S. 

Petis  ut  tibi   auunculi   mei  exitum  scribam,  quo  1 
uerius    tradere   posteris    possis     gratias  ago :    lumi 
uideo   morti   eius,   si    celebretur  a   te,    inimoitalcm 
gloriam  esse  propositam.     quamuis  cnim   pulchcrri-  2 

^K>  marum  clade  terrarum,  ut  |)opuli,  ut  urbes,  memo 
rabili  casu  quasi  semper  uicturus  Occident,  quamuis 
ipse  plunma  o|)cra  et  nmusnra  condident,  multum 
Uimen  pcrpctuitati  eius  scriptorum  tuorum  aeternitas 
addet.     equidcm  beatos  puto  quibus  deorum  rouiieic  3 

2S  datum  est  aut  facere  scribonda  aut  scribere  legenda, 
beatissimos  ucro  quibus  utnimque.    honim  in  numero 

2  sine  titulo  Ha,  om.  <m 
«6  20  urbis  Ccuatibon 


86  C.  PUNI  CABCni'SfiCVNDI  4S.  (VL  16) 

auunculuB  meus  et  suis  libris  et  tuis  erit.    quo  liben- 
tius  suscipio,  deposco  etiam  quod  iniungis. 
.    4     Erat  Miseni  classemque  imporio  praesens  regebaL 
nonum  KaL  Septembres,  bora  fere  septima,  mater  mea 
indicat  ei  apparere  nubem  inusitata  et  magnitudine  et   5 
ip  '^    5  specie,    usus  ille  Bole,  moz  frigida,  gustauerat  iioena 
studebatque.    poscit  soleas,  ascendit  locum  ex  quo 
maxime  miraculum  illud  conspici  poterat.     nubee, 
incertum  procul  intuentibus  ez  quo  monte  ( Vesuuium 
fuisse  postea  cognitum  est),  oriebatur,  cuius  similita-  '^ 
dinem  et  formam  non  alia  magis  arbor  quam  pinua 

6  expresserit.  nam  longissimo  uelut  tmnco  elata  in 
altum  qiiibusdam  ramis  diffundebatur,  credo^  quia 
recenti  spiritu  euecta,  dein  senescente  eo  destituta, 
aut  etiam  pondere  suo  uicta,  in  latitudinem  uanesoebat^  '5 
Candida  interdum,  interdum  sordida  et  maculosa,  prout 
terram  cineremue  sustulerat 

7  Magnum  propiusque  noscendum,  ut  eruditissimo 
uiro,  uisum.  iubet  Liburnicam  aptari :  mibi,  si  uenire 
una  uellem,  facit  copiam  :  resjiondi  studere  me  malle,  so 

Set  forte  ipse  quod  scriberem  dederat  egrediebatur 
domo:  accipit  codicillos  Rectinae  Tasci  imminenti 
periculo  exterritae  (nam  uilla  eius  subiacebat,  nee  ulla 

4  nonum  ...  septima  M  nonum  Kll.  (Kl.  tt)  liora  fere  septima 
ou  nono  Kal.  sept,  honi  dici  fcrc  septima  a  Nouember  Galend* 
hora  fere  septima  r  Kl.  nouembris  hora  fere  septima  F  5 
inusitata  (-e  u)  oua  inuisitatam  M  14  dein  Mo  delude  na 
15  latitudinem  Ha  altitudincm  on  22  Rectinae  Natci  a 
recti  netasci  M  reti  nc^casci  o  rctine  casti  u  rectina  {om, 
Tasci)  F  Rectinae  Bassi  {or  Caesii  Kassi ;  </.  sehoL  Pttn.  6.  1) 
edd,t  etc. 


45.  (VI.  16)       EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  87 

nisi  nauibus  fuga):  ut  se  taiito  discrimini  enperet 
orabat.  uertit  ille  consilium,  et  quod  studioso  aninio  9 
incohauerat  obit  maximo.  deducit  quadriremes, 
ascendit  ipse,  non  Eectinae  modo  sed  multis  (erat  enim 
5  frequens  amoenitas  orae)  laturus  auxilium.  properat  10 
illuc  unde  alii  fugiunt,  rectumque  cureura,  recta 
gubemacula  in  periculum  tenet,  adeo  solutus  metu  ut 
omnis  illius  mali  motus,  omnis  figuras,  ut  depren- 
derat  oculis,  dictaret  enotaretque. 

lo      lam  nauibus  cinis  incidcbat,  quo  propius  accederent,  11 
calidior  et  densior,  iam  pumices  etiam  nigrique   et 
ambusti  et  iracti  igne  lapides.  iam  uadum  subitum 
ruinaque  montis  litora  obstantia.     eunctatus  paulum 
an   retro  flecteret,    mox  gubcrnatori  ut  ita  faceret 

15  monenti  *  fortes '  inquit  *  fortuna  iuuat :  Pomponianum 
pete.*     Stabiis   erat,   diremptus    sinu   medio ;     nam  12 
sensim  circumactis  curuatisque  litoribus  mare  infun- 
ditur.     ibi,   quanquam   nondum    periculo  adpropin 
quante,  conspicuo  tamen,  et  cum  cresccret,  proximo, 

20  sarcinas  contulerat  in  naucs,  cert  us  fut^MC,  si  contrarius 
uentus  resedisset.  quo  tunc  auun cuius  mens  secun- 
dissimo  inuectus  complectitur  trepidantom,  cousolatur, 
hortatur,  utque  timorem  eius  sua  securitate  lenirct, 
deferri  in  balincum  iubet.     lotus  accubat,  cenat  aut 

25  hilai-is  aut,  quod  aequo  magiunu,  siniilis  hilari. 

1  discriminc  a  i^afnnafus  4  rcctiime  Moa,  ont.  in  hUutk  u 
S  «leprenderat  Mu  «lcprclK'iuU*rat  oFa.  10  .looctUrent  a  acccn- 
derent  M  acccderet  on  24  doforri  se  in  1»iilineuin  Fa,  om,  sc 
rell.  ccnat  aut  hilaris  M  ocnat  at<iuc  liihiris  oua  oenatque 
hilaris  SirhanluM  25  (jikmI  ac<iu<*  iniigimni  Mou  (juod  est 
aeqae  maguum  a  quod  aeque  inaguuni  est  F 


88.  G.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDI  45.  (VI.  16) 

13  Interim  e  Vesuuio  monte  pluribus  in  locis  latissimae 
flammae  altaque  incendia  relucebant,  quonim  fulgor 
et  claritas  tenebris  noctis  excitabatur.  ille  agrestium 
trepidatione  ignes  relictos  desertasque  uillas  per 
solitudinem  ardere  in  remedium  formidinis  dictitabat.  5 
turn  se  quieti  dedit,  et  quieuit  uerissimo  quidem 
somno.  nam  meatus  animae,  qui  illi  propter  ampli- 
tudinem  corporis  grauior  et  sonantior  erat,  ab  iis  qui 

14  limini  obuersabantur  audiebatur.     sed  area  ex  qua 
diaeta  adibatur  ita  iam  cinere  mixtisque  pumicibus  <o 
oppleta  surrexerat  ut,  si   longior  in  cubiculo  mora, 
exitus  negaretur.      excitatus  procedit  seque  Pompo- 

15  niano  ceterisque  qui  peruigilauerant  reddit     in  com- 
mune consultant,  intra  tecta  subsistant  an  in  aperto 
uagentur.     nam   crebris  uastisque   tremoribus  tecta  i5 
nutabant,  et  quasi  emota  sedibus  suis  nunc  hue  nunc 

16  illuc  abire  aut  referri  uidebantur.   sub  dio  rursus  quan- 
quam  leuium  exesorumque  pumicum  casus  metueba- 
tur ;  quod  tamen  periculorum  coUatio  elegit    et  apud 
ilium  quidem   ratio   rationem,   apud  alios  timorem  20 
timor  uicit.     ceruicalia  capitibus  imposita  linteis  con- 

1         stringunt :  id  muiiimentum  aduersus  incidentia  fuit. 

17  lam  dies  alibi,  illic  nox  omnibus  noctibus  nigrior 
densiorque;  quani  tamen  faces  multae  uariaque 
lumina  solabantur.     placuit  egrcdi  in  litus  et  ex  pro-  25 

1  pluribus  in  locis  M  pluribus  locis  oua  2  altaque  M  atquc 
oua  6  quidem  MoF  c<|ui(lein  ua  11  mora  esset  exitus  a 
Catanaeius  13  peruigilauerant  M  pcniigilarent  oua  17  sub- 
(lior  usus  ou  sub  diuo  rursus  a  sub  die  rursus  M  19  peri- 
culorum Ma  nialorum  ou  elegit  oua  digit  H  25  solabantur 
CorfiuH  and  rwl.  Laurmf.  47.  34  {xo  Keil)  solebantur  M 
solcbant  ou  soluebant  fa 


46.  (VI.  20)         EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  89 

ximo  axispicere  ecquid  iam  mare  admitteret ;  quod 
adhuc  uastum  et  aduersum  permanebat.  ibi  super  18 
abiectum  linteum  recubans  semel  atque  iterum  frigi- 
dam  poposcit  hausitque.  deinde  flammae  flamma- 
5  rumque  praenuntius  odor  sulpuris  alios  in  fugam 
uertunt,  excitant  ilium,  innitens  seruulis  duobus  19 
adsurrexit,  et  statim  concidit,  ut  ego  colligo,  crassiore 
caligine  spiritu  obstructo  clausoque  stomacho,  qui  illi 
natura  inualidus  et  angustus  et  frequenter  aestuans. 

lo  erat.     ubi   dies   redditus  (is  ab  eo  qucm  nouissime  20 
uiderat  tertius),  corpus  inuentum  integrum,  illaesum 
opertumque  ut  fuerat  indutus  :  habitus  corporis  quie 
scenti  quam  defuncto  similior. 

Interim  Miseni  ego  et  mater — sed  nihil  ad  historiam,  21 

15  nee  tu  aliud  quam  de  exitu  eius  scire  uoluisti.     finem 
ergo  faciam.     unum  adiciam,  omnia  me  quibus  inter-  22 
fueram,  quaeque   statim,  cum  maxime   uera  memo- 
rantur,  audieram,  persecutum.     tu  potissima  excerpes : 
aliud  est  enim  epistulam  aliud  historiam,  aliud  amico 

20  aliud  omnibus  scribere.     uale. 

M.    (VI.  20.) 
C.  PLINIVS  TACITO  SVO  S. 

Ais   te,   adductum   littcris   (|uas   cxigenti    tibi   de   l 
morte  anunculi  mei  serii)si,  cupcrc  cognoscere  quos 
25  ego   Miseni  relictus  (id  ern'm   ingi'cssus  abruperam) 

3  frigidam  fa  (r/.  ///.  /i.  11)  frigidam  aquam  Mou  6  innitens 
scruolis  M  inni\ii.«  scruis  oiia  7  colligo  M  coniccto  oua 
9  fre<iucnter  aestuans  M  fre<|iicntcr  iuteraestuans  oua  fre- 
quenter iutus  aestuans  F    11  uiderat  erat  tertius  Alommteii 


90  C.  PLINI  CAECIU  8BCVNDI   46.  (VI.  20) 

non    solum    metus  uerum    etiam   casus  pcrtulerim. 

'  qiianqiiam  animus  meminisse  horret,  incipiam/ 
2      Profecto  auunculo  ipse   reliquum  tempus  studiis 

(ideo   enim  remanseram)   impendi :   mox  balineum, 
Scena^  sommis  inquietus  et  breuis.     praecesserat  per   5 

multos  dies  tremor  terrae  minus  formidolosus  quia 
'^_^    Oampaniae  solitus.      ilia  uero  nocte  ita  inualuit  ut 

4  non  moueri  omnia  sed  uerti  crederentur.  irrumpit 
cubiculum  meum  mater:  surgebam,  in  uicem,  si 
quiesceret,   ezcitaturus.     residimus  in  area  domus,  lo 

5  quae  mare  a  tectis  modico  s^mtio  diuidebat.  dubito 
constantiam  uocare  an  impnidentiam  debeam  (agebam 
enim  duodeuiceusimum  annum);  posco  librum  Titi 
Liui,  et  quasi  per  otium  lego  atque  etiam,  ut  coeperam, 
excerpo.  ecce,  amicus  auunculi,  qui  nuper  ad  eum  15 
ez  Hispania  uenerat^  ut  me  et  matrom  sedentes, 
me  uero  etiam  legentem  uidet,  illius  patientiam, 
securitatem  meam  corripit :  nihilo  segnius  ego 
intentus  in  librum. 

6  lam  bora  dici   prima,  et  adhuc  dubius  et  quasi  20 
languidus  dies,    iam  quassatis  circumiacentibus  tectis, 
quanquam  in  ai>erto  loco,  angusto  tamen,  magnus  et 

Tcertus  ruinae  motus.  turn  demum  excedere  oppido 
uisum  :  sequitur  uulgus  attonitum,  quodque  in  pauorc 
simile  prudcntiao,   alien um  consilium   suo  praefert,  25 

46  6  (juia  Cainpaninc  ftolitu»,  ilia  (ille  ou)  uero  nocte  ita 
inualuit,  ut  non  moueri  onniia  sed  ucrti  (cuerti  a)  crederentur 
ona  quia  oampaniae  non  solum  castella  uerum  etiam  oppicla 
non  moueri  omnia  «jd  uorti  credeliantur  H  S  irnimpit 
cubiculum  oufa  inuusit  in  cubiculum  M  10  residimus  a 
rMidemut  M  renedimus  oa 


46.  (VI.  20)       EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  91 

ingentique  agmine  abeuntis  premit  et  impellit  egressi  8 
tecta  consistimus.  multa  ibi  miranda,  multas 
formidines  patimur.  nam  uehicula  quae  produci 
iusseramus,  quanquam  in  pianissimo  campo,  in  con- 
5  trarias  partes  agebantur,  ac  ne  lapidibus  quidem  fulta 
in  eodem  uestigio  quiescebant  praeterea  mare  in  se  9 
resorberi  et  tremore  terrae  quasi  repelli  uidebamus. 
certe  processerat  litus,  multaque  animalia  maris  siccis 
harenis  detiuebat.      ab  altero  latere  nubes  atra  et 

lo  horrenda  ignei  spiritus  tortis  uibratisque  discursibue 
rupta  in  longas  flammarum  figuras  dehiscebat : 
fulguribus  illae   et  similes   et   maiores   erant. 

Tum  uero  idem  ille  ex  Hispania  amicus  acrius  ct  10 
instantius  *si  frater'  inquit  *tuus,   tuus  auunculus 

15  uiuit,  uult  esse  uos  saluos;  si  periit,  superstites  uoluit: 
proinde  quid  cessatis  euadere  ?  *      respondimus  non 
commissuros  nos  ut  de  salute  illius  incerti  nostrae 
consuleremus.       non    moratus     ultra    proripit    se,  ll" 
effusoque  cursu  periculo  aufertur.      nee  multo  post 

20  ilia    nubes    descendere    in     terras,    ojjerire    maria : 
cinxerat  Gapreas  et  absconderat :   Miseni  quod  pro- 
currit  abstulerat.     tum  mater  orare,  hortari,  iubcrcl2 
quoquo  modo  ftigerem ;   posse  enim  iuuencm,  se  et 
annis  et  corpore  graucm   bene  morituram,  si   mihi 

25  ciiusa  moitis  non  fuissct.     ego  contra,  saluum  roc  nisi 
una  non  futurum  :  dein  manum  cius  amplexus,  addere 
gradum  cogo.     iwrct  acgre,  incusatque  se  quod  me 
moretur.      iam  cinis,  adhuc  tamen  rarus  :   respicio  ;  13 
dcnsa  caligo   tcrgis  imniinebat,   quae    nos,   torrentis 

26  deiu  Mo  deinde  na 


92  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDI    46.  (VI.  20) 

modo     infusa    terrae,    sequebatur.       *  deflectaraus ' 
inquam,  *  dum  uidemus,  ne  in  uia  strati  comitantium 

14  turba  in  tenebris  obteramur/  uix  consideramus,  et 
nox,  non  qualis  illunis  aut  nubila,  sed  qualis  in  locis 
clausis,  lumine  exstincto.  audires  ululatus  ferainarum,  5 
infantium  quiritatus,  clamores  uirorum  :  alii  parentes, 
alii  liberos,  alii  coniuges  uocibus  requirebant,  uocibus 
noscitabant:  hi  suum  casum,  illi  suorum  miserabantur : 

15  erant  qui  metu  mortis  mortem  precarentur :  multi  ad 
deos  manus  tollere,  plures  nusquam  iam  deos  ullos,  lo 
aeternamque  illam  et  nouissimam  noctem  mundo 
interpretabantur.  nee  defuerunt  qui  fictis  mentitisque 
terroribus  uera  pericula  augerent.  aderant  qui  Misehi 
illud   ruisse,  illud  ardere — falso,  sed  credentibus — 

16  nuntiabant.     paulum  reluxit ;   quod  non  dies  nobis  i5 
sed  aduentantis  ignis  indicium  uidebatur.     et  ignis 
quidem  longius  substitit,  tenebrae  rursus,  cinis  rursus 
multus    et    grauis.      hunc    identidem    adsurgentes 
excutiebamus :     operti    alioqui    atque    etiam    oblisi 

17  pondere  essemus.   possem  gloriari  non  gemitum  mihi,  20 
non  uocem  parum  fortem  in  tantis  periculis  excidisse, 
nisi  me  cum  omnibus,  omnia  mecum  perire,  misero, 
magno  tamen  mortalitatis  solacio  credidissem. 

18  Tandem     ilia     caligo    tenuata    quasi    in    fumum 
nebulamue    discessit :    mox    dies    uerus,    sol    etiam  25 
effulsit,  luridus  tamen,  qualis  esse,  cum  deficit,  solet. 
occursabant  trepidantibus  adhuc  oculis  mutata  omnia 


3  obteramur  Fa  oh  terrani  {cwl  of  Hue)  u  obruamur  0  opcri- 
amur  M  25  dies  ucrus  M  dies  ucre  a  dies  ou  27  occur- 
reUaut  a 


4e.  (VL20)       EPISTVLAE  SELEOTAE.  «S 

altoque    cinere,    tanquam    niue,   obducta.      regressi  IS 
Misenum,   curatis   utcumque   corporibus   suspensam 
dubiamque  noctem  spe  ac  metu  exegimus.      metus 
praeualebat :   nam  et  tremor  terrae  perseuerabat  et 

5  plerique  lymphati   terrificis  uaticinationibus  et  sua 
et  aliena  mala  ludificabantur.     nobis  tamen  ne  tunc  2C 
quidem,  quanquam  et  expertis  periculum  et  exspe- 
ctantibus,    abeundi    consilium,    donee    de   auunculo 
nuntius. 

ID  Haee  nequaquam  historia  digna  non  scripturus 
leges  et  tibi,  scilicet  qui  requisisti,  imputabis,  si  digna 
ne  epistula  quidem  uidebuntur.     uale. 

3  exegimus  M  exigintus  oua 


94  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SEOVNDI   47.  (Vn.4) 


LIBER  VIL 
47.  (vn.  4.)    <r^ 

C.  PLINIVS  PONTIC  SVO  S. 

1  Ais  legisse  te  hondccasyllabos  meos ;  requiris  etiam 
quern  ad   modum  coeperim  scribere,  homo,  ut  tibi   5 

2  aideor,  seuerus,  ut  ipse  fateor,  non  ineptus.  nunquam 
a  poetice  (altius  enim  repetam)  alienus  fui;  quin 
etiam  quattuordecim  natus  annos  Graecam  tragoediam 
scripsi.     'qualem  f   inquis?  nescio:   tragoedia  uoca- 

S  batur.  mox,  cum  e  militia  rediens  in  Icaria  insula  10 
uentis  detinerer,  Latinos  elegos  in  illud  ipsum  mare 
ipsamque  insulam  feci,  expertus  sum  me  aliquando 
et  heroo,  hendecasyllabis  nunc  primum,  quorum  hie 
natalis,  haec  causa  est  legebantur  in  Laurentino 
mihi  libri  Asini  Galli  de  comparatione  patris  et  15 
Ciceronis.     incidit  epigramma  Ciceronis  in  Tironem 

4  suiim.  dein,  cum  moridie  (erat  enim  aestas)  dormi- 
turus  me  reccpissem,  nee  obreperet  somnus,  coepi 
reputare   maximos   oratores  hoc  studii  genus  et  in 

5  oblectatioiiilms  habuisse  ct  in  laude  iwsuisse.    intendi  20 
animuni,    contraque   opinionem   meam   post    longam 
dcsuetudiiicm  perquani  cxiguo  temporis  momento  id 
ipsuni   i[\ioi]    nie    ad    scribcndum  soUicitaucrat    his 
uersibus  exaraui : 

47  7  <|uin  Mfa  <|iii  ou     Mi  et  hcroo  {corr.  from  hero)  M 
hctero  ou  ct  licroico  a 


47.  (Vn.  4)        EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  95 

cum  libros  Galli  legerem,  quibus  ille  parent! 
ausus  de  Cicerone  dare  est  palmamque  decusque, 
lasciuum  inueni  lusum  Ciceronis  et  illo 
spectandum  ingeuio  quo  seria  condidit  et  quo 
5      humanis  salibus  multo  uarioque  lepore 

magnorum  ostendit  mentes  gaudere  uirorum.  * 

nam  queritur  quod  fraude  mala  fnistratus  amantem 
paucula  cenato  sibi  debita  sauia  Tiro 
tempore  nocturno  subtraxerit.     his  ego  lectis, 
ID      *  cur  post  haec '  inquam  *  nostros  celamus  amores, 
nullumque  in  medium  timidi  damns,  atque  fatemur 
Tironisque  dolos,  Tironis  nosso  fugaces 
blanditias  et  furta  nouas  addentia  flammas  ? ' 

transii  ad  elegos ;  hos  quoque  non  minus  celeriter 
15  explicui :  addidi  alios,  facilitate  corruptus.  deinde  in 
urbem  reuersus,  sodalibus  legi..  probauerunt.  inde 
plura  metra,  si  quid  otii,  maxime  in  itinere  temptaui. 
i)OStremo  placuit  exemplo  multorum  unum  separatim 
hendecasyllabonmi  uolunicii  absoluere,  nee  pacnitet. 
20  legitur,  describitur,  cautatur  etiam,  et  a  CJraecis  quo- 
que, quos  Latine  huius  li])elli  amor  docuit,  nunc 
cithara  nunc  lyra  persoiiatur. 

Sed  quid   ego   tam  gloriose  ?     cjuanquam    poetis  1 
furere  concessum  est  :  et  tumen  non  de  nico  sed  de 
25  aliorum  iudicio  lo<iuor,  qui,  .sine  indicant  sine  errant, 
me  dclectant.     unum  ])rccor.  ut  iM>steri  (luoque  aut 
errent  similiter  aut  imlicciit.     uale. 

2  ausus  de  Cicerone  <lare  est  Caanithon  ausus  <lc  cicerone  «laret 
OU  ausus  i\c  Ciceroni-  «!ar#'  a  nirsu»  <le  ciccroue  «laret  M  15 
a1i(«  Mfa  altos  on  iainlNftj  MommMHi 


L 


96  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDI     48.  (VII.  5) 

48.  (VII.  5.) 

C.   PLINIVS  CALPVRNIAE  SVAE  S. 

1  Incredibile  est  quanto  desiderio  tui  tenear.  in 
causa  amor  primum,  deinde  quod  non  consueuimus 
abesse.  inde  est  quod  magnam  noctium  partem  in  5 
imagine  tua  uigil  exigo,  inde  quod  interdiu  quibus 
horis  te  uisere  solebam  ad  diaetam  tuam  ipsi  me,  ut 
uerissime  dicitur,  pedes  ducunt,  quod  denique  aeger 
et  maestus  ac  similis  excluso  a  uacuo  limine  recedo. 
unum  tempus  his  tormentis  caret,  quo  in  foro  ami-  *o 

2  corum  litibus  conteror.  aestima  tu  quae  uita  mea  sit, 
cui  requies  in  labore,  in  miseria  curisque  solacium. 
uale. 

49.  (Vn.9.) 

C.   PLINIVS  FVSCO  SVO  S.  15 

1  Quacris  quem  ad  modum  in  secessu,  quo  iam  diu  ' 

2  frueris,  putem  to  studerc  oportere.  utile  in  primis, 
et  multi  praecipiunt,  uel  ex  Graeco  in  Latinum  ucl  ex 
Latino  uertcrc  in  Graecum:  quo  genere  exercitationis 
proprietas  splendorque  uerbormn,  copia  figurarum,  20 
uis  cxplicandi,  praeterea  imitatione  optimorum  similia 
iiniciiiendi  fjiculUis  paratur ;  simul  quae  legeutem 
fcfcllisseiit  transfcrcntem  fugerc  non  possunt.  intcl- 
Icgciitia  c\'  hoc  ct  indicium  adijuiritur. 

48  5  partem  iKKstium  a  6  uigil  Ma  uigileni  ou  10  foro 
atniconnn  M  foro  ot  uinicorum  oua  1*2  solacium  est  a,  om. 
est  Mou 

49  17  fnierib  Mfa  fueria  ou 


49.  (Vn.  9)       EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  VJ 

Nihil  offuerit  quae  legeris  hactenus  ut  rem  argu-8 
^'    mentumque  teneas  quasi  aemulum  scribero  lectisque 
conferre,  ac  sedulo  pensitare  quid  tu,  quid  ille  com-      ^^, 
modius.     magna  gratulatio,  si  non  nulla  tu,  magnus  •  v 
5  pudor,  si  cuncta  ille  melius. 

Licebit  interdum  et  notissima  eligere  et  certare 
cum  electis.  audax  haec,  non  tamen  improba,  quia  4 
secreta  contentio :  quanquam  multos  uidemus  eius 
modi  certamina  sibi  cum  multa  laude  sumpsisse,  quos- 
loque  subsequi  satis  habebant,  dum  non  desperant, 
antecessisse. 

Pot^ris  et  quae  dixeris  post  obliuionem  retractare,  6 
multa  retinere,  plura  transire,  alia  interscribere,  alia 
rescribere.  laboriosum  istud  et  taedio  plenum  sed  6 
15  difficultate  ipsa  fructuosum,  recalescere  ex  integro  ct 
resumere  impetum  fractum  omissumque,  postremo 
noua  uelut  membra  peraeto  cor|)ori  intexere  nee 
tamen  priora  turbare. 

Scio  nunc  tibi  esse   praecipuum  studium  orandi ;  7 
20  sed  non  ideo  semper  pugnacem  huiic  et  quasi  bclla- 
torium  stilum  suascrim.     ut  enim  terrae  uariis  muta- 
tisque  seminibus,  ita  ingenia  nostra  nunc  hac  nunc 
ilia  meditatione  recoluntur.     nolo  interdum  aliquem  8 
ex  historia  locum  apprehendas,  udlo  epistulam  dili- 
25  gentius  scribas.     nam  saepe  in  orationcs  quoquc  non 
historica    modo    sed    prope     poetica    dcscriptionum 
nccessitas    incidit,    et    pressus    scrnio   purusque   ex 
epistulis   petitur.     fas   est   et   carmine   remitti,    non  9 
dico  contiinio  et  loiigo  (id  enim  perfici  nisi  in  otic 

23  ilia  Mfu  iliac  oa 

G 


98  C.  PLINI  CABCILI  SECVNDI     49.  (Vn.9) 

non   potest),   sed  hoc  argato  et    breui,   quod  apte 

10  quantas  libet  occupationes  curasque  distinguit.  liisus 
uocantur;  sed  hi  lusus  non  minorem  interdum 
gloriam  quam  seria  consequuntur ;  atque  adeo  (cur 
enim  te  ad  uersus  non  uersibus  adhorter  ?)  5 

11  ut  laus  est  cerae,  mollis  cedensque  sequatur 

si  doctos  digitos  iussaque  fiat  opus, 
et  nunc  informet  Martem  castamue  Mineruam, 

nunc  Venerem  effingat,  nunc  Veneris  puerum, 
utque  sacri  fontes  non  sola  incendia  sistunt,  lo 

saepe  etiam  flores  ucrnaque  prata  iuuant, 
sic  hominum  ingenium  flecti  ducique  per  artes 

non  rigidas  docta  mobilitate  decet. 

12  itaque  summi  oratores,  summi  ctiam  uin  sic  se  aut 
exercebant  aut  delectabant,  immo  delectabant  exer- 15 

13  cebantque.  nam  minim  est  ut  his  opusculis  animus 
intendatur,  remittatur.  recipiunt  enim  amores,  odia, 
iras,  misericordiam,  urbanitatem,  omnia  denique  quae 

14  in  uita  atque  etiam  in  foro  causisque  uersantur.    inest 
his  quoque  cadom  quae  aliis  carmini])us  utilitas,  quod,  20 
metri  necessitate  dcuincti,  sohita  oratione  laetamur, 
et  quod  facilius  esse  comparatio  ostendit,  libentius 
scribimus. 

15  Habcs  phira  etiam  fortassc  quam  reqnirebas,  unum 
tamon  oniisi ;  non  enim  dixi  quae  le^cnda  arhitrarcr  :  25 
quaiiquam   dixi,    cum  diccrem   quae   scri]»enda.     tu 
niemincns  sui   cuiusque  generis   auctores   diligentcr 
cligcre.      aiuiit   eium   multum   Icgeiidum    esse,   non 

1 1  iuuant  {huf  dot  inukr  first  u  M)  Mf  launnt  oa  luent  u 
leuant  {rorr. /r.  launnt)  co*/.  I)n<(t.  '2\  tleuincli  oa  «Icuinctia 
M  «loiuncti  u  ilcfuncti  Barth  nvtl  tirsmr    26  tuninu'ini?icri8  M 


50.  (Vn.  19)      EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  99 

multa.  qui  sint  hi,  adeo  notum  probatumque  est  ut  16 
demonstratione  non  egeat ;  et  alioqui  tarn  immodice 
epistulam  extendi  ut,  dum  tibi  quern  ad  modum 
studere  debcas  suadeo,  studendi  tempus  abstulerim. 
5  quin  ergo  pugillares  resumis,  et  aliquid  ex  his,  uel 
istud  ipsum  quod  coeperas,  scribis  ?     uale. 


•  50.    (VII.  19.) 
C.  PLINIVS  PRISCO  SVO  S. 

Angit  me  Faniiiae  ualetudo.     contraxit  banc,  dum   i 

loadsidet    luniae   Virgini,    sponte    primum   (est   enim 
adfinis),  deinde  etiam  ex  auctoritate  pontificum.    nam    2 
Virgines,    cum    ui    morbi    atrio    Vestae    coguntur 
excedere,  matronarum  curae  custodiaeque  mandantur. 
quo    munere    Fannia    dum    sedulo    fungitur,    hoc 

15  discrimine    implicita    est.       insident    febres,    tussis   3 
increscit,   summa  macies,    summa  defectio :   animus 
tantum  et  spiritus  uiget  Hehiidio  marito,  Thrasea 
patre    dignissimus ;    reliqua    labuntur,    meque    non 
metu  tantum  uerum  etiam  dolore  conficiunt.     dolco  4 

20  enim  feminam  maximam  eripi  oculis  ciuitatis,  ncscio 
an  aliquid  simile  uisuris. 

Quae  castiUs  illi !  quae  sanctitas !  quanta  grauitas ! 
«quanta  constantia !  bis  maritum  secuta  in  exsilium 
est,  tcrtio  ipsa  ])ropter  maritum  relegata.     nam  cum    5 

25  Scnecio  reus  esset,  quod  de  uita  Hcluidi  libros  coni- 

1     probatumque    M    prouocatumquc    oua    peruulgatiiinque 
Schae/er  pc'ruagatum<iue  Otto 

60  18  non  nictu  tantum  oua  non  tantum  cura  M  21  uisuria 
Ha  uisurus  on 


r\ 


100  a  PLINI  CAECnJ  SBCVNDI  50.  (VEL 19) 

posuisset,  rogatomque  se  a  Faimia  in  defensione 
dixisset,  qoaerente  minaciter  Mettio  Garo  an  rogasset^ 
respondit  'rogaoif'  an  commentaries  scriptoro  dedisset, 
Medi,'  an  sciente  matre,  'nesciente';  postremo  nnllam 

6  uocem  cedentem  pericolo  emisit.     qoin  etiam  iUos   5 
ipsos    libros,    qnanquam    ex    necessitate    et    metu 
temporum  abolitos  senatus  consulto,  publicatis  bonis 

^       seruauit,  habuit,  ttditque  in  exsilium  exsilii  causam. 

7  Eadem  quam  iuconda,  quam  comis,  quam  denique, 
quod  paucis  datum  est,  non  minus  amabilis  quam  lo 
ueneranda !    eritne    quam   postea   uxoribus   nostris 
ostentare     possimus  f     erit     a    qua    uiri     quoque 
fortitudinis  exempla  sumamus?  quam  sic  cementes 

8  audientesque   miremur  ut  illas  quae  leguntur  ?    ac 
mihi  domus  ipsa  nutare   conuulsaque  sedibus  suis  15 
ruitura  supra  uidetur,  licet  adhuc  posteros  habeat : 
quantis  enim  uirtutibus  quantisque  factis  adsequentur 
ut  haec  non  nouissima  Occident  ? 

9  Me  quidem  illud  etiam  adfligit  et  torquet,  quod 
matrem  eius,  illam  (nihil  possum  illustnus  dicere)  20 
tantae  fcminae  matrem,  rursus  uideor  amittere,  quam 
haec,  ut  reddit  ac  rcfert  nobis,  sic  auferet  sccum, 
meque  et  nouo  panter  et  rescisso  uulnere  adficiet. 

10  utramque  colui,  utramque  dilexi ;  utram  m^igis  nescio, 
nee    discerni    uolebant.       habuerunt  officia   nica   in  25 
secundis,    habuerunt    in    aducrsis.       ego    solacium 
rclegatanim,  ego  ultor  reucrsarum ;   non  feci  tamcn 
paria,  atquo  co  magis  banc   cupio  scruari,  ut  mihi 

11  erit,  ncquam  a  crit  quam  M  erat:  ne  {corr.  2  h.  to  ni  u) 
quam  ou  orat,  ncc  quam  F  crit  «ane  quam  Sichnrffm  26 
solatium  oua  sociua  M 


61,  (Vn.  20)      EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  101 

soluendi  tempora  supersint.     in  his  eram  curis,  cum  11 
scriberem  ad  te ;   quas  si  deus  aliquis  in  gaudium 
uerterit,  de  metu  non  querar.     uale. 

^51.    (VII.  20.) 
5  C.  PLINIVS  TACITO  SVO  S. 

Librum    tuum  legi   et  quam  diligentissime  potui    1 
adnotaui  quae  commutanda,  quae  .eximenda  arbitrarer. 
nam  et  ego  uerum  dicere  adsueui  et  tu  libenter  audire. 
neque  enim  ulli  patientius  reprehenduntur  quam  qui 

10  maxime  laudari  merentur. 

Nunc  a  te  librum  nieum  cum  adnotationibus  tuis   2 
exspecto.     o  iucundas,  o  pulchras  uices!   quam  me 
delectat  quod,  si  qua  posteris  cura  nostri,  usquequaque 
narrabitur  qua  concordia,  simplicitate,  fide  uixerimus! 

15  erit  rarura  et  insigne  duos  homines  aetate,  dignitate  3 
propemodum  aequales,  non  nuUius  in  litteris  nominis 
(cogor  enim  de  te  quoque  parcius  dicere,  quia  de  me 
simul  dico),  alterum  alterius  studia  fouisse.     equidem   4 
adulescentulus,  cum  iam  tu  fama  gloriaque  floreres, 

20  te  sequi,  tibi  *  longo  sed  proximus  interuallo '  et  esse 
et  haberi  concupiscebam.     et  erant  multa  clarissima 
ingenia ;  sed  tu  mihi  (ita  similitude  naturae  ferebat) 
maxime  imitabilis,  maxime  imitandus  uidebaris.    quo   6 
magis  gaudco  quod,   si  quis  do  studiis  sermo,  una 

25  nominamur,  quod  do  te  loquentibus  statim  occurro. 
nee  desunt  qui  utrique  nostnim  praeferantur.     sed    6 
nos,  nihil  interest  mea  quo  loco,  iungimur ;  nam  mihi 

61  27  nam  mihi  primus  qui  a  tc  a  nam  mihi  primus  (om. 
qui  a  te)  M  nam  in  hoc  primus  quia  te  oa 


102  C.  PUNI  CAECILI  SECVNDI  51,  (VII.  20) 

primus  qui  a  te  proximus.  quin  etiam  in  testamcntis 
debes  adnotasse,  nisi  quis  forte  alterutri  nostrum 
amicissimus,  eadem  legata  et  quidem  pariter  accipinius. 
7  quae  omnia  hue  spectant,  ut  in  uicem  ardentius 
diligamus,  cum  tot  uinculis  nos  studia,  mores,  fama,  5 
suprema  denique  hominum  iudicia  constringant. 
uale. 

J 
52.    (Vn.  2i.) 

C.  PUNIVS  GEMINO  SVO  S. 

1  Vmmidia    Quadratilla    paulo  minus  octogensimo  lo 
aetatis  anno  decessit^  usque  ad  nouissimam  ualctu- 
dinem  uiridis,  atque  etiam  ultra  matronalem  modum 

2  compacto  corpore  et  robusto.    decessit  honestissimo 
testamento :  reliquit  heredes,  ex  besse  nepotem,  ex  \> 
tertia  parte  neptem.  15 

Neptem  parum  noui,  nepotem  familiarissime  diligo, 
adulescentem     singularem,     nee    iis    tantum    quos 

3  sanguine  attingit  inter  propinquos  amandum.      ac 
primum  conspicuus  forma  omnes  sermones  malignorum 
et  puer  et  iuuenis  euasit :  intra  quartum  et  uicesimum  20 
annum  maritus,  et  si  deus  adnuisset,  pater. 

Vixit  in  contubernio  auiae  delicatae  seuerissime  et 

4  tamcii  obsequentissime.  habebat  ilia  pantomimos, 
fouebatque  effusius  quam  principi  feminae  conuenit. 
hos  Quadratus  non  in  theatro,  non  domi  spectabat;  nee  25 

5  ilia  exigcbat.  audiui  ipsam,  cum  mihi  commendaret 
nepotis  sui  studia,  solere  se,  ut  feminam  in  illo  otio 

62  17  iis  oua  his  M    24  conuenit  M  conueniret  ona 


\ 


52.  (VIL  24)      EPISTVLAE  SELECTAR  103 

sexus,  laxare  animum  lusu  calculorura,  solerc  spccture 
pantomimos  suos ;  sed  cum  factura  esset  alterutrum, 
semper  se  nepoti  suo  praecepisse,  abiret  studeretque ; 
quod  mihi  non  auiore  eius  magis  facere  quam 
5  reuerentia  uidebatur. 

Miraberis,   et   ego  miratus   sum :    proximis  sacer-  6 
dotalibus  ludis  productis  in  commissione  paiitoinimis, 
cum  simul  theatre  ego  et  Quadratus  egrederemur,  ait 
mihi  '  scis  me  hodie  primum  uidisse  saltantem  auiae 

10  meae  libertum  ? '     hoc  nepos.     at  hercule  aliejiissimi  7 
homines  in  honorem  Quadratillae  (pudet  me  dixisse 
honorem)     per    adulationis     officium     in    theatrum 
cursitabant,  exsultabant,  plaudebant,  mirabantur,  ac 
deinde     siiigulos     gestus     dominae     cum     canticis 

15  reddebant ;  qui  imnc  exiguissima  legata,  theatralis 
operae  corollarium,  accipient  ab  herede,  qui  non 
spectabat. 

Haec,  quia  soles,  si  quid  incidit  noui,  non  inuitus  8 
audire ;  deinde,  quia  iucundum  est  mihi  quod  ceperam 

2ogaudium  scribendo  retractare.  gaudeo  enim  pietate 
defunctae,  honore  optimi  iuuenis ;  lactor  etiam  quod 
domus  aliquando  C.  Cassi,  huius  qui  Cassianae  scholac 
princeps  et  parens  fuit,  seruiet  domino  non  minori. 
implcbit   enim    illam    Quadratus    mens    et  deccbit,  9 

25  rursusquc  ci  pristinam  dignitatem,  celebritatcni, 
gloriam  reddet,  cum  taiitus  orator  inde  proccdct, 
quantus  iuris  ille  consultus.     ualc. 

18  hocc  quia  Mou  Imcc  scripsi  quia  a  hcc  scrips!  primum 
quia  F     19  ceperam  Ma  eeperiin  ou 


104  C.  PLINI  CAECILl  SECVNDI  53.  (Vn.2e) 

53.    (Vn.  26.) 
C.  PLINIVS  MAXIMO  SVO  S. 

1  Nuper  me  cuiusdam  amici  languor  adihoniiit  opti- 
mos  esse  nos,  dum  infirmi  sumus.     quern  enim  infir- 

2  mum  aut  auaritia  aut  libido  sollicitat  ?  non  amoribus  5 
seruit,  non  adpetit  honores,  opes  neglegit,  et  quantu- 
lumcunque  ut  relicturus  satis  habet.  tunc  deos,  tunc 
hominem  esse  se  meminit^  inuidet  nemini,  neminem 
miratur,  neminem  despicit,  ac  ne  sermonibus  quidem 
malignis  aut  attendit  aut  alitur :   balinea  imaginatur  lo 

3  et  fontes.  haec  summa  curarum,  summa  uotorum, 
mollemque  in  posterum  et  pinguem,  si  contingat 
euadere,  hoc  est^  innoxiam  beatamque  destinat  uitam. 

4  possum  ergo  quod  plurimis  uerbis,  plurimis   etiam 
uoluminibus  philosophi  docere  conantur  ipse  breuiter  15 
tibi  mihique  praecipere,  ut  tales  esse  sani  perseuere- 
mus  quales  nos  futuros  profitemur  infirmi.     uale. 

^54.    (VIL  27.) 
C.  PUNIVS  SVRAE  SVO  S. 

1  Et  mihi  discendi  et  tibi  docendi  facultatem  otium  20 
praebet.      igitur   perquam  uelim  scire,  esse  phanta- 
smata  et  habere  propriam  figuram  numenque  aliquod 
putes,  an  inania  et  uana  ex  mctu  nostro  imaginem 
accipere. 

2  Ego  ut  esse  credam  in  primis  eo  ducor  quod  audio  25 
accidisse   Cuitio   Rufo.      tenuis   adhuc   et   obscurus 

68  5  aut  auaritia  aut  aniMtio  aut  libido  Gierig 


f 


54.  (VII.  27)   EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  105 

obtinenti  Africam  comes  haeserat:  inclinato  die 
spatiabatur  in  porticu :  offertur  ei  mulieris  figura 
humana  grandior  pulcbriorque :  perterrito  Africam  se, 
futurorum  praenuntiam,  dixit ;  iturum  enim  Romam, 
5  honoresque  gesturum,  atque  etiam  cum  summo 
imperio  in  eandem  prouinciam  reuersurum,  ibique 
moriturum.  facta  sunt  omnia,  praeterea  accedcnti  3 
Carthaginem  egredientique  naue  eadem  figura  in  litore 
occurrisse   narratur.      ipse  certe   implicitus   morbo, 

10  futura  praeteritis,  aduersa  secundis  auguratus,  spem 
salutis  nullo  suorum  desperante  proiecit. 

lam  illud  nonne  et  magis  terribile  et  non  minus  4 
mirum  est,  quod  exponam  ut  accepi  ?  erat  Athenis  5 
spatiosa  et  capax   domus,  sed  infamis  et  pestilens. 

IS  per  silentium  noctis  sonus  ferri,  et  si  attenderes  acrius, 
strepitus  uinculorum  longius  primo,  deinde  e  proximo   ^ 
reddebatur:    mox  apparebat  idolon,  senex  macie  et 
squalore  confectus,  promissa  barba,  horrenti  capillo: 
cruribus  compedes,  manibus  catenas  gerebat  quatie- 

20  batque.     indo  iuha1)itiuitibus  tristes  dii-aeque  noctes  6 
per  metum  uigilabantur :  uigiiiam  morbus  et  crescente 
formidine  mors  sequebatur.     nam  interdiu  quoque, 
quamquam    abscesserat    imago,    memoria     imaginis 
oculis  inerrabat,  longior(|ue  causis  timoris  timor  erat. 

25  deserta  inde  et  damnata  solitudine  domus,  totaque 
illi  monstro  relicta;  proscribebatur  tamen,  seu  quia 
cmere,  seu  quis  conducere  ignarus  tanti  mali  ucllet. 

64  1  qnaestori  obtinenti  Africam  MomniMen  24  iner> 
rabat  Mou  inliaerebat  a  longiorque  causis  timoris  timor  erat 
ou  longiorque  ciiusis  timor  erat  M  iougiorisquc  caussa  timoris 
timor  erat  a    25  solitudini  Iltinaius 


n 


106  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDI  64.  (VIL  27) 

f%'*7  ^^^^^  Athenas  philosophus  Athenodorus,  legit 
., !  ,  titulum,  auditoque  pretio,  quia  suspecta  uilitas,  per- 
cunctatus,  omnia  docetur  ac  nihilo  minus,  immo  tanto 
magis  conducit.  ubi  coepit  aduesperascere,  iubet 
stemi  sibi  in  prima  domus  parte,  poscit  pugillares,  5 
stilum,  lumen :  suos  omnes  in  interiora  dimittit,  ipse 
ad  scribendum  animum,  oculos,  manum  intendit,  ne 
uacua  mens  audita  simulacra  et  inanes  sibi  metus 

8  fingeret.     initio,  quale  ubique,  silentium  noctis ;  dein 
concuti  ferrum,  uincula  moueri :  ille  non  tollere  oculos,  lo 
non  remittere  stilum,  sed  offirmare  animum  auribus- 
que  praetendere :  tum  crebrescere  fragor,  aduentare, 
ac  iam  ut  in  limine,  iam  ut  intra  limen  audiri :  respi- 

9  cit ;  uidet  agnoscitque  narratam  sibi  effigiem.    stabat 
innuebatque  digito,  similis  uocanti :    hie  contra  ut  15 

^paulum  exspectaret  manu  significat,  rursusque  ceris  et 

/    stilo  incumbit :  ilia  scribentis  capiti  catenis  insonabat : 

respicit  rursus  idem  quod  prius  innuentem,  nee  morar 

10  tus  tollit  lumen  et  sequitur.     ibat  ilia  lento  gradu, 
quasi  grauis  uinculis :    postquam  deflexit  in  aream  ao 
domus,   repente  dilapsa  deserit  comitem:    desertus 

11  herbas  et  folia  concerpta  signum  loco  ponit    postero 
die  adit   magistratus,  monet  ut  ilium  locum  effodi 

^    iul^eant     inveniuntur   ossa    inserta   catenis   et   im- 
plicita,    quae    corpus    aeuo    terraque    putrefactum  25 
nuda  et  exesa  reliquerat  uinculis :  collecta  publico 

5  sibi  in  prima  oua  sibi  prima  M  9  dein  Mo  deinde  ua 
13  ac  iam  (/  hare  tnritten  from  the  dotihlet  of  a,  thU  arising 
from  aciam,  read  cm  atiam,  and  etiam  interlined  above)  etiam, 
ac  iam  at  in  limine  a  etiam  ut  in  limine  M  etiam  ut  limine  oa 
etiam  in  limine  F 


/ 


'r 


;--^.. 


64,  (VII.  27)      EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  107 

sepeliuntur.      domus    postea    rite   conditis   maiiibus 
caruit. 

Et  haec  quidem  adfirmantibus  credo ;  illud  adtir-  12 
mare  aliis  possum,  est  libcrtus  mihi,  non  illitteratus. 
5  cum  hoc  minor  frater  eodem  lecto  quiescebat.  is 
uisus  est  sibi  cernere  quendam  in  toro  residentem 
y  admouentemque  capiti  suo  cultros  atque  etiam  ex 
ipso  uertice  amputantem  capillos.  ubi  illuxit,  ipse 
circa  uerticem  tonsus,  capilli  iaceiites  reperiuntur. 

10  exigiium   temporis   medium,  et   nirsus   simile  aliud  13 
priori  fidem  fecit,     puer  in  paedagogio  mixtus  pluri- 
bus  dormiebat :  uenerunt  per  fenestras  (ita  narrat)  in 
tunicis  albis  duo  cubantemque  detonderunt,  et  qua 
uenerant  recesserunt  hunc  quoque  tonsum  sparsosque 

15  circa  capillos  dies  ostendit.     nihil  notabile  secutum,  14 
nisi  forte  quod  non  fui  reus,  futurus,  si  Domitianus, 
sub  quo  haec  acciderunt,  diutius  uixisset.     nam   in 
scrinio  eius  datus  a  Caro  de  me  libellus  inuentus  est ; 
ex  quo  coniectari  potest,  quia  reis  moris  est  summittere 

20  capillum,  recisos  meorum  capillos  depulsi  quod  im- 
minebat  periculi  signum  fuisse. 

Proinde  rogo  eruditioncm  tuam  intendas.     digna  16 
res   est  quam   diu   multumque   consideres :    ne  ego 
quidem   indignus  cui   copiam   scicntiac   tuae   facias. 

25  licet  etiam  utramquc  in  partem,  ut  soles,  disputes,  ex  16 
altera  tamen  fortius,  ne  me  suspcnsum  incertumque 
dimitUis,  cum  mihi  consulendi  causa  fuerit  ut  dubitare 
desincrcm.     uale. 


108  C.  PUNI  CAECILI  SECVNDI  56.  (VIL  28) 

'  55.    (VII.  28.) 
C.  PLINIVS  SEPTICIO  SVO  S. 

1  Ais  quosdam    apud    te    reprehendisse,    tanquam 
amicos  meos  ex  omni  occasione  ultra  modum  laudem. 

2  agnosco  crimen,  amplector  etiam.    quid  enim  hone-  s 
stius  culpa  benignitatis  ?     qui  sunt  tamen  isti  qui 
amicos  meos  melius  norint?     sed  ut  norint^  quid 
inuident  mihi  felicissimo  errore?    ut  enim  non  sint 
tales  quales  a  me  praedicantur,  ego  tamen  beatus, 

3  quod  mihi  uidentur.     igitur  ad  alios  hanc  sinistram  lo 
diligentiam  conferant,   nee   sunt  parum  multi,  qui 
carpere  amicos  sues  indicium  uocant :  mihi  nunquam 
persuadebunt  ut  meos  amari  a  me  nimium  putem. 
uale. 

aa  3  tamquam  K  tamqnam  si  ou  quod  a  7  melios  me 
norint  Ccuavbon  me  melius  norint  Mommaen  8  errore  lla 
errorem  ou  9  quales  Ha,  om.  on  ut  F  13  nimium  putem  a 
niminm  autem  K  nimis  nnqnam  putem  ou 


60.  (Vm.  4)       EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  100 


LIBER   VIIL 

66.    (vm.  4.) 
C.  PLINIVS  CANINIO  SVO  S. 

Optime  facis  quod  bellum  Dacicum  scribere  paras.  1 
5  nam  quae  tarn  recens,  tarn  copiosa,  tarn  lata,  quae 
denique  tarn  poetica,  et  quanquam  in  uerissimis  i^bus 
tarn  fabulosa  materia  ?  dices  immissa  terris  noua  2 
flumina,  nouos  pontes  fluminibus  iniectos,  insessa 
castris  montium  abrupta,  pulsum  regia,  pulsum  ctiam 
10  uita  regem  nihil  desperantem ;  super  haec,  actos  bis 
triumphos,  quorum  alter  ex  inuicta  gente  primus,  alter 
nouissimus  fuit. 

Vna  sed   maxima  difficultas,  quod   haec  aequare  3 
dicendo  arduum,  immensum,  etiam  tuo  ingcnio,  quan- 
isquam  altissirae  adsurgat  et  amplissimis  operibus  in- 
crescat.    non  nullus  et  in  illo  labor,  ut  barbara  et  fera 
nomina,  in  primis  regis  ipsius,  Graecis  uersibus  non     ' 
resultent.     sed  nihil  est  quod  non  arte  curaque,  si  4 
non   potest    uinci,    mitigetur.      practerea,    si    datur 

For  the  eiijhth  book,  which  ii  lacking  in  the  entire  class  of 
15th  century  MSS.  to  which  o  and  u  htlomj,  only  M  and  a  are 
regularly  cited.  Where  the  reading  of  but  one  w  given  in  the 
/oot-note.ft^  the  reading  of  th'  other  is  that  of  the  text. 

66  r»  tam  laic  (Icinrjuc  tain  M  6  in  ucnerissimus  rcbuR  M 
15  aniplissime  a     18  sed  om.  M 


110  C.  PMNI  CAECILI  SECVNDI  SB.  (VIIL4) 

Homero  et  mollia  uocabula  et  Graeca  ad  leuitatem 
uersus  contrahere,  extendere,  inflectere,  cur  tibi  shnilis 
audentia,  praesertim  non  delicata  sed  necessaria,  n^e- 

5  tur  ?    proinde  iure  uatum  inuocatis  dis,  et  inter  deos 
ipso  cuius  res,  opera,  consilia  dictunis  es,  immitte   5 
rudentes,  pande  uela,  ac  si  quando  alias,  toto  ingenio 
uehere.   cur  enim  non  ego  quoque  poetice  cum  poeta  ? 

6  lUud  iam  nunc  pacisoor :  prima  quaeqne  ut  absol- 
ueris,  mittito,  immo  etiam  ante  quam  absoluas,  dcut 
erunt  recentia  et  rudia  et  adhuc  similia  nascentibus.  lo 

7  respondebis  non  posse  perindo  carptim  ut  contexta, 
perinde  incohata  placere  ut  effecta.  scio :  itaque  et  a 
me  aestimabuntur  ut  coepta,  si^ectabuntur  ut  membra, 
extremamque  limam  tuam  opperientur  in  scrinio 
nostro.  patere  hoc  me  super  cetera  habere  amoris  15 
tui  pignus,  ut  ea  quoque  norim  quae  nosse  neminem 

8  uelles.  in  summa,  potero  fortasse  scripta  tua  magis 
probare,  laudare,  quanto  ilia  tardius  cautiusque,  sed 
ipsum  te  magis  amabo,  magis  laudabo,  quanto  celerius 
et  incautius  miseris.     uala  20 


^  57.    (Vni.  8.) 
C.  PLINIVS  ROMANO  SVO  S. 

1  Vidistine  aliquando  Clitumnum  fontem  ?  si  non- 
dum  (et  puto  nondum ;  alioqui  narrasscs  mihi),  uidc, 
qucni  ego  (paenitet  tarditatis)  proximo  nidi.  25 

2  Modicns  collis  adsurgit,  antiqua  cupresso  nemorosus 

3  non  dctur  M      4   inter  deos  ipso  a   /ieroa/dw  inter  cos 
ipso  M     9  mitte  a     19  niagisque  UucIaIk)  M 


57.  (Vni.8)      EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  Ill 

et  opacus.  hunc  subter  fons  exit,  et  exprimitur 
pluribus  uenis  sed  imparibus,  eluctatusque  facit  gur- 
gitem  qui  lato  gremio  patescit  purus  et  uitreus,  ut 
numerare  iactas  stipes  et  relucentis  calculos  possis. 
5  inde  non  loci  dcuexitate  sed  ipsa  sui  copia  et  quasi  3 
pondere  impellitur.  fons  adhuc  et  iam  amplissimum 
flumen  atque  etiam  nauium  patiens,  quas  obuias  quo- 
que  et  contrario  nisu  in  diuersa  tendentes  transmittit 
et  perfert,  adco  ualidus  ut  ilia  qua  properat  ipse, 

lo  quanquam   per  solum  planum,  remis  non  adiuuetur, 
idem  acgerrime  remis  contisque  superetur  aduersus. 
iucundum  utrumque  per  iocum  ludumque  fluitantibus,  4 
ut   flexerint    cursum,    laborem    otio,    otium    labore 
uariare. 

15      Rii)ae  fraxino  multa,  multa  [)opulo  uestiuntur,  quas 
perspicuus  amnis  uelut  mersas  uiridi  imagine  adnu- 
merat.    rigor  aquae  certauerit  niuibus,  nee  color  ccdit. 
adiacet  templum  priscum  et  religiosum  :  stat  Clitu-  5 
mnus  ipse  amictus  omatusque  praetcxta :    praescns 

20  numen  atque  etiam  fatidicum  indicjint  soitcs.  sjiarsa 
sunt  circa  sacella  complura  totidemquc  dii.  sua  cui- 
que  ueneratio,  suum  nomen,  quibusdam  ucro  etiam 
fontes ;  nam  praetcr  ilium  quasi  parentem  ceteronim 
sunt  minores  capite  discreti ;   sed  flumini  misccntur, 

25  quod   ponte   transmittitur.      is   teniiiruis   sacri   pro-  6 
fanique  :   in  supcriore  parte  nauiicnre  tantum,  infra 
etiam  natiire  conccssum,    balincum  Hispcllatcs,  quibus 

67  1  exit  fons  M  2  ehictatusf]uc  qucm  facit  gurgitcni 
lato  gremio  patoflcit  M  in  (|tiaiiK|iiani  M  tanquam  a  16 
uelut  a  ut  M  imagine]  margini  MarUawl  20  tantum  infra 
etiam  om.  M 


u 


112  G.  PIJNI  CAECIU  8ECVNDI  57.  (VIIL8) 

ilium  locum  diuus  Augustus  dono  dedit^  publioe  prae- 
bent^  praebent  et  hospitium.  nee  desunt  uilke^  que 
secutae  fluminis  amoenitatem  margini  insistunt. 
7  In  summa,  nihil  erit  ex  quo  non  capias  uolaptatenL 
nam  studebis  quoque ;  leges  multa  multornm  omnibiis 
columnis,  omnibus  parietibus  inscripta,  quibos  fona 
ille  deusque  celebratur.  plura  laudabis,  non  nulla 
ridebis;  quanquam  tu  uero,  quae  tua  humanifta% 
nulla  ridebis.    uale. 


58.    (Vin.  16.)  10 

C.  PLINIVS  PATERNO  SVO  8. 

1  Confecerunt  me  infii-mitates  meorum,  moites  etianiy 
et  quidem  iuuenum.  solacia  duo  nequaquam  paria 
tanto  dolori,  solacia  tameii :  unum  facilitas  mann- 
mittendi ;  uideor  enim  non  omnino  immaturos  per- 15 
didisse  quos  iam  liberos  perdidi:  alteram^  quod 
permitto  seruis  quoque  quasi  testamenta  faoere,  eaqne 

2  ut  legitima  custodio.  mandant  rogantque  quod 
uisum ;  pareo  ut  iussus.  diuidunt,  donant,  relinquunt^ 
dumtaxat  intra  domum  :  nam  seruis  res  publica  quae-  ao 

3  dam  et  quasi  ciuitas  domus  est.  sed  quanquam  his 
solaciis  adquioscam,  debilitor  et  frangor  eadem  ilia 
humanitato  quae  nie  ut  hoc  ipsum  permitterem  in- 
duxit. 

Non  ideo  tamen  uclim  durior  fieri,    nee  ignoro  alios  25 
eius  modi  casus  nihil  amplius  uocare  quam  damnum, 

1  put)Hce  prnc)>cnt  pracbont  hospitium  M  publico  praebent 
et  hospitium  a    4  captes  a 
68  10  quod  M  cum  a 


59.  (VnLaO)    KPISTTLAE  SELBCTAE.  113 

eoque  sibi  magnoB  hcnmnes  et  Ba|Heat<e£  uideri.  qui 
an  magni  ss^entesqae  sint  n^do,  homineE  non  sunt, 
hominis  est  enim  adfid  dolare,  sentire,  resistere  tamen  4 
et  solacia  admittere,  noo  solacus  dod  egere.  uemm  de  5 
5  his  plura  fortasse  quam  debui,  sed  pauciora  quam  uolui. 
est  enim  quaedam  etiam  dolendi  uolaptas,  praesertim 
si  in  amid  sinu  defleas,  apud  quern  lacrimis  tois  uel 
laus  sit  parata  uel  uenia.     uale. 


59.    (VnL  20.) 
10  C.  PLKIVS  GALLO  SVO  S- 

Ad  quae  noscenda  iter  ingredi,  transmittere  mare  1 
solemus,  ea  sub  oculis  posita  neglegimus,  seu  quia  ita 
natura  oomparatum  ut  proximorum  ineuriosi  longin- 
qua    sectemur,   seu    quod    omnium    rerum    cupido 

15  languesdt^  cum  ^ilis  occasio,  seu  quod  differimus 
tanquam  saepe  uisiui  quod  datur  uidere  quotiens 
uelis  cemere.    quacumque  de  causa,  permulta  in  urbc  2 
nostra  iuxtaque  urbem  non  oculis  modo  sed  ne  auribus 
quidem  nouimus,  quae  si  tulissct  Achaia,  Acgyptus, 

20  Asia  aliave  quaelibet  miraculorum  ferax  commcnda- 
trixque  terra,  audita,  perlecta,  histrata  haborcmus. 

Ipse    certe   nuper  quod   nee   audicnim    ante   nee  3 
uideram  audiui  pariter  ct  nidi,     cxegcrat   prosoccr 
mens  ut  Amcrina  praedia  sua  inspicereni.     haec  jxcr- 

25  ambulanti   mihi   ostenditur   subiacens   laeus   nomine 

1  sapienteis  uideri  qui  an  magni  a,  om.  M 

60   15  occasio  est  seu  a     19  Aegyptns  alia<|ue  (|unolit>rt  a 
21  histrata(]ue  a 


114  0.  FLINI  CAECILI  8E0VNDI  58.  (VUL  SO) 

Vadimonis :  simul  qiiaedam  incredibilia  narrantnr. 
4  perueni  ad  ipsum.  lacus  est  in  similitadinem  iaoenth 
rotae  circumscriptus  et  undique  aequalis:  nnllus 
sinus,  obliquitas  nulla,  omnia  dimensa,  paria,  et  quasi 
artificis  manu  cavata  et  excisa.  color  caenilo  albidior,  5 
uiridior,  et  pressior;  sulpuris  odor  saporque  medicatus, 
uis  qua  ft'acta  solidantur.    spatium  modicum,  quod 

L-  5  tamen  sentiat  uentos  et  fluctibus  intumescat.  nulla 
in  hoc  nauis  (sacer  enim),  sed  innatant  insulae,  herbi- 
dae  omnes  harundine  et  iunco,  quaeque  alia  fecundior  to 
palus  ipsaque  ilia  extremitas  lacus  effort  sua  cuique 
figura  ut  modus :  cunctis  margo  derasus,  quia  frequen- 
ter uel  litori  uel  sibi  illisae  terunt  terunturque.  par 
omnibus  altitudo,  par  leuitas;  quippe  in  speciem 
6  carinae  humili  radice  descendunt.  haec  ab  omni  15 
latere  perspicitur  eademque  suspensa  pariter  et  hnersa. 
interdum  iunctae  copulataeque  et  continenti  similes 
sunt)  interdum  discordantibus  uentis  digeruntur,  non 
nunquam  destitutae  tranquillitate  singulae  fluitant. 

"  7  saepe  minores  maioribus  uelut  cumbulae  onerariis  20 
adhaerescunt,  saei)e  inter  se  maiores  minoresque  quasi 
cursum  cortamenque  desumunt;  rursus  omncs  in 
eundem  locum  adpulsao,  qua  steterunt  promouent 
terram,  et  niodo  hac  modo  ilia  lacum  rcddunt  aufc- 
runtquc ;  ac  turn  dcmum,  cum  medium  tcnucrc,  non  25 

6  et  prcsfiior  (om,  uiridior)  sulpnrc,  oclor  a  niridi  austerior 
ot  pressior,  sulpuris  odor  or  uiridi  pressior,  sulpuris  odor 
Keil  9  cnini  est  sod  a  10  iunco  tcctae,  quaccjue  a  12  ut 
a  ucl  f&F  lit  motus  CniutafHrn^  aft,  Ij*^ti\iH  10  ca<leni  aqua 
parilor  AUS))onKa  ct  iiicrwi  a  17  oontinGntis  similes  eunt  a 
23  cundnn  om.  M  24  illoc  a  2i>  ro  turn  r  ac  duni  M 
auctuiii  a 


60.  (Vm.  24)     EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  116 

contrahunt.  constat  pecora  herbas  secuta  sic  in  8 
insulas  illas  ut  in  extremam  ripam  procedere  solere, 
nee  prins  intellegere  mobile  solum,  quam  litori  abrepta, 
quasi  illata  et  imposita,  circumfusum  undique  lacum 
5  paueant ;  mox  quo  tulerit  uentus  egressa,  non  magis 
se  descendisse  sentire  quam  senserint  ascend isse. 
idem  lacus  in  flumen  egeritur,  quod,  ubi  se  paulisper  9 
oculis  dedit,  specu  mergitur  alteque  conditum  meat, 
ac  si  quid,  antequam  subduceretur,  accepit,  seruat  et 
lo  profert 

Haec  tibi  scripsi,  quia  nee  minus  ignota  quam  mihi  10 
nee  minus  grata  credebam.     nam  te  quoque,  ut  me, 
nihil  aeque  ac  naturae  opera  delectant.     uale. 

60.    (VIII.  24.) 
15  C.  PLINIVS  MAXIMO  SVO  S. 

Amor  in  te  meus  cogit,  non  ut  praecipiam  (neque   1 
enim  praeceptore  egcs),  admoneam  tamen,  ut  quae 
scis  teneas  et  obserues,  aut  scias  melius. 

Cogita  te  missum  in  prouinciam   Achaiam,  illam   2 
20  ueram  et  meram  Graeciam,  in  qua  primum  humanitas, 
litterae,  etiam  fruges  inuentae  esse  creduntur :   mis- 
sum  ad  ordinandum  statum  libcrarum  ciuitatum,  id 
est,  ad  homines  maxima  homines,  ad  liheros  niaximc 

1  trahuntur  M    3  iitore  a    4  quasi  in  rate  posita  A/ommwv 
6  sentire  quam  senserint  ascendisse  om.  M 

60  18  scias  a  Catanaeu8  ncscirc  M  20  in  qua  primum  M  ubi 
a  22  statum  lilierarum  ciuitatinm,  id  est  ad  homines  mnxime 
li1>eros,  (pii  ius  a  statum  id  cat  ad  hondnes  maximc  homines 
ad  lilieros  maximc  lilieros  (|U(mI  ins  M 


116  C.  FUNI  CAEdU  SEGYNDI  OH.  (VIILM) 

liberos,  qui  ius  a  natura  datum  uirtute^  mentis, 
amicitia,  foedere    denique    et   religione   tenuerunt 

3  reuerere  oonditores  deos  et  numina  deorum,  leuerere 
gloriam  ueterem  et  hanc  ipsam  senectutem,  quae  in 
homine  uenerabilis,  in  urbibus  sacra,    sit  apud  te  5 
honor  antiquitati,   sit  ingentibos  &ctis,  sit  fobulis 
quoque.      nihil    ex   cuiusquam  dignitate,  nihil    ex 

4  libertate,  nihil  etiam  ex  iactatione  decerpseris.    habe 
ante  oculos  hanc  esse  terram  quae  nobis  miserit  iura, 
quae  leges  non  uictis  sed  petentibus  dederit^  Athenas  lo 
esse  quas  adeas,  Lacedaemonem  esse  quam  regas; 
quibus  reliquam  umbram  et  residuum  libertatis  nomen 

5  eripere  durum,  ferum,  barbarum  est    uides  a  medicis, 
quanquam  in  aduersa  ualetudine  nihil  send  ac  liberi 
differant)  mollius  tamen  liberos  clementiusque  tractari  15 
recordare  quid  quaeque  ciuitas  fiierit^  non  ut  despicias 

6  quod  esse  desierit:  absit  superbia,  asperitas.  nee 
timueris  contemptmn.  an  contenmitur  qui  imperium, 
qui  £EU9ces  habet^  nisi  humilis  et  sordidus  et  qui  se 
primus  ipse  contemnit  1  male  uim  suam  potestas  2c 
aliorum  contumeliis  experitur,  male  terrore  ueneratio 
adquiritur,  longeque  ualentior  amor  ad  obtinendum 
quod  uelis  quam  timor.  nam  timer  abit,  si  recedas ; 
manet  amor,  ac  sicut  illc  in  odium,  hie  in  reuerentiam 
uertitur.  25 

7  Te  uero  etiam  atquc  ctiam  (rcpetam  enim)  mcmi- 
nissc  oportct  officii  tui  titulum  ac  tibi  ipsum  intcrpro- 

3  et  nomina  K  numina  {om.  et)  a  nomina  heroum  Gronomus 
5  sacra  est  •  sit  a  7  nihil  ex  cuiusrjuam  iactatione  a  lOuicta 
a  non  uicta  acccpcrit  8e<1  pctentilni»  «lederit  Sirhmxlun  13 
UarUirumquc  est  fa     10  nisi  qui  humilis  a 


60.  (VIII.  24)     EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  117 

tari  quale  quantumque  sit  oi-dinare  statum  liberarum 
ciuitatum.  nam  quid  ordinatione  ciuilius?  quid  8 
libertate  pretiosius  ?  porro  quam  turpe,  si  ordinatio 
euersione,  libertas  seruitute  mutetur ! 
5  Accedit  quod  tibi  certamen  est  tecum  :  onerat  te 
quaesturae  tuae  fama,  quam  ex  Bithynia  optimam 
reuexisti,  onerat  testimonium  principis,  onerat  tribu- 
natus,  praetura,  atque  haec  ipsa  legatio  quasi  prae- 
mium  data,    quo  magis  nitendum  est,  ne  in  longinqua   9 

lo  prouincia  quam  suburbana,  ne  inter  seruientes  quam 
liberos,  ne  sorte  quam  iudicio  missus,  ne  rudis  et 
incognitus  quam  exploratus  probatusque,  humanior, 
melior,  peritior  fuisse  uidearis;  cum  sit  alioqui,  ut 
saepe  audisti,  saepe  legisti,  multo  deformius  amittere 

15  quam  non  adsequi  laudem. 

Haec  uelim  credas,  quod  initio  dixi,  scripsisse  me  10' 
admonentem,  non   praecipicntem ;    quanquam    prae- 
cipientem  quoquc.     quippe  non  uereor  in  amore  ne 
modum  excesserim.     neque  cnim  periculum  est  ne  sit 

20  iiimium  quod  esse  maximum  debet,     uale. 

11  sorte  a  forte  M 


118  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDI     61.  (IX.  6) 


LIBER  IX. 

61.    (IX.  6.) 
C.  PLINIVS  CALVISIO  SVO  S. 

1  Omne  hoc  tempus  inter  pugillares  ac  libellos  iu- 
cundissima   quiete    transmisi.      *quem   ad    modum'   5 
inquis  *  in  urbe  potuisti  ?  *  Circenses  erant,  quo  genere 
spectaciili  ne  leuissime  quidem  teneor.     nihil  nouum, 
nihil  uarium,  nihil  quod  non  semel  spectasse  sufficiat 

2  quo  magis  miror  tot  milia  uirorum  tarn  pueriliter 
identidem  cupere  currentes  equos,  insistentes  curribus  lo 
homines  uidere.  si  tamen  aut  uelocitate  equorum  aut 
hominum  arte  traherentur,  asset  ratio  non  nulla: 
nunc  fauent  panno,  pannum  amant,  et  si  in  ipso  cursu 
medioque  certamine  hie  color  illuc,  ille  hue  transfera- 
tur,  studium  fauorque  transibit,  et  repente  agitatores  15 
illos,    equos    illos,    quos    procul    noscitant,   quorum 

3  elamitant   nomina,    relinquent.     tanta  gratia,   tanta 
auctoritas  in  una  uilissima  tunica,  mitto  apud  uulgus, 
quod  uilius  tunica,  sed  apud  quosdam  graues  homines ; 
quos  ego  cum  recorder  in  re  inani,  frigida,  assidua  20 
tarn  insiitiabilitcr  desidere,  capio  aliquam  uoluptatem,    ^ 

4  quod  hac  uoluptate  non  capior.  ac  per  hos  dies 
libentissime  otium  meum  in  litteris  colloco,  quos  alii 
otiosissimis  occupationibus  perdunt.     uale. 

61  10  cupere  om.  oa,  add.  Mo 


i 


63.  (IX.  11)        EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  119 

62.    (IX.  10.) 
C.  PLINIVS  TACITO  SVO  S. 

Cupio  praeccptis  tuis  parerc ;   sed  aprorum  tanta  1 
penuiia  est  ut  Miiieruae  et  Dianae,  quas  ais  pariter 

5  colendas,    conuenire    non   possit.      itaque   Mineruae  2 
tantum  seruiendum  est,  delicate  tamen,  ut  in  secessu 
et  aestate.     in  uia  plane  non  nulla  leuiora  statimque 
dclenda  ea  garrulitate  qua  sermones  in  uehiculo  se- 
runtur  extendi,     his  quaedam  addidi  in  uilla,  cum 

lo  aliud  non  liberet.     itaque  poemata  quiescunt,  quae  tu 
inter  nemora  et  lucos   commodissime  perfici   putas. 
oratiunculam  unam  alteram  retractaui ;  quanquam  id  3 
genus  operis  inamabile,  inamocnum,  magisque  labori- 
bus  ruris  quam  uoluptatibus  simile,     uale. 


15  63.    (IX.  11.) 

C.  PLINIVS  OEMINO  SVO  S 

Epistulam  tuam  iucundissiniam  accepi,  eo  maximc,  1 
quod  aliquid  ad  te  scribi  uolcbas  quod  libris  inseri 
posset,     obueniet  materia,  uel  haec  ipsa  quam  mon- 
2o  stras,  ucl  ix)tior  alia,     sunt  cnini  in  hac  offendicula 
non  nulla :  circunifer  oculos,  et  occurrent. 

Bibliopolas  Lugduni    esse   non   putabani,  ac  tanto  2 
•     libentius  ex  littoris  tuis   cognoiii    ucnditari    libello-s 
meos,  (piibus  peregre  nianere  gratiam  quam  in  urbe 

62  10  quiescent  M  accreacent  Mommsttn 

63  17   accepi  M  recepi  ouf^a      2:)    uenditari   ibi   iibeilos 
MomniHen 


120  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDI   63.  (IX.  II) 

collegerint  delector.  incipio  enim  satis  absolutum 
existiniare,  dc  quo  tanta  diuersitate  regionum  discreta 
hominum  iudicia  consontiunt     uale. 


64.    (IX.  13.) 
C.  PLINIVS  QVADRATO  SVO  a 

1  Quanto  studiosius  intentiusque  legist!  librae  quos 
de  Heluidi  ultione  composui,  tanto  impensius  postulas 
ut  perscribam  tibi  quaeque  extra  libros  quaeque  circa 
libros,  totum  denique  ordinem  rei,  cui  per  aetatem 
non  interfuisti.  lo 

2  Occiso  Domitiano  statui  mecum  ac  deliberaui  esse 
magnam  pulchramque  materiam  insectandi  nocentes, 
miseros  uindicandi,  se  proferendi.  porro  inter  multa 
scelera  multorum  nullum  atrocius  uidebatur  quam 
quod  in  senatu  senator  scnatori,  praetorius  consulari,  15 
reo  iudex  manus  intulisset.  fuerat  alioqui  mihi  cum 
Heluidio  amicitia,  quanta  potuerat  esse  cum  eo  qui 

3metu    temix)rum    nomen   ingens    paresque  uirtutes 
secessu  tegebat,  fuerat  cum  Arria  et  Fannia,  quarum 
altera  Heluidi  nouerca,  altera  mater  nouercae.     sed  20 
non  ita  me  iura  priuata  ut  publicum  fas  et  indignitas 
facti  et  exempli  nitio  incitabat. 

4  Ac  priniis  quidem  diebus  redditae  libcrtatis  pro  se 
(luisquc  inimicos  suos,  dumtaxat  minores,  incondito 
turbidoque  clamore  postulauerat  simul  et  opprcsserat.  25 

64  8  quaec]uc  extra  libros  quaeque  circa  libros  totum  oa 
(juac  extra  libros  totum  Ma  20  heluidio  on  25  postulauerat 
oa  postulauerant  M  postulab»^*-*  'tppresserat  oua  oppres- 
serant  M 


04.  (IX.  13)        EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  121 

ego  et  modestius  et  constantius  arbitratus  immanissi- 
mum  reum  non  communi  temporum  inuidia,  sed  pro- 
prio  crimine  urguere,  cum  iam  satis  ille  primus 
impetus  defeniisset    et    languidior    in    dies  ira  ad 

5  iustitiam   redisset,   quanquam    turn    maxime    tristis 
amissa  nuper  uxore,  mitto  ad  Anteiam  (nupta  haec 
Heluidio  fuerat),  rogo  ut  ueniat,  quia  me  recens  adbuc 
luctus  b'mine  contineret.     ut  uenit,  *  destinatum  est '  6 
inquam   'mibi  maritum    tuum    non    inultum    pati. 

10  nuntia  Arriae  et  Fanniae '  (ab  exsilio  redierant) : 
*  consule  te,  consule  illas  an  uelitis  adscribi  facto,  in 
quo  ego  comite  non  egeo ;  sed  non  ita  gloriae  meae 
fauerim  ut  nobis  societatem  eius  inuideam/  perfert 
Anteia  mandata,  nee  illae  morantur, 

IS      Opportune  senatus  intra  diem  tertium.    (omnia  ego  6 
semper  ad  Corellium  rettuli,  quem  prouidentissimum 
aetatis  nostrae  sapientissimumque  cognoui :    in  hoc 
tamen  contentus  consilio  meo  fui,  ueritus  ne  uetaret ; 
erat  enim  cunctantior  cautiorque.     sed  non  sustinui 

ao  inducere  in  animuni  quo  minus  illi  codcm  die  facturum 
me  indicarem  quod  an   faccreni   non    deliberabam, 
expertus  usu  de  eo  quod  destinaueris  non  esse  con- 
sulendos  quibus  consultis  obsequi  debeas.)     uenio  in  7 
senatum,   ius  dicendi   peto,  dico   iiauh'spcr   maximo 

25  adsensu.  ubi  cocpi  crimen  attinijerc,  reum  dcstinare, 
adhuc  tamen   sine  nomine,   un<li(iuc  mihi  reclamari. 

3  ille  primus  ona  primus  illc  M  4  flcfcniissct  oa  deseruisset 
u  defremuisset  M  10  ab  cxilio  rcclicrant  fa  ali  exilio  redibant 
M  cxilio  nnlierant  consule  te  consule  iiUis  an  ueii-  om.  <m 
12  ita  Ka  tarn  on  Mi  s^icictatem  a  societate  Moa  15  ego 
■emper  Ka  semper  ego  on 


122  C.  PUNI  GAECILI  SECVNDI   64.  (IX.  18) 

alius,  *8ciamu8  quis  sit  de  quo  extra  ordinem  referae'^ 
alius,  'quis  est  ante  relationem  reus?'  alius,  'salui 

8  simus,  qui  supcrsumus.'     audio  imperturbatus,  inter- 
ritus :  tantum  susceptae  rei  honestas  ualet^  tantumque 
ad  fiduciam  uel  metum  differt,  nolint  homines  quod   S 
facias  an  non  probent. 

Longum  est  omnia  quae  tunc  hinc  inde  iaota  sunt 

9recensere.  nouissime  consul,  'Secunde,  sententiae 
loco  dices,  si  quid  uolueris.'  'permiseras'  inquam 
*quod  usque  adhuc  omnibus  permisisti.'  resMo  :  lo 
lOaguntur  alia,  interim  me  quidam  ex  consularibus 
amicis  secreto  curatoque  sermone,  quasi  nimis  fortiter 
incautequo  progressum,  corripit,  reuocat^  monet  ut 
desistam,  adicit  etiam  notabilem  me  futuris  princi- 

11  pibus.  *esto'  inquam,  'dum  malis.'  uix  ille  diaces- 15 
aerat,  rursus  alter,  'quid  audest  quo  ruist  quibus  te 
periculis  obicis  t  quid  praesentibus  confidis,  incertus 
futuronim  t  laoessis  hominem  iam  praefectum  aenurii 
et  breui  consulcm,  praeterea  qua  gratia,  quibus 
amicitiis  fultum  ! '  nominat  qucndam,  qui  tunc  ad  20 
orientem  amplissimum  et    fiunoeissinium  exercitum 

12  non  sine  niagiiis  dubiisque  rumoribus  obtincbat.    ad 
haec  ^;o,  *  '*  omnia  praeoqu  atque  animo  mecum  ante.i^^  ^ 
peregi,"    nee    rccuso,  si    ita    casus  attulorit,   luere 
|K>enas  oh  honestissimum  factum,  dum  flagitiodssimum  25 
ukiscor.* 

13  lam  ccnsi'udi  tem|ms.     dicit  Domitius  A|ioIlinaris, 

7  iftcu  ova  fsuctM  ■  9  permiaens  P  IS  Mcar«toi|iic  P 
t3U  nonuiiA  <|U;u*  nwgnis  «lulMiaM|ue  {cm,  a//  htttrttm)  ■  time  a 
UUM  «a  :2I  ct  fAHKMissuiiuin  a,  om.  on  ±i  ninKMrtbiis  Ha 
•crmouibus  ou    :23  pncoepi  MM  pu'otpi  fk    28  «lanBr  P 


6i.  (IX.  13)        EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  123 

consul  designatus,  dicit  Fabricius  Veiento,  Fabius 
Maximinus,  Vettius  Proculus,  collega  Public!  Certi 
de  quo  agebatur,  uxoris  meae  quam  amiseram  uitricus, 
post  hos  Ammius  Flaccus.  omnes  Certum  nondum  a 
5  me  nominatum  ut  nominatum  defendunt,  crimenque 
quasi  in  medio  relictum  defensione  suscipiunt.  quae  14 
praeterea  dixerint  non  est  necesse  narrare :  in  libris 
habes ;  sum  enim  cuncta  ipsorum  uerbis  persecutus. 
Dicunt  contra  Auidius  Quietus,  Cornutus  Tertullus:  15 

ID  Quietus,  iniquissimum   esse  querelas   dolentium   ex-     ^ 
cludi,  ideoque  Arriae  et   Fanniae  ius  querendi  non 
auferendum,  nee  interesse  cuius  ordinis  quis  sit,  sed 
quam  causam  habeat :  Cornutus,  datum  se  a  consul ibus  16 
tutorem  Heluidi  filiae  pctentibus  matre  eius  et  uitrico; 

15  nunc  quoque  non  sustinere  deserere  officii  sui  partes, 
in  quo  tamen  et  suo  dolori  modum  imponere  et  opti- 
marum  feminarum  perferrc  modestissimum  adfectum  ; 
quas  contentas  esse  admonere  senatum  Publici  Certi 
cruentae  adulationis  et  petere,  si  poena  flagitii  mani- 

20  festissimi  remittatur,  notii  certe  quasi  censoria  inu- 
ratur.    turn  Satrius  Rufus  medio  ambiguoque  sermone  17 
*  puto '  inquit  *  iniuriam  faetam  Publicio  Certo,  si  non 
absoluitur:  nominatus  est  ab  amicis  Arriae  ct  Fanniae, 
nominatus  ab  amicis  suis.     nee  dcbemus  sollieiti  esse ; 

25  iidcni  enim  nos,  <|in  bene  sentimus  de  honiine,  iudi- 
catui-i   sumus :    si   innocens    est,    sicut    ct   spero   ct 

2  maximinus   M    Posthnminus   a   postimius   o   postimiis   u 

3  uxoris  meae  M  uxoris  autem  meae  oufa  9  Auidius  om.  M 
10  Quietus  otn.  oua.  a'/'/.  M  20  certe  Mu  Certo  oa  25  iu<li- 
caturi  ooa  ct  iudicaturi  M  26  sicut  (sicuti  a)  et  spero  oua 
sicut  spero  M 


124  C.  PUNI  CAECILI  SECVNDI    64.  (IX.  13) 

malo,    et   donee   aliquid    probetur,    credo,    poteritis 
absoluere.' 

18  Haec  illi,  quo  quisque  ordine  citabantur.     uenitur 
ad  me  :    consurgo,   utor  initio  quod  in  libro  est» 
respondeo  singulis,     mirum  qua  intentione,  quibus   5 
clamoribus  omnia  exceperint  qui  modo  reclamabant: 
tanta  conuersio  uel  negotii  dignitatem,  uel  prouentum 

19  orationis,  uel  actons  constantiam  subsecuta  est.  finio: 
incipitrespondereVeiento:  nemo  patitur:  obturbatur, 
obstrepitur,  adeo  quidem  ut  diceret  'rogo,  patres  lo 
conscripti,  ne  me  cogatis  implorare  auxilium  tribu- 
norum.'  et  statim  Murena  tribunus  'permitto  tibi, 
uir  clarissime  Veiento,  dicere.'     Tunc  quoque  recla- 

20matur.      inter    moras    consul    citatis  nominibus  et 
peracta  discessione  mittit  senatum,  ac  paene  adhuc  15 
stantem  temptantemque  dicere  Veientonem  relinquit. 
multum  ille  de  hac  (ita  uocabat)  contumelia  questus 
est  Homerico  uersu 

21  Non  fere  quisquam  in  senatu  fuit  qui  non  me  com-  20 
plecteretur,  cxoscularetur,  certatimque  laude  cumu- 
laret,  quod  intermissum  iam  diu  morcm  in  publicum 
consulendi  susceptis  propriis  simultatibus  rcduxisseni, 
quod  (lcni<iue  senatum  inuidia  liherasscm,  qua 
flagnibat  apud  oixlincs  alios,  quod  seucrus  in  ceteros  25 
senatoribus  solis  dissimulationc  quasi  mutua  i>arceret. 

22  Hacc  acta  sunt  absente  Ccrto ;  fait  ciiim  scu  tale 
aliquid  suspicatus,  sine,  ut  excusabatur,  infirmus.     et 

16  reliiKjuit  oa  rcliquit  a  reliquid  M    20  non  me  Ka  me  non 
on    22  iam  ICa  Um  ou 


65.  (IX.  19)       EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  125 

relationem  quidem  de  eo  Caesar  ad   senatura  non 
remisit :  obtinui  tamen  quod  intenderam ;  nam  coUega  23 
Certi  consulatum,  successorem  Certus  accepit,  plane- 
que  fectum  est  quod  dixeram  in  fine,  *  reddat  prae- 
5  mium  sub  optimo  principe  quod  a  pessimo  accepit.' 
Postea  actionem  meam,  utcumque  potui,  recoUegi, 
addidi  multa.     accidit  fortuitum,  sed  non  tanquam  24 
fortuitum,  quod  editis  libris  Certus  intra  paucissimos 
dies  implicitus  morbo  decessit.      audiui    referentes  25 

lo  banc  imaginem  menti  eius,  banc  oculis  oberrasse,  tan- 
quam uideret  me  sibi  cum  ferro  imminere.  uerane 
haec  adfirmare  non  ausim ;  interest  tamen  exempli  ut 
uera  uideantur. 

Habes  epistulam,  si  modum  epistulae  cogites,  libris  26 

15  quos  legisti  non  minorem ;  sed  imputabis  tibi,  qui 
contentus  libris  non  fuisti.     uale. 


"65.    (IX.  19.) 
C.  PLINIVS  RVSONI  SVO  S. 

Significas  Icgisse  te  in  quadam  epistula  mca  iussissc 
20  Verginium  Rufum  inscribi  sepulcro  suo, 

Hie  situs  est  Kufus,  pulso  qui  Vindice  quondam 
imperium  a<lseruit  non  sil)i  sed  patriae, 
rcprclicndis  (juod  iusserit,  addis  etiam  melius  recti  us- 
que Frontinum,  quod  uetuerit  omnino  monimentuui 

11  uideret  me  sibi  cum  ferro  imminere  M  uideret  Hcluidium 
res{)ondcre  mihi  oua 

65    IS   Uvsoxi  a  (cf.   VI.  23.  3,  3)  ruponio  M  Ihiflnni  0 
Rufoni  u    2(1  Verginium  o  Vcrginuni  a  uirginiuni  Mu^ 


126  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDI  65.  (IX.  19) 

sibi  fieri,  meque  ad  extremum  quid  de  utroque  sentiam 
consulis. 

2  Utrumque  dilexi,  miratus  sum  magis  quem  tu  repro- 
hendis,  atque  ita  miratus,  ut  non  putarem  satis  un- 
quam  laudari  posse  cuius  nunc  mihi  subeunda  defensio   ! 

3  est.  omnes  ego  qui  magnum  aliquid  memorandum- 
que  fecerunt  non  modo  uenia  uenim  etiam  laude 
dignissimos  iudico,  si  immortalitatem  quam  meruere 
sectantur,  uicturique  nominis  famam  supremis  etiam 
titulis  prorogare  nituntur.  ic 

4  Nee  facile  quenquam  nisi  Verginium  inuenio  cuius 
tanta  in  praedicando  uerecundia,  quanta  gloria  ex 

5  facto,  ipse  sum  testis,  familiariter  ab  eo  dilectus 
probatusque,  semel  omnino  me  audiente  prouectum  ut 
de  rebus  suis  hoc  unum  referret,  ita  secum  aliquando  15 
Cluuium  locutum,  *  scis,  Vergini,  quae  historiae  fides 
debeatur :  proinde  si  quid  in  historiis  meis  legis  aliter 
ac  uelis,  rogo  ignoscas.'  ad  hoc  ille,  *tune  ignoras, 
Cluui,  ideo  me  fecisse  quod  feci,  ut  csset  liberum 
nobis  scribere  quae  libuisset  ? '  20 

6  Age  dum,  hunc  ipsum  Frontinum  in  hoc  ipso  in  quo 
tibi  parcior  uidetur  et  pressior  comparemus.  uetuit 
exstrui  monimentum:  sed  quibus  uerbis?  Mmpensa 
monimenti  superuacua  est :  memoria  nostri  diirabit,  .si 
uiUi  meruimus.*  an  rcstrictius  arbitraris  per  oibcni  25 
tcrrarum  Icgendnm  dare  duratiiram  mcmoriani  suani, 
quam   uno   in   loco   duobus  uorsi<ulis   .signare   (|UO<l 

f  eccris  1 

4  adquc  ita  miratus  M  miratus  atf]uc  ita  a  atf|ue  miraris  on 
r>  laudari  posao  a  |)o«rc  laudari  Mou  11  Ver>:iniuni  oa 
uirginium  Ma     IS  ucVia  M  nclles  oaa    *Jl)  uoliis  Mfa  nnhis  on 


M.  (IX.  21)        EPKTVLAE  SELBCTAE.  1^ 

Quanquam  non  habeo  propositom  ilium  reprehen-  7 
dendi,  sed  hunc  tuendi:  cuius  quae  potest  apud  te 
iustior  esse  defensio,  quam  ex  oolladone  eius  quern 
praetulisti  ?  meo  quidem  iudicio  neuter  culpandus,  8 
5  quorum  uterque  ad  gloriam  pari  cupiditate,  diuerso 
itinere  contendit,  alter,  dum  expetit  debitos  titulos, 
alter,  dum  mauult  uideri  contempsisse.     uale. 

ec    (IX.  21.) 
C.  PLINIVS  SABINIANO  SVO  S. 

ID      Libertus  tuus,  cui  suscenscre  te  dixeras,  uenit  ad  1 
me,  aduolutusque  pedibus  nieis  tanquam  tuis  haesit. 
fleuit  multum,  inultum  rogauit,  multum  etiam  tacuit ; 
in  summa,  fecit  mihi  fidem  paenitentiac.     uere  credo 
emendatum,  quia  deliquisse  se  sentit. 

15      Irasceris  ;  scio :  et  irasceris  merito ;  id  quoque  scio :  2 
sed  tunc  praecipiia  mansuetudinis  laus,  cum  irac  causa 
iustissima  est.    amasti  hominem  et,  spero,  amabis :  in-  3 
terim  sufficit  ut  cxorari  te  sinas.    licebit  nirsus  irasci, 
si  merucrit,  quod  exoratus  excusatius  fiicics.    reniitte 

20  aliquid  adulescentiae  ipsius,  remitte  lacrimis,  remitte 
indulgentiae  tuac.  ne  torseris  ilium,  ne  toi-seris  etiam 
te ;  torqueris  enim,  cum  tam  lenis  irasceris. 

Vercor  ne  uidcar  non  rogare  sed  cogerc,  si  precibus  4 
eius  nieas  iunxero.     iungam  tanien  tanto  plenius  et 

25  cflusius,  «[uaiito  ipsum  acrius  seucriusque  coiri])ui, 
destricte  miiiatus  nun(iuam  me  postea  rogatuiiun. 
hoc  illi,  (pieui  terreri  oportcbat,  tibi  non  idem  :  nam 
foiUissc  iteruni  rogabo,  ituruni  impetrabo;  sic  niodo 
tale  ut  rogare  me,  ut  pracstare  tv  deeoat.     uale. 

66  21  tnae  Mo,  oni.  oa     2S  itcrum  iin|)etralMi  na  impctralx) 
item  111  Mo 


128  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SFXfVNDI    67.  (IX.  M) 

•67.    (IX.  23.) 
C.  PLINIVS  MAXIMO  SVO  S. 

1  Frequenter  agenti  mihi  euenit  ut  centumuiri,  cum 
diu  se  intra  iudicum  auctoritatem  grauitatemque 
tenuissent,  omnes  repente  quasi  uicti  ooactique  oon-  5 

2  surgerent  laudarentque ;  frequenter  e  senatu  famam, 
qualem  maxime  optaueram,  rettuli ;  nunquam  tamen 
maiorem  cepi  uoluptatem,  quam  nuper  ex  sermone 
CJomeli  Taciti.  narrabat  sedisse  secum  circensibus 
proximis  equitem  Romanum :  hunc  post  uarios  erudi- 10 
tosque  sermones  requisisse  *Italicus  es  an  prouincialisf 

3  se  respondisse  '  nosti  me,  et  quidem  ex  studiis.'  ad 
hoc  ilium,  *  Tacitus  es  an  Pliniusl'    exprimere  non 

\      possum  quam  sit  iucundum  mihi  quod  nomina  nostra, 
quasi  litterarum  propria,  non  hominum,  litteris  red- 15 
duntur,  quod  uterque  nostrum  his  etiam  ex  studiis 

l^     notus  quibus  aliter  ignotus  est. 

4  Accidit  aliud  ante  pauculos  dies  simile,   recumbebat 
mecum  uir  egregius,  Fadius  Rufinus,  super  eum  muni- 
ceps  ipsius,  qui  illo  die  primum  uenerat  in  url)em ;  cui  20 
Rufinus,  demonstrans  me, '  uides  hunc  ? '  multa  deinde 
do  studiis  nostris :  et  ille  *  Plinius  est '  inquit. 

5  Verum  fatebor,  capio  magnum  laboi'is  mci  fructum. 
an,  si  Demosthenes  iure  laetiitus  est  quod  ilium  anus 

67  4  iudicum  BerocUdwt  iudicium  Mooa  9  narrabat  ... 
Romanum  (om.  secum  on)  oua  narra))at  sedisse  sccum 
(|Uo<lam  circensibus  proximis  M  17  alitor  a  alter  Mou  19 
f:u1iuR  M  6diua  a  falnus  ou  (rf,  C.  Fabius  Rufinus  Lucillus  in 
ihUl,  Ih(.  Arch.  7670,  ;>.  4-5) 


69.  (IX.  33)        EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  129 

Attica  ita  noscitauit,  oStos  co-rt  ^rjfjLoarSevif;,  ego  cele- 
britate  nominis  mei  gaud  ere  iioi»  debeo  1  ego  uero  et 
gaudeo  et  gaudere  nic  dico.  neque  eiiim  uereor  nc  6 
iactantior  uidear,  cum  do  me  aliorum  iudicium,  iioii 
5  meum  profero,  praesertim  apud  te,  qui  nee  ullius 
inuides  laudibus  et  faues  nostris.     uale. 


68.  (IX.  24.) 

C.  PLINIVS  SABINIANO  SVO  S. 

Bene  fecieti  quod  libertum  aliquando  tibi  carum 
lo  reducentibus  epistulis  meis  in  domum,  in  aninium 
recepisti.  iuuabit  hoc  te :  me  certe  iuuat ;  primum, 
quod  te  tarn  tractabilem  uideo  ut  in  ira  regi  possis, 
deinde,  quod  tantum  mihi  tribuis  ut  uel  auctoritati 
meae  pareas  uel  precibus  indulgeas.  igitur  et  laudo 
,5  et  gratias  ago.  simul  in  posteruni  moneo  ut  te  errori- 
bus  tuorum,  etsi  non  fuerit  qui  deprecetur  placabilem 
pracstes.     uale. 

69.  (IX.  33.) 

C.  PLINIVS  CANINIO  SVO  S. 

20      Inci<li    in  materiani   ucram,  sod  similliniani  fictae  1 
dignamquc  isto  laetissinio,  altissinio,  planc<|ue  poetieo 
ingcnio,    incidi     auteni,    dum     supiM*    cciuun     unria 

1  noscitauit  Mou  dcmonRtrauit  a 

68  1*2  tani  tractuliilcm  Mou  tiilcm  a    13  <|iio<1  oua  c|uuni  M 
14  et  laiido  et  oua  lau<1o  et  M     (M  ftreakM  ajTiu  IX.  Jfi.  S) 

60  21   isto  laetifvtimo  a  sclioliisti<Mi  (sco-  u)  ou 

I 


130  C.  PUNI  CAECIU  SECVNDI   eO.  (DLSS) 

miracula  hinc  inde  ref enintur.  magna  auctori  fides : 
tametsi  quid  poetae  cum  fide?  is  tamen  auctor  cui 
bene  uel  historiam  scripturus  credidisses. 
i  Est  in  Africa  Hipponensis  colonia,  man  proxima: 
adiacet  ei  nauigabile  stagnum:  ex  hoc  in  modum  5 
fluminis  aestuarium  emergit,  quod  nice  altema»  proat 
aestus  aut  repressit  aut  impulit,  nunc  infertur  man, 

3  nunc  redditur  stagno.    omnis  hie  aetas  piscandi,  nam- 
gandi,  atque  etiam  natandi  studio  tenetur,  maxime 
pueri,  quos  otium  lususque  sollicitat.    his  gloria  et  to 
uirtus  altissime  prouehi;  uictor  ille  qui  longissime 

4  ut  litus  ita  simul  natantes  reliquit.  hoc  certamine 
puer  quidam  audentior  ceteris  in  ulteriora  tendebat 
delphinus  occurrit,  et  nunc  praecedere  puerum,  nunc 
sequi,  nunc  circumire,  postremo  subire,  deponere,  ite-  iS 
rum  subire  trepidantemque  perferre  primum  in  altum, 
mox  flectit  ad  litus,  redditque  terrae  et  aequalibus. 

5  serpit  per  coloniam  f ama :  concurrere  omnes,  ipsum 
puerum  tanquam  miraculum  adspicere,  interrogare, 
audirc,  narrare.  postero  die  obsident  litus,  prospe-  «> 
ctant  mare  et  si  quid  est  mari  simile,  natant  pueri : 
inter  hos  ille,  sed  cautius.  delphinus  nirsus  ad  tern- 
pus,  rursus  ad  puerum.  f ugit  ille  cum  ceteris,  delphi- 
nus, quasi  inuitet,  reuocct,  exsilit,  mergitur,  uariosque 

6  orbcs   implicitat   cxpeditque.       hoc  altcro  die,  hoc  25 
tcrtio,  hoc  phiribus,  donee  homines  innutritos  mari 
subiret    timendi    pudor.     acccdunt   et    adludunt   et 

1  anctori  on  autoris  a  5  ci  a,  om.  on  ex  hoc  ouF  quod  a 
10  hisusquc  sollicitat  ou  liulu8<{nc  solicitant  a  14  occurrit  a 
iucurrit  on  21  mari]  mariiKi  anon,  i»  Phil.  Am.  xiii.  fW>)^ 
24  inuitet  a  inuita  et  o  inuit4>t  <a  u 


89.  (IX.  33)        EPISTVLAE  SELBCTAE.  131 

appellant,  tangunt  etiam  pertrectantque  praehentcm. 
crescit  audacia  expcrimento.  maxime  puer  qui  priintis 
expertus  est  adnatat  naiiti,  insilit  tergo,  fei'tur  rcfer- 
turque,  agnosci  se,  amari  putat,  amat  ipse :  neuter 
5  timet,  neuter  timetur :  huius  fidueia,  mansuetudo  illius 
augetur.  nee  non  alii  pueri  dextra  laeuaque  simul  7 
eunt  hortantes  monentesque.  ibat  una  (id  quoque 
minim)  delphinus  alius,  tan  turn  spectator  et  comes, 
nihil   enim  simile  aut  faciebat  aut  patieliatur,  sed 

loalterum  ilium  ducebat,  reducebat,  ut  pucrum  ceteri 
pueri.     incredibile,  tam  uerum  tamen  quam  priora,    8 
delphinum  gestatorem    collusoremque   puerorum   in 
terram  quoque  extrahi  solitum,  harenisque  siccatum, 
ubi  incaluisset,  in  mare  reuolui.     constat  Octauium   9 

15  Auitum,  legatum  proconsulis,  in  litus  educto  religione 
praua  superfudisse  unguentum,  cuius  ilium  nouitatem 
odoremque  in  altum  refugisse,  nee  nisi  post  multos 
dies  uisum  languidum  et  maestum,  mox  redditis  uiri- 
bus  pi'iorem  lasciuiam  et  solita  ministeria  ro|X3tisse. 

20  confiucljant  ad  spcctaculum  omnes  magistmtus,  cpio- 10 
rum  aduentu  et  moi-a  modica  res  publica  nouis  sum- 
ptibus  atterebatur.    postremo  locus  ipse  quietcm  suam 
sccretumque  perdebat.     placuit  occulte  interfici  ad 
quod  coibatur. 

1  pracl)entcni  a  praccnntcm  o  porcnntem  u  praelH'iitoin  so 
MomtUHcn  3  adnatat  iiaiiti  insilit  a  aainatanti  (a<I-  u)  insiliit 
ergo  on  adnatanli  insiliit  torgo  f  adnatat  natanti,  insilit  tcriro 
<*orthiH  adnatantis  insilit  tergo  Sirfianliu*  10  re<hicfl»at  a 
rcduce1»at4{ne  on  15  pniconsulis  fa  •  prficon  00  17  <Mlor- 
cnKpio  a8]>ernatuni  in  altum  KeM  20  ad  siHicUiculuni  nnin«'sa 
otnncR  ad  MixTtJicidmn  00     23  (iccultc'  ou  Rccret<*  a 


132  C.  PLINI  CAECILT  SECVNDI    69.  (IX.  33) 

11      Hacc  tu  qua  miseratione,  qua  copia  deflebis,  orna- 
bis,  iittx)lles  !    quanquam  non  est  opus  adfingas  ali(iirid 
aut  adstruas:  sufficit  ne  ea  quae  sunt  uera  minuautur. 
~       uale. 


70.    (IX.  36.)  5 

C.  PLINIVS  FVSCO  SVO  S. 

1  Quaeris  quem  ad  modum  in  Tuscis  diem  aestate 
disponam.  euigilo  cum  libuit,  pleramque  circa  horam 
primam,  saepe  ante,  tardius  raro.    clausae  fenestrae 

2  manent :  mire  enim  silentio  et  tenebris  ab  iis  quae  lo 
auocant  abductus,  et  liber  et  mihi  relictus,  non  oculos 
animo  sed  animum  oculis  sequor,  qui  eadem  quae 
mens  uident,  quotiens  non  uident  alia,  cogito,  si 
quid  in  manibus,  cogito  ad  uerbum  scribenti  emen- 
dantique  similis,  nunc  pauciora  nunc  plura,  ut  uel  15 
difficile  uel  facile  componi  teneriue  potuerunt.  nota- 
rium  uoco,  et  die  admisso  quae  formaueram  dicto : 

3  alut,  rursusque  reuocatur,  rursusque  remittitur,  ubi 
hora  quarta  uel  quinta  (neque  enim  certum  dimcn- 
sumque  tempus),  ut  dies  suasit,  in  xystum  me  uel  20 
cryptoporticum  confero,  reliqua  meditor  et  dicto. 
uchiculum  ascendo :  ibi  quoiiuc  idem  ([uod  ambulans 
aut  iiicens:  durat  intentio  niutationc  ipsa  refocta. 
paulum    rcdormio,    deiu     ambulo,     niox    oratio?iom 

"^    Oracciim  liatinamuc  clarc  et  intento,  non  Uim  uoeis  25 
causa  quaiiJ^stomachi    le^o :    iKuiter   tamen   et   ilia 

a  adstruas  ou  striias  a 

70  IS  remittitur  a  «liinittittir  ou    2-2  il.i  a  til.i  ou    2«  Iciro 
finnatur  om.  on,  a/W.  a  ^^ 

,     .  ■'  ■  ^tsS-        ..-^ 


71.  (IX.  39)        EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  1.33 

firmatur.  itcrum  ambulo,  uiigor,  excrceor,  lauor. 
cenanti  mihi,  si  cum  uxorc  uel  paucis,  lil>cr  li'gitiir:  4 
post  ceuam  comoedus  aut  lyristes :  mox  cum  mciH 
ambulo,  quorum  in  numero  sunt  eruditi.  iUi  uariiH 
5  sermonibus  uespera  extenditur,  et  quanquani  longiM 
simus  dies  cito  conditur. 

Non    nunquam   ex  hoc   ordine  aliqua   mutantur.  6 
nam  si  diu  iacui  ucl  ambulaui,  post  sominun  d<5iuuni 
lectioncmque  non   uehiculo  sod,  quod  brcuiuH  quia 

lo  uelocius,  equo  gestor.    intcrueniunt  amici  ex  proxiiniH 
oppidis,  partemquo  diei  ad  se  trahuiit,  interdinnijue 
lassato    mihi   opportuna   interpcnatione   «ubucniuiit. 
uenor  aliiiuiindo,  sod  non  sine  pugillaribus,  ut,  (|uam  6 
uis  nihil  ccpeiim,  non  nihil  referam.    datur  et  vaAoiiih^ 

■  5  ut  uidetur  ipsis,  non  satis  tem[x>ri8,  (|U()rum  nn'hi 
agrestes  queiehie  litteius  nostras  et  haec  urbana  opera 
commendant.     uale.  j 

71.    (IX.  39.) 
C.  PLINIVS  MV8TI0  8V0  S. 

2o      Haruspicum  monitu  reficienda  est  mihi  ae<leK  Cero- 1 
ris  in  praediis  in  melius  et  in  mains,  uetus  s^ine  ct 
angusta,    cum   sit   alioijui    stato   <lie  freiiuentissima. 
nam  Idibus  Scptombribus  magnus  e  regione  tota  coit  2 
popuhis,  nniltai;  res  aguntur,  mului  uota  suscipimitur, 

25  mult'i  redduntur.     srd  nullum  in  proximo  sufl'ugium 

-  si  cum  ou  sii*  «nm  a  iiiiii  F  3  crmuKMlus  Sichnrdiit  {rf.  I. 
I't.  J)  coiiKMiIi  F  4-<»iii<M  <liii  o  «■oiiiiMliaiii  u  (i  cito  onii<Iitur  a 
U:iic  coiiditur  ou  vito  cliiiHliliir  F  S  iacui  r  lucui  oua  U  «juia 
a  quod  ou     1*J  laa^Kito  a  latwo  ou 


134  C.  PLINI  GASaLI  8BGVNDI    71.  (IX.  S9) 

8  aut  imbi-is  aut  soils,  uideor  ergo  munifice  simul  reli- 
gioseque  facturus,  si  aedem  quam  pulcherrimam  ex- 
stnixero,  addidero  porticus  aedi,  illam  ad  usum  deae, 
has  ad  hominum. 

Velim  ergo  emas  quattuor  marmoreas  columnas,  5 
cuius  tibi  uidebitur  generis,  emas  mannora,  quibus 

4  solum,  quibus  parietes  exoolantur.  erit  etiam  uel 
faciendum  uel  emendum  ipsius  •  deae  signum,  quia 
antiquum  illud  e  ligno  quibusdam  sui  partibus  uetu- 
state  truncatum  est.  i<> 

5  Quantum  ad  porticus,  nihil  interim  occurrit  quod 
uideatur  istinc  esse  repetendum;  nisi  tamen  ut  formam 
secundum  rationem  loci  scribas.  neque  enim  possunt 
circumdari  templo;  nam  solum  templi  hinc  flumine 

6  et  abruptissimis  ripis,  hinc  uia  cingitur.     est  ultra  i5 
uiam  latissimum  pratum,   in  quo  satis  apte  contra 
templum  ipsum  porticus  explicabuntur ;  nisi  quid  tu 
melius  inueneris,  qui  soles  locorum  difficultates  arte 
superare.     uale. 

72.    (IX.  40.)  20 

C.  PLINIVS  PVSCO  SVO  S. 

1  Scribis  |)crgratas  tibi  fuissc  litteras  meas,  quibus 
cogiiouisti  «juem  ad  modum  in  Tuscis  otium  aostatis 
cxigtinini :  reqniris  quid  ox  hoc  in  lijiurentino  hicme 

2  iwiTiiiitom.     nihil,  nisi  quod   mcridiaiuis  somnus  ex-  25 
iniitur,  niultunuino  de  noctc  uol  unte  uol  post  diem 

71  7  lU'l  fiu*i<'ii<Iuiii  iK'I  oninuliitii  a  faoiomluin  ou  9  Hiii 
partilMis  iiiMiistatc  a  uctiiKtate  Mtii  |NirliliU8  on  I.S  iM»88Uiit 
iMrcuiidari  tciiiplo  a  pussuiu  circuiularu  toiiiplo  ou 


72.  (IX.  40)    EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  135 

siimitur,  et  si  agendi  necessitas  instat,  quae  frcqiiens 
hieme,  non  iam  comoedo  iiel  lyristae  post  cciiam 
locus,  sed  ilia  quae  dictaui  identidem  retractantur,  ac 
simul  memoriae  frequenti  emendatione  proficitur. 
5  habes  aestate,  hieme  consuetudinora  :  nunc  addas  hue  3 
licet  uer  et  autumnum,  quae  inter  hiemcm  aestatem- 
que  media,  ut  nihil  de  die  perdunt,  de  nocte  paruulum 
adquirunt.     uale. 

72  4  prospicitur  Momm-^en  5  nunc  addas  hue  licet  uer  et 
autumnum  quae  Casauhon  {a/t.  Lectius)  Modiun  non  addas 
hue  licet  nere  (nere  om.  a)  tantumnum  quae  oua  coUigas  hinc 
licet  uer  et  autumnum  quae  Mommsen  6  hiemem  aestatem- 
que  media  Modin^  hiemem  (hy-  a)  aestatemqne  mediam  fa 
hiemem  statim  aestatemque  mediam  ou  7  perdant  KeU  \it 
nihil  de  die  perdunt  ita  de  nocte  Modiua  aut  nihil  dc  die 
perdunt  aut  de  nocte  Mommsen 


136  a  PLINl  CAECILI  SECVNDI       78.  (X.  1) 

LIBER   X. 
(AD  TRAIANVM.) 

73.    (X.  1.)  ""i 

C.  PLINIVS  TRAIANO  IMPERATORI 

1  Tiia  quiclem  pictas,  imperator  sanctissime,  opta-  5 
uorat  ut  quam  tardissime  succederes  patri;  sed  di  • 
inimortales  fostinaueriuit  iiirtutes  tuas  ad  gubemacula 

2  roi  publicae  quam  suscepcras  admouore.     precor  ergo 
ut  tibi  et  per  te  generi  humaiio  prospera  omnia,  id 
est  (ligua  sacculo   tuo,   contingant.      fortcm   to  et  10 
hilarcm,  imperator  optime,  et  priuatim  et  publico  opto. 

*  74.    (X.  2.) 
C.  PLINIVS  TUAIANO  IMPERATORI. 

1  Exprimerc,  domine,   uerbis  non  possum  quantum 
mihi  gaudiuni  attulcris,  (|Uod  me  dignum  putasti  iurc  15 
triiun  liberorum.     quamuis  enim  luli  Seruiani,  optimi 
uiri  tuique   amantissimi,   precil>u8  indulseris,  tamen 
otiani  ex  rescripto  iiitellego  li])entius  hoc  ei  te  prac- 

2  stitissc,  <|uia  pro  me  rogalmt.     nidcor  ergo  summam 
uoti  nioi  coMsocutus,  ciun  int(M'  initia  felicissimi  pnii-  20 
(•ipatus  tiii  probaucM'is  mo  ad  ]KM-Jiliaivm  iiidul^eiitiam 
tuam  ])ortiMori» :  (mmjuc  mairis  HImtos  conciijn^fo,  (pios 
liabciT  rtiain  illo  tristissiino  siicculo  noliii,  siciit  |M)trs 

3  duobus  uiatriinoiiiis  lucis  crodcro.     .sed  di  melius,  ({ui 


76.  (X.  3b)  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  137 

omnia  Integra  iMjiiitati  tuac  rescrimruiit.  nialuere 
hoc  potius  tempore  mc  patrem  fieri,  quo  futurus 
cssem  ct  securus  et  felix. 

75.  (X.  3a  [20].) 

5  C.  PLINIVS  TRAIANO  IMPERATORI. 

Ut  primiim  me,  clomine,  indulgentia  nostra  pro- 1 
mouit    iid    praefecturam    aerarii    Satunii,    omnibus 
aclnocationi])us,  quibus  alioqui   nunquam   eram  pro- 
miscue  functus,  renuntiaui,   ut  toto  animo  delegate 

lo  mihi  officio  uacarem.     qua  ex  caus«i,  cum  patronum  2 
me  prouinciales  optassent  C(jntra  Marium  Priscum,  et 
petii  ueniam  hnins  munoiis  et  impotraui.     scd  cum 
lK)stea  consul  dcsignatus  censuisset  agendum  nobis- 
cum,  quorum  erat  excusatio  reccpta,  ut  essemus  in 

15  senatus   potestate    patcremnrque    uomina  nostra   in 
urnam  conici,  conuenientissimum  esse  tranquillitati 
saeculi  tui  putaui,  praesertim  tam  moderatae,  uohintati 
ami)lissimi  ordinis  non  repugnare.     cui  obsequio  meo  3 
opto  ut  existimes  constare  rationem,  cum  omnia  facta 

20  dictatjue  mea  prolmre  sanctissimis  moribus  tuis  cupiam. 

76.  (X.  3b  [21].) 
TKAIANVS  PLIMO. 

Kt  ciuis  et  sonatori>;  Imhii  partibus  functu.s  es  obsc- 
quiuin  aniplis.simi   onlinis,  quod   instis.sime  exigelwit, 
25  pracstando.     quas    |Kirte.^   impleturum    te  secundum 
snscrptnm  fidenj  confido 

74    I    iii.il  tU'tc  /.  A.   I\ni*slhi^  Ilia  I II  i  a 

76   13  censuisset  agciuluin  Oruic/un  cciisui^^cb  lacciiJiiiu  a 


l»H  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDl       77.  (X.  8) 


77.    (X.  8  [24].) 
C.  PLINIVS  TRAIANO  IMPERATOHI. 

1  Duin  diuus  pater  tuus,  domine,  et  oratione  pul- 
chorrima  et  honestissimo  exemplo  omnes  ciues  ad 
munificontiam  esset  cohortatus,  petii  ab  eo  ut  statuas  5 
priiicipum,  quas  in  longinquis  agris  per  plures  suc- 
cossiones  traditas  mihi  quales  aeceperam  custodiebam, 
pcnnitteret    in    municipium   transferre  adiecta  sua 

2  ttatua ;  quod  ille  mihi  cum  plenissimo  teatimonio  in- 
duUerat.     ego    statim    decurionibus    scripseram    ut  10 
mlHigiiaront  solum  in  quo  tcmplum  pecunia  mea  ex- 
Htruorcni ;  illi  in  houorem  operis  ipsius  electionem  loci 

3  mihi  obtulerant.     sed  primum  mea,  deinde  patris  tui 
ualotudine,  postea  curis  delegati  a  nobis  officii  retentus, 
nunc  uideor  commodissime  posse  in  rem  praesentem  15 
exourrere.      nam    et    menstruum    meum    Kalendis 
Soptombribus  finitur  et  sequens  mensis  complures 

4  dies  feriatos  habet.  rogo  ergo  ante  omnia  permittas 
mihi  opus  quod  iiicohaturus  sum  exomare  et  tua 
•Uitua,  doiiide,  ut  hoc  facere  quam  maturissime  pos-  ao 

t  aim,  indulgeas  commeatum.  non  est  autem  simplici- 
tatiH  meac  dissimulaix»  apud  lK)nitatem  tuam  obiter 
to  phu'inuun  collaturum  utiliUitibus  rei  familiaris 
miMio.  agmrum  enini  (|uos  in  widem  regione  possidoo 
ItHUtio,  cum  alio<|ui  r(vc  exco<lat,  adco  non  potest  25 
diOVni  ut  proximani  putAtiouem  nouns colonns  faccrc 

VV  1)  <|U«m1«|U('  illc  Oa  <|U(m1  ouiu  illc  Orutenis  1*2  in 
h<>iH>rt'iu  Corf  ins  in  bonoiv  a  H»  Kalendis  SoptcnibrihuK  0 
Kal  W|)U;uibri8  a    25  locutiu  cum  C*a/.-  lucutiuucui  0& 


79.  (X.  12)         EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  139 

debeat.  praeterea  continuae  sterilitates  cogunt  me 
de  remissionibus  cogitare,  quarum  rationem  nisi  prae- 
sens  inire  iion  possum,  debebo  ergo,  domine,  indul-  6 
gentiae  tuae  et  pietatis  meae  celeritatem  et  status 
5  ordinationem,  si  mihi  ob  utraque  haec  dederis  com- 
meatum  tnginta  dierum.  neque  enim  angustius 
tempus  praefinire  possum,  cum  et  municipium  et 
agri  lie  quibus  locjuor  sint  ultra  centensimum  ct 
quinquagensimum  lapidem. 


10  78.    (X.  9  [25].) 

TRAIANVS  PLINIO. 

Et  multas  et  omnes  publicas  causas  petendi  com- 
meatus  reddidisti :  mihi  autem  uel  sola  uoluntas  tua 
suffecisset.  neque  enim  dubito  te,  ut  primum  potu- 
15  ens,  ad  tam  districtum  otficium  reuersurum.  statuam 
poni  mihi  a  te  eo  quo  desideras  loco,  quanquam 
cius  modi  honorum  parcissimus,  tamen  patior,  ne 
impedisse  cursum  erga  me  pietatis  tuae  uidear. 

79.    (X.  12  [7].) 
20  C.  PLINIVS  TRAIANO  IMPERATORI. 

Scio,  domine,  memoriae  tuae,  (luae  est  bene  faciundi 
tcnacissima.  proces  nostras  inhacrcre.  quia  tamen  in 
hoc  quo<iue  indulsisti,  admonoo  simul  ct  imi>cnsc  rogo 

S  <lt»l)o1)o  OronouiuM  doVx^o  Oa     4  pietatis  Oron(nnv/i  pictati  a 
78  12  «t  imiltasot  nmiu'is  ptiMiiMs  Oa  «t  priiiatjis  inultiis  ct 

oiiiMCH  puhlicas  ^'n/.-:  niiiiies  Hurts  inrlusit  KtUixut 
70  21  bcucticieudi  a 


140  C.  PUNI  CABCIU  SBCVNDI       7».  u^-  — , 

ut  Accium  Suram  praetura  exoniare  digneris,  com 
locus  uacet.  ad  quam  spem  alioqui  quietissimum 
hortatur  et  natalium  splendor  et  summa  integritas  in 
paupertate  et  ante  omnia  felicitas  temporum,  quae 
bonam  conscientiam  ciuium  tuorum  ad  usum  indul-  5 
gentiae  tuae  prouocat  et  attoUit. 


80.    (X    13  [8].) 

C.  PLINIVS  TRAIANO  IMPERATORI. 

Cum  sciam,  domino,  ad  testimonium  laudemquc 
morum  nicorum  pertinere  tam  boni  piincipis  iudicio  lo 
exornari,  rogo  dignitiiti  ad  quam  me  proucxit  indul- 
gentia  tua  uel  auguratum  ucl  septemuiratum,  quia 
uacant,  adicere  digneris,  ut  iure  sacerdotii  precari 
doos  pro  te  publiee  possim,  quos  nunc  precor  pietate 
priuata.  15 

81.    (X.   15  [26].) 
C.  PLIN1V8  TRAIANO  IMPERATORI. 

Quia  confido,  (l(»mine,  ad  curam  tuam  pertinere, 
nuiitii»  tibi  mo  Ephi-sum  cum  omnibus  mois  i»7r€/)MttAcai' 
nauigjisso.  (|uanHn*s  contrariis  uontis  retentus,  nunc  20 
(lostino  partim  orariis  nauibus  pjirtim  uohiculis  pro- 
uinciam  ^m'Utc.  nam  simt  itineri  gi*auos  aostus,  itii 
c«»nti!iuao  naiu«^ationi  cicsia»'  rcbictjuitur. 

80  \'A  iiacuiil  ('of.'-  WAvM  a 

81  *J0  rcUuliu  Oa  rcicMuui  .wpL.tna.i 


83.  (X.  17a)       EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE. 

82.     (X.  16  [27].) 
TRAIANVS  PLINIO. 

Recte  renuntiasti,  mi  Secunde  carissime :  pertinet 
euim  ad  animum  meum  quali  itinere  in  prouiiiciani 
5  pcnienias.     prudenter  aiitem  constituis  interim  naui- 
bus  interim  uehiculis  uti,  prout  loca  suaserint. 


83.    (X.  17a  [28].) 
C.  PLINIVS  TRAIANO  IMPERATORI. 

Sicut  saluberrimam  nauigationem,  domine,  usque  1 
lo  Ephesum  expertus,  ita  inde,  postquam  uehiculis  iter 
facere  coepi,  grauissimis  aestibus  atque  etiam  febri- 
culis  uexatus  Pergami  substiti.     rursus,  cum  transis-  2 
sem  in  orarias  nauiculas,  contrariis  uentis  retentus 
ab'quanto  tardius  quam  spcraucram,  id  est  XV.  Kal. 
1$  Octobres,  Bithyniam  intraui.     non  possum  tamen  de 
mora  qucri,  cum  mihi  contigcrit,  quod  erat  auspica- 
tissimum,  natalem  tuum  in  prouincia  cclcbrare.    nunc  3 
rei  publicae  Prusensium  impendia,  reditus,  dobitores 
cxcutio;    quod   ex   ijiso    tractatu    magis    ac   magis 
2o  necessarium  intellego.     multae  ciiim  pecuniae  uariis 
ex  causis  a  priuatis  dctincntur :  practerea  quacdnni 
niiiiime   Icgitimis   sumptibus   croi;antur.      haec  tibi,  4 
domine,  in  ipso  ingressu  mco  scri|)si. 

82  4  in  OM.  a.  ailfl.  Cat.^ 

83  19  trocUtu  0  Riitershwiiwi  (cf.  152.  23)  trartn  a 


142  C.  PLINI  CABCILI  SECVNDI  8i.  (X.  Ifm) 

84.    (X.  17  b.) 
C.  PLINIVS  TRAIANO  IMPERATORL 

1  Quiuto  decimo  Kalendas  Octobres,  domine,  promn- 
oiam  intraui,  quam  in  eo  obsequio,  in  ea  erga  te  fide 

2  quam  de  genere   humano  mereris  inueni.    dispice,   5 
domine,  an  necessarium  putes  mittere  hue  mensorem. 
uidentur  enim  non  mediocres  pecuniae  posse  reuocari 

a  curatoribus  operum,  si  mensurae  fideliter  aguntur. 
ita  certe  prospicio  ex  ratione  Prusensium,  quam  cum 
maxime  tracto.  lo 

85.    (X.  18  [29].) 
TRAIANVS  PUNIO. 

1  Cuperem  sine  querela  corpusculi  tui  et  tuorum 
peruenire  in  Bithyniam  potuisses  ac  simile  tibi  iter 
ab  Epheso  ei  nauigationi  fuisset,  quam  expertus  usque  15 

Sillo  eras,  quo  autem  die  peruenisses  in  Bithyniam 
oognoui,  Secunde  carissime,  litteris  tuis.  prouinciales, 
oredo,  prospectum  sibi  a  me  intellegent.  nam  et  tu 
dabis  operam  ut  manifestum  sit  illis  electum  te  esse, 

3  qui  ad  eosdem  mei  loco  mittereris.    rationes  autem  20 
in  primis  tibi  ronim  publicarum  cxcutiendae  sunt: 
nam  ot  esse  cos  ucxatas  satis  constat,    mensorcs  uix 
etlam  iis  oporibus  quae  aut  Romaic  aut  in  proximo 
flunt  aufticiontes  habeo  :  scd  in  omni  prouincia  inue- 

•4  8  aguntur  0  agantur  a  9  cum  maxime  0  Perizonim 
tifi,  CitriiuM  oum  Maximo  a 

•a  lA  ei  Ca/.*ctOiita,  OI7I.  Porfin*  20  eoe<Iemae<»8[(lem] 
Kfiiiw*    dl  sulficientcs  0  suiiicieDter  a 


87.  (X.  30)         EPIST\T:jVE  SELECTAR  143 

niuntur  quibus  credi  jiossit,  et  ideo  non  deerunt  tiln, 
modo  uelis  diligeuter  excutere. 


86.    (X.  29  [38].) 
C.  PLINIVS  TRAIANO  IMPERATORI. 

5       Sempronius  Caelianus,  egregius  iuucnis,  repertos  1 
inter  tironcs  duos  seruos  misit  ad  me;  quorum  ego 
supplicium  distuli,  ut  to  conditorem  disciplinae  mili- 
taris   firmatoremque    consulerem   de    modo  poenae. 
ipse  enim  dubito  ob  hoc  maxime,  quod,  ut  iam  dixe-  2 

lo  rant  Sacramento,  ita  nondum  distnbuti  in  numeros 
erant.  quid  ergo  debeam  scqui  rogo,  domine,  scribas, 
praesertim  cum  pertineat  ad  excmplum. 


87.    (X.  30  [39].) 
TRAIANVS  PLINIO. 

15      Secundum  mandata  mea  fecit  Seniproniu.<?  Caelianus  1 
mittendo  ad  tc  cos  de  quibus  cognosci  oportebit  an 
capitale  supplicium  meniisse  uideantur.    refcrt  autcni 
uoluntarii  se  obtulerint  an  lecti  sint  uel  etiam  uicarii 
dati.    si  lecti  sunt,  inquisitio  peccauit :  si  uicarii  dati,  2 

20  penes  cos  culjxi  est  qui  dederunt :  si  ipsi,  cum  lial)c- 
rcnt  condicionis  su.ao  conscientiam,  uenerunt,  animad- 
uertcndum  in  illos  erit.  neque  cnim  multum  interest 
(juod  nondum  \Mi\'  numeros  distributi  sunt,     illc  enini 

86  9  ob  hacc  a      lU   ita  iiondiiin  O  mill  tar  i  nondiiin  a 
miliUiri  ifn  tumduin  K*  i/hit 

87  1!)  «liiti.     liccti  sunt  a  <lati  lecti  si  sunt  Caf.'' 


144  C.  PUNI  CAECILI  SECVNDI       87.  (X.») 

(lies  quo  primum  probati  sunt  ueritatem  ab  lis  originis 

suae  excsnt. 


88.  (X.  33  [42].) 

C.  PLINIVS  TKAIANO  IMPERATORI. 

1  Cum  diuersam  partem  prouinciae  circumirem,  Nioo-   5 
mediae   uastissimum  incendium  multas  priuatorum 
domos  et  duo  publica  opera  quanquam  uia  interia- 

2  cente,  Gerusian  et  Iseon,  absumpsit.    est  autem  latins 
sparsum  primum  uiolentia  uenti,  deinde  inertia  homi- 
num,  quos  satis  constat  otiosos  et  immobiles  tanti  10 
mali  spectatores  perstitisse ;  et  alioqui  nullus  usquam 

in  publico  sipho,  nulla  hama,  nullum  denique  instru- 
mentum  ad  incendia  compescenda.     et  haec  quidem, 

3  ut  iam  praecepi,  parabuntur.     tu,  domine,  dispice  an 
instituendum   putes  collegium    fabrorum    dumtAxat  15 
hominum  GL.      ego  attendam  ne  quis  nisi  fal)er  re- 
cipiatur,  neue  iure  concesso  in  aliud  utatur ;  nee  crit 
difficile  custodire  tarn  paucos. 

89.  (X.  34  [43].) 

TRAIANVS  PLINIO.  20 

1  Tibi  quidem  secundum  cxempla  complurium  in 
mentcm  uenit  posse  collegium  fabrorum  apud  Nif?o- 
mcdcnscs  constitui.  scd  mcmincnmus  prouiuciam 
istam  et  praecipuc  eas  ciuiuitcs  eius  modi  factionibus 

1  quo  O  pro  quo  a 

88  10  quos  Ritfer^hiiMnn  quod  a     14  paraliuntur  Minrhis 
parahintui*  Oa     17  utatur  a  utantur  AfoffimttuuM 

80  *24  tax»  ciuitateis  a  Ciini  ciuitatuin  Kti/wM 


92.  (X  37)         EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  146 

esse  uexatas.  quodcumque  nomen  ex  quacumque 
causa  dederimus  iis  qui  in  idem  coiUi*acti  fuerint 
hetaeriae  aeque  breui  fient.  satius  itaque  est  com-  2 
parari  ea  quae  ad  coerceiidos  ignes  auxilio  esse  possint 
5  admonerique  dominos  praediorum  ut  et  ipsi  inhibeant, 
ac  si  res  poposcerit,  accursu  populi  ad  hoc  uti. 

90.  (X.  35  [44].) 

C.  PLINIVS  TRAIANO  IMPERATORI. 

SoUemnia  uota  pro  incolumitate  tua,  qua  publica 
lo  salus  contiiietur,  et  susccpimus,   domine,  pariter  et 
soluimus,  precati  deos  ut  uelint  ea  semper  solui  sem- 
perque  signari. 

91.  (X.  36  [45].) 

TRAIANVS   PLINIO. 

'5  Et  soluissc  uos  cum  prouincialibus  diis  immortalibus 
uota  pro  mea  salute  et  incolumitate  et  nuucupasse 
liheiiter,  mi  Secunde  carissime,  cognoui  ex  bttcris  tnis. 

92.  (X.  37  [46].) 

C.  PLINIVS  TRAIANO  IMPERATORI. 

2o      In  aquaeductum,domi!ie,Xicomedcn.scsimponderunt  1 
IIS.  xxx|  cccxxvini.,  <|ui  iini)crfectus  ailhuc  relictus 

1   ncxatas  a  iiexataiii  KeiHiiM     li  hetaeriae  acijue  hreiii  fient 

L'njht/ool  hetariae*  <|uae  hreiics  fient  Oa  (*'/.  I'tJ.Jl)  hetariat? 

<{iiannns    lueuos    fient    Cat  -    iraifuai    €TaiiH}n[\\v    breui    fient 

Ojv  i/iw 

90  10  susccpimus  Of*'rif/iu<  su.sci]»innis  Oa 
92*20<lu»tunirf/.  /?<iw»7.<l«otn  a  21  H-.^-x\x      ore  ■  xxviiii 

Oa  trifirs  ;*»v>  XXX  /^^rr.onhis  nf.  Cnrfhnn 


146  a  PLINI  CABCIU  SBCVNDI     M.  (X.S7) 

atqiic  ctiam  dostructus  est :  nirsus  in  alium  ductum 
erogata  sunt  GC.  hoc  quoque  relicto  nouo  impendio 
est  opus,  ut  aquam  ha1>oant  qui  tantam  pecuniam 

2  male  perdiderunt  ipso  perueni  ad  fontem  puris- 
simum,  ex  quo  uidetur  aqua  debere  perduci,  sicut  5 
initio  temptatum  erat^  areuato  opere,  ne  tantum  ad 
plana  ciuitatis  et  humilia  perueniat.  manent  adhue 
paucissimi  arcus :  possunt  et  erigi  quidam  lapide 
quadrato,  qui  ex  superiore  opere  detractus  est:  atiqua 
pars,  ut  mihi  uidetur,  testaceo  opere  peragenda  erit ;  lo 

3  id  enim  et  facilius  et  uilius.  et  in  primis  necessarium 
est  mitti  a  te  uel  aquilegem  uel  architectum,  ne  rursus 
eueniat  quod  accidit.  ego  illud  unum  adfirmo,  et 
utilitatem  opens  et  pulchritudinem  saeculo  tuo  esse 
dignissimam.  iS 

93.    (X.  38  [47].) 
TRAIANVS  PLINIO. 

1  Curandum  est  ut  aqua  in  Nicomcdcnsem  ciuitatem 
pcrducatur.  uerc  credo  to  ca  qua  debcbis  diligentia 
hoc  opus  aggressurum.  scd  medius  fidius  ad  eandcm  20 
(liligentiam  tuam  pcrtinct  inquirero  quorum  uitio  ad 
hoc  tcmpus  tantam  pecuniam  Nicomedenses  perdi- 
(Icrint,  nc,  cum  inter  sc  gi'atificantur,  et  incohancrint 
aquae  chictus  ct  rcliqucrint.  quicquid  itaquc  compe- 
reiis  perfcr  in  notitiam  mcam.  25 

2  •  re  •  a  10  peragenda  O  agenda  a  1 1  ct  in  primis  a  scd 
in  priniis  SrhaeUnut 

03  23  cum  a  diim  (irououhts  vX  inchoaucrint,  (|ui<l  ita(|iie 
cntii|icrcris  |M<r  a«|iia(MliictU8.  et  reli<|ncrint,  fer  in  notitiam 
nwam  Oa.  ron\  Cal.'^  (<|iiid(|uid  ;*ro  (|uid  Srhfu/trns) 


i 


86.  (X.  54)         EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  147 

M.    (X.  52  [60].) 
C.  PLINIVS  TRAIANO  IMPERATOKI 

Diem,  domine,  quo  seruasti  imperium  duin  suscipLs, 
quanta  mereris  laetitia  celebrauimus,  precati  <leo8  ut 
5  te  generi  humano,  cuius  tutela  et  secuntas  saluti  ttiae 
innisa  est,  inoolumem  florentemque  piuestarent. 
praeiuimus  et  oommilitonihus  ius  iuranduin  more 
soUemni,  eadem  prouincialiWus  certante  pietat-e  iuran- 
tibus. 

»o  OS.    (X.  .>3  [61].) 

TRAIANVS   PLINIO. 

Quanta  religione  et  laetitia  commilitoiiCR  cum  pro- 
mncJalfbos  te  praeeunte  diem  imperii  mei  celebraue- 
rint  libenter,  mi  Secunde  carissime,  cogiKjui  litt^ris 
15  tmfi. 

M.     <X.  54  [62].) 
C.  PUNIVS  TRAIAXO  IMPERATORI. 

Pectmiae    publicae,    doniiiH%    pronidentia    tua    ct  1 

minisfcerio  noBtro  et  iam  exactae  sunt  et  exigimtur  ; 

ID  quae  nereor  lie  otiosae  iaceant.     nam  et  pracdiomni 

eumparaiMkinmi  aut  nulla  ant  rarif^sima  (nv^isio  est, 

iiee  iiiiieniuiitur  qui  uelini  <lolK*rc  m  public^o,  pnie- 

•tt  fi  teiNR.  a  7  jWTM*ninu!t  Oa  jwacl.innm*;  A  iirMiif  5i(»K-nni 
csmWhi  fpnmtncialilnw  crrtjint  (cfrtAiit^'  Mfunms^uw^)  piotate 
inninliMi-  A  ni«>re  iMil<*niii  }»ia(*f'tantiHn>  el  ]in»uiii<i.JilMis  <|iii 
•^•'trti     --r»  1-11 11:  |M«'ta1«-  iur.iiitil»n^  a 

•a   *'J  •-*  A  Jit  a      14  'v>;^»oui  a  .i:^K»«i  A 


148  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  SECVNDI      9e.(X.M) 

sertim  duodenis  assibus,  quanti  a  priuatis  mutuantur. 
2  dispice  ergo,  domine,  numquid  minuendam  usuram  ac 
per  hoc  idoneos  debitores  inuitandos  putes,  et  d  nee 
sic  reperiuntur,  distribuendam  inter  decuriones  pecu- 
niam,  ita  ut  recte  rei  publicae  caueant ;  quod  quan- 
quam  inuitis  et  recusantibus  minus  acerbum  erit 
leuiore  usura  constituta. 


97.  (X.  55  [63].) 
TRAIANVS  PLINIO. 

Et  ipse  non  aliud  remedium  dispicio,  mi  Secunde  lo 
carissime,  quam  ut  quantitas  usurarum  minuatur,  quo 
facilius  pecuniae  publicae  collocentur.  modum  eius 
ex  copia  eorum  qui  mutuabuntur  tu  constitues.  inuitos 
ad  accipiendum  compellere,  quod  fortassis  ipsis  otiosum 
futurum  sit^  non  est  ex  iustitia  nostrorum  temporum.  15 

98.  (X.  r»5[71].) 

C.  PLINIVS  TRAIANO  IMPERATORI. 

1  Magna,  domine,  et  ad  totam  prouinciam  pertincns 
quaestio  est  de  condicione  et  alimentis  eorum  quos 

2  uocant  Op€irrov^.     In  qua  ego  auditis  constitutionibus  20 
principum,  quia  nihil  inuenielwm  aut  proprium  aut 
uniucrsale  quod  ad  Bithynos  rcfcnctur,  consulendum 
te  cxistimaui  «luid   obsiTuari    nclles:   nec|uc   putaui 
posse   me   in  co   quod   auctontutcm   tuam    poscorct 

06  3  nee  sic  Orfiihif  no  sie  Aa  nc  sic  (luiilem  Cal.'- 

07  1 1   r|UO  /irr.  a  <|Ui  A 

08  *2*J  fcrrelur  A  fei*ctur  a     'JUi  iitM|uc  cnini  piitiiii  a 


9e.  (X.66)         EPISTVXAE  SELECTAK  149 

cxeniplo  esse  contentum.  recital>atur  autem  apud  me  3 
edictum  quod  dicebatur  diui  August!  ad  Anniam  per- 
tinens :  recitatae  et  epistulae  diui  Vespasiaiii  ad 
Lacedaemonios  et  diui  Titi  ad  eosdem  [Achacos],  et 
5  Domitiani  ad  Auidium  Nigrinum  et  Arnienium  Broo- 
ch um  proconsul es,  item  ad  Lacedaemonios  :  quae  ideo 
tibi  uon  misi,  quia  et  parum  emendatae  et  quaedam 
non  certae  fidei  uidebantur,  et  quia  ucra  et  emendata 
in  scriniis  tuis  esse  credebam. 

10  99.    (X.  66  [72].) 

TRAIANVS  PLINIO. 

Quaestio  ista  quae  pcrtinet  ad  eos  qui  liberi  nati  1 
expositi,  deinde  sublati  a  quibusdam  et  in  seruitute 
educati  sunt  siiepe  tractata  est,  nee  quicquam  inuenitur 

15  in  conimentariis  corum  principum  qui  ante  me  fucrunt, 
quod  ad  omnes  prouincias  sit  constitutum.    epistulae  2 
sane  sunt  Domitiani  ad  Auidium  Nigrinum  et  Ar- 
monium  Brocclium,  «jujio  fortasse  dcbciint  obseruari, 
sed  intra  «is  prouincias  de  quibus  rescripsit,  inter 

20  quas  non  est  Bithynia  ;  et  ideo  nee  adscrtionem  dene- 
gandam  iis  qui  ex  eius  modi  causa  in  libertatem  uindi- 
cabuntur  puto,  noque  ipsam  libertatem  redimcndani 
prctio  alimontorum. 

1  oxoinplo  0  Ihr.  exeinplis  a  oxemplum  A  2  Asiain  TTardeivs 
4  t'<)s<lein  achcos  A  cosjIciii  et  Acliaeos  0  /^Wrtf.it<  eosdem  <lciii 
ad  Achacos  a  7  parum  emendatae  Aa  parum  emendata 
Jhid. 

00  IS  del>cant  A  «IclKjhant  a  11»  intra  Ke.ilim  mUv  Aa 
rescripsit,  inter  quas  non  est  Hithynia  KtiHut  rescripsit: 
inter  quas  est  Kithiuia  A  rescripsit  uon  est  Hithynia  |i 


IjO  C.  PUNI  CAECILI  SECVKDI    100.  (X.  79)       I 

100.    (X.  79[83].) 
C.  PLINIVS  TRAIANO  IMPBRATORL 

1  Cautum  est,  domine,  Pompeia  lege,  quae  Bithynis 
data  est,  ne  quis  capiat  magistratum  neue  sit  in  senatu 
minor  annorum  xxx.     eadem  lege  comprehensum  est  5 

2  lit  qui  ceperint  magistratum  sint  in  senatu.  secutum 
est  dein  edictum  diui  Augusti,  quo  permisit  minores 

3  magistratus  ab  annis  xxv.  capere.  quaeritur  ergo  an 
qui  minor  xxx.  annorum  gessit  magistratus  possit  a 
censoribus  in  senatum  legi,  et  si  potest,  an  ii  quoque  to 
qui  non  gesserint  possint  per  eandem  interpretationem 
ab  ea  aetate  senatores  legi  a  qua  illis  magistratum 
gerere  permissum  est ;  quod  alioqui  factitatum  adhuc 
et  esse  necessarium  dicitur,  quia  sit  aliquanto  melius 
honestorum  hominum  liberos  quam  e  plebe  in  curiam  15 

^admitti.  ego  a  destinatis  censoribus  quid  sentirem 
interrogatus,  eos  quidem  qui  minores  XXX.  annis  ges- 
sissont  magistratum  piitabam  posse  in  senatum  et 
secundum  edictum  Augusti  et  secundum  legem  Pom- 
peiam  legi,  quoniam  Augustus  gerere  magistratus  20 
miiioribus  ainiis  xxx.  permisisset,  lex  senatorem  esse 

5  uoluisset  qui  gessisset  magistratum.  de  iis  autem  qui 
non  gessissent,  ([uaniuis  cssent  actatis  eiusdcm  cuius 
illi  qiiibus  gerere  permissum  est,  haesitabam;  per  quod 
eflcetum  est  ut  tc,  domine,  consulcrem  quid  obseruari  25 
uelles.  capita  legis,  turn  edictum  Augusti  littcris 
subieci. 

100  S  XXV.  xrri/m  duolms  et  ni^inti  Aa  (xxii  jiro  xxu) 
10  hi  qiKNjiie  <|ui  non  L'osserint  possint  A  an  ex  iis  qui  qurxjue 
uoii  vresseriut  possit  quis  a     1*2  senatores  Ber.  senator  Aa 


103.  (X.  89)   EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  151 

101.  (X.  80[84].) 

TRAIANVS  PLINIO. 

Interpretatioiii  tuae,  mi  Secnndc  carissimc,  idem 
existimo  hactenus,  edicto  diui  Augusti  noiiatam  esse 
5  legem  Pompeiam  ut  magistratum  quidcm  capere  pos- 
sent  ii  qui  non  minores  xxv.  annonmi  essent,  et  qui 
cepissent,  in  senatum  cuiusque  ciuitatis  peruenirent. 
ceterum  non  capto  magistratu  eos  qui  minores  xxx. 
annorum  sint,  quia  magistratum  capere  possint,  in 
lo  curiam  etiam  loci  cuiusque  non  existimo  legi  posse. 

102.  (X.  88[89].) 

C.  PLINIVS  TRAIANO  IMPERATORI. 

Opto,  domine,  ct  hunc  natalem  et  plurimos  alios 
quam  felicissimos  agas,  aetcrnacjue  laude  florentem  uir- 
15  tutis  tuae  gloriam  [quam]   incolumis  et  fortis  aliis 
super  alia  operibus  augeas.  . 

103.  (X.  89  [90].) 

TRAIANVS  PIJNIO. 

Agnosco  uota  tua,  mi  Secunde  carissimc,  quibus 
20  precaris  ut  pluiimos  ct  fclicis.sinio.s   natales  Horente 
stiitu  rei  publiciic  nostrac  a^ain. 

101  3  idem  existimo  0  Cat.  a  (ut  existimo)  A  similiter 
existimo  OreJlius  6  xxv.  scrij^i  {ttt  xti/oyt)  duo  ct  uiginti  A 
(luorum  et  uiginti  a  qui  cepissent  llfr.  r|uia  cocpissent  A  qui 
nccepisscnt  a 

102  15  gloriam  quam  incolumis  Aa  gloriam  ct  incolumis 


152  C.  PLINI  CAKCnj  S£CVNDI     ljM»(X.96) 

104.    (X.  96  [97].) 
C.  PLINIVS  TRAIANO  IMPERATORI. 

1  Sollemne  est  mihi,  domine,  omnia  de  q^ibll8  dubito 
ad  te  referre.      quis  enim  potest  melius  uel  cun- 
ctationem  meam  regere   uel  ignorantiam  infltruere!   5 
cognitioiiibus  de  Christianis  interfui  nimquam :  ideo 
nescio  quid  et  quatenus  aut  puniri  aoleat  aut  qua^. 

2  nee  medioeriter   haesitaui    sitne    aliquod  diaerimen 
aetatum  an   quamlibet  teneri  nihil  a  robq^oribus 
differant;  detur  paenitentiae  uenia  an  ei  qui  omnino  10 
Christianus  fuit  desisse  non  prosit;   nomen  ipsum, 

si   flagitiis    carcat,    an    flagitia    cohaereutia    nomini 
puniantur. 

Interim  in  iis  qui  ad  me  tanquam  Christiani  defere- 

3  bantur  hunc  sum  secutus  modum.     interrdgaui  ipeos  15 
an  essent  Christiani.      confitentes  iteriim  lie  tertio 
interrogaui,  supplicium  minatus:  perseuerantes  dud 
iussi.      neque   enim    dubitabam,   qualeeunque   esset 
quod   faterentur,    peitinaciara   certe   et    inflexibilcm 

4  obstinationem   debere   puniri.      fuerunt  alii    similis  ao 
amentiae  quos,  «juia  ciues  Romani  erant^  adnotaui  in 
urbem  remittendos. 

Mox   ipso  tractatu,   ut  fien  solet,  diflfundente  se 

5  criminc   phi  res    species'  incidcrunt.      propositus   est 
lil»cllus  sine   anctore   ninltorum    nomina    continens.  25 
qui  negalwuit  esse  se  Chnstianos  aut  fuisse,  cum  prac- 

104  5  instrucre  Oa  extnicre  A  cxcutere  Ber.  10  deturne 
a  11  ipsum  ctiatn  si  a  1*2  •ohaorontia  0  Ber.  cohaercnti  Aa 
14  in  nm.  Aa.  '"/</.  Cnt.'-  II»  iKTlinaciam  A  peruicaciaiii  a 
26  Qcguut  Aa  esse  se  A  se  esse-  a  Cat, 


r 


104    (X.  96)        EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  153 

cunte  me  deos  appcllarent,  et  imagini  tuac,  quam 
propter  hoc  iusseram  cum  simulacris  numinimi  adfeiri,  .■ 
ture  ac  uino  suppliearent,  praeterea  male  diccrent 
Christo, '  quorum  nihil  posse  cogi  dicuntur  qui  sunt 
5  re  uera  Christiani,  dimittendos  esse  putaui.  alii  ab  6 
indice  nominati  esse  se  Christianos  dixerunt  et  mox 
negauerunt ;  fuisse  quidem,  sed  desisse,  quidam  ante 
triennium,  quidam  ante  plures  annos,  non  nemo 
etiam  ante  uiginti.     hi  quoque  omnes  et   imaginem 

lo  tuam  deorumque  simulacra  ucnerati  sunt  et  Christo 
male  dixerunt.     adfirmahant  autem  hanc  fuisse  sum-  7 
mam  ucl  culpae  suae  uel  erroris,  quod  essent  soliti 
stato  die   ante  lucem   conuenirGTcarmen(|ue  Christo 
quasi  deo  dicere  secuni  in  uicem,  seque  sacramento  non 

15  in  scelusali(jUod  o])stringere,  sed  nc  furta,  no  latrocinia, 

'  ne  adulteria  committerent,  ne  fidem  fallerent,  ne  doposi- 
tum  appellati  abnegarent :  «juibus  pcractis  morcm  sibi  '^  * 
discedendi  fuisse,   rursusque  cooundi  ad   capiendum    -— 
cibum,  promiscuum  tamen  et  innoxium  ;  quod  ipsum 

20  faccre   desisse    post    edict um    meuni    quo    secundum 
mandata   tua  hetaerias   esse   uetueram.     quo   magis  8 
necessarium  credidi  ex  duabus  ancillis,  quae  ministrao 
<licebantur,  quid  esset  ucri  et  per  tormentii  quaerere. 
nihil    aliud    inueni    quam    superstitionem    prauam, 

25  immoilicam. 

4  posse  coj»i  A  cogi  possv  a  5  vs»<c  oni.  a  7  «Icsissc  a  dcsiisse 
A  9  ui^inli.  Hi  «jiioijue  omiu's  et  Liijht/nvt  uiginti  quoipie. 
Omnes  et  Aa  uiginti  <|uin«|ue.  onincs  qui  HifferMhiisittM  U) 
sunt  ii  et  Aa  IS  er)cun(li  Oa,  ont.  A  20  «lesisse  a  dcsiisse  A 
21  et  aerias*  esse  a  et  ciUTas  esse  A  2'\  quaerere.  nihil  A 
({uarere.  »e(l  nihil  a  pruuuui  iuMnodiciiin  A  prauam  et  inimo- 
dicam  a 

\.  . 


u 


154  C.  PLINI  CAECILI  8ECVNDI    104.  (X.  9«) 

Idoo  dilata  cognitione  ad  consulendum  te  dccuciini 
9  uisa  est  enim  niihi  res  digna  consultatione,  maxime 
propter  periclitantium  numerum.  multi  enipa  omnis 
aetatis,  omnis  ordinis,  utriusque  sexus  etiam,  uocan- 
tur  in  perieulum  et  uocabuntur.  neque  ciuitates  5 
tantum  sed  uicos  etiam  atque  agros  superstitionis 
istius  contagio  peruagata  est;  quae  uidetur  sisti  et 
10  corrigi  posse,  certe  satis  constat  prope  iam  desolata 
templa  coepisse  celebrari  et  sacra  soUemnia  diu  inter- 
missa  rcpeti  pastumque  uenire  uictimarum,  cuius  lo 
adhuc  rarissimus  emptor  inueniebatur.  ex  quo  facile 
est  opinari  quae  turba  hominum  emendari  possit,  si 
sit  paeuitentiae  locus. 


•106.    (X.  97  r98|.) 

TRAIANVS  PLINIO.  15 

1  Actum  quem  debuisti,  mi  Secunde,  in  excutiendis 
causis  oorum  qui  Christiani  ad  te  dclati  fuerant  secu- 
tus  es.    neque  enim  in  uniuersum  aliquid  quod  quasi 

2  certam  formam  habeat  constitui  potest     conquirendi 
non  sunt :  si  dcferantur  et  arguantur,  puniendi  sunt,  ao 
ita  tamen  ut  qui  negauerit  se  Christianum  esse  idque 

re  if)s«i  manifestum  fecerit,  id  est  supplicando  dis 
nostiis,  quanuiis  suspectus  in  praeteritum,  ucuiam  ex 

1  ulco  A  icleo<|ae  a  decticurri  a  dccurri  A  n  neque  ciuitutes 
A  neque  enim  ciuitates  a  10  pastumque  ucnirc  uictimHrum 
cuius  0  Bf-r.  passumque  ucnirc  uictimarum :  cuius  A  passimque 
uenire  uictimas,  quarum  a 

105  *20  (leforaiitur  a  dcforcntur  A    23  praetcritum  ueniam 
A  praeteritum  fuerit.  ueniam  a 


107.  (X.  117)      EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  165 

paenitentia  impctret.  sine  auctore  uero  propositi 
libelli  in  nullo  crimine  I(»cum  habere  dcbent.  nam  et 
pessimi  exempli  nee  nostri  saeculi  est. 

"  lOe.    (X.  116  [117].) 
5  C.  PLINIVS  TRAIANO  IMPERATORI. 

Qui   uirilem   togam  sumunt    uel    nuptias    faciunt  1 
uel  ineunt  magistratum  uel  opus  publicum  dedicant, 
solent  totam  bulcn  atque  etiam  e  plebe  non  exiguum 
numerum  uocare  binosque  denarios  uel  singulos  dare. 

ID  quod  an  celebrandum  et  quatenus  putes  rogo  scribas. 
ipse  enim  sicut  arbitror,   praesertim  ex  sollemnibus  2 
causis,  concedendum  ius  inuitationis,  ita  uereor  ne  ii 
qui  mille  homines,   interdum  etiam  plures,  uocant 
modum  excedere  et  in  speciem  dianomes  iucidere 

15  uideantur. 

^  107.    (X.  117  [118].) 
TRAIANVS  PLINIO. 

Merito  uereris  ne  in  speciem  dianomes  incidat 
inuitatio,  quae  et  in  numero  modum  cxcedit  et  quasi 

2  in  om,  Aa 

106  12  concedendum  ius  inuitationis  SrhefferuH  conceden- 
dum iussi  inuitationes  a  concedendum  iussi  inimutationcs  A 
concedendum  iussisti  inuitationes  0  Ihul.  conoedendas  esse 
inuitationes  OrcUittM  sicut  arbitror  non  imprudcnter  prasertim 
ex  solemnibus  causis  concedendum  iussi  inuitationes  Cat. 
(sicut  arbitror),  praesertim  ex  sollemnibus  causis,  conce- 
dendas  iussisti  inuitationes  Hardeivn  14  dianomes  0 
Ca sanhomis  ([\o.\i\one&  a  Dianiorics  A  incidcre  Cat.  incipere  Aa 

107  IS  diamones  a  Diamones  A  19  inuitatio  Btr.  a  im- 
uiutatio  A 


166  C.  PUNI  CAECILI  SECVNDI  107.  (X.  117) 

per  corpora,  non  uiritim  singulos  ex  notitia,  ad  sol- 
lemnes  sportulas  contrahit.  sed  ego  ideo  prudentiam 
tuam  elegi  ut  formandis  istius  prouinciae  moribus  ipse 
modorareris  et  oa  constitueres  quae  ad  perpetuam 
eius  prouinciae  quietem  essent  profutura. 


108.    <X.  120  [121].) 
C.  PLINIVS  TRAIANO  IMPERATORL 

1  Vsque  in  hoc  tempus,  domine,  neque  cuiquam  diplo- 
mata  commodaui  neque  in  rem  ullam  nisi  tuam 
misi.     quam  perpetuam  seruationem  meam  quaedam  lo 

2  necessitas  rupit.  uxori  enim  mcae  audita  morte  aui 
uolenti  ad  amitam  suam  excurrere  usum  eomm  negare 
durum  putaui,  cum  talis  officii  gratia  in  celeritate 
consisterct  sciremque  rationem  itineris  probatunim, 
cuius  causa  erat  pietas.  haec  tibi  scripsi  quia  mihi  15 
parum  gratus  fore  uidcbar,  si  dissimulassem  inter  alia 
bencficia  hoc  quoquc  me  debere  indulgentiao  tuac, 
quod  iiducia  eius  quasi  consulto  te  non  dubitaui  facere, 
quern  si  consul  uissem,  sero  fecissem. 

4  constitueres  EmeMliuJi  constituas  Aa 

108  14  sciroiuquc  ratiunein  A  scirciiique  te  rationem  a  15 
haec  tihi  scripsi  A  hacc  scripsi  a  16  gnitus  fore  A  gratus  tihi 
fore  a  17  hoc  qurMiuc  me  (lc1>erc  (tesuerus  hoc  uno  quod  me 
(lebcre  A  hoc  uno  (|u<Miue  nie  ilcl>ere  Ber.  hoc  unum  quo(|ue 
me  clcliere  Co/,  hoc  unum  quo<l  mc  dcliere  scicliam  a  IS 
eius  quasi  consulto  te  Oa  eius  qua  incousulto  te  A  facere 
quem  si  Oa     19  quern  si  [ota.  facere]  A 


i 


109.  (X.  121)     EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  167 

109.    (X.   121  [122].) 

TRAIANVS   PLINIO. 

Men  to  habuisti,  Secunde  carissimc,  fiduciam  animi 
mei,  nee  fiiit  tibi  exspectandum,  donee  me  consuleres 
5  an  iter  uxoris  tuae  diplomatibus,  quae  officio  tuo 
dedi,  adiuuandum  esset,  cum  .ipud  amitam  suam  uxor 
tua  delxjret  etiam  celeritate  gratiam  aduentus  svu* 
augera 

i  dubitanduin 
lOO  4  fait  tibi  exspectandum  (ex  fuit  tibi  exspectaudum) 
scripsi  dubitandum  fuisset  si  expectiisses  Oa  dubitaudum 
fuissc  si  expectasset  A  dubitaudum  fuit  tibi  facere  quae  sero 
fecisses  si  expoctasses  Mommsenit-s ;  cUH  alia  G  esset:  cum  O 
Caf..  esset:  et  cum  Ber.  esse:  et  cum  A  esset  usum  eorum 
inteutioui  non  profui&se  cum  a 


NOTES. 
LIBER  I. 

1.     (L  1.) 

A  DEDICATORY  epistle  to  Scpticius,  serving  as  an  introduction 
to  the  first  book, 'or  to  the  first  published  group  of  books 
(see  Introd.  p.  xl).  The  SepticiuR  addressed  is  doubtless 
C.  Septicius  Oiarus,  to  whom  Suetonius,  another  friend  of 
Pliny  (see  introductory  note  to  i.  18, — Sel.  12),  is  said  by 
Johannes  Laureutius  Lydus  (De  Mag.  ii.  6)  to  have  dedicated 
his  well-known  Lives  of  the  Caesars.  Septicius  served  as 
prae/ectus  praetorio  under  Hadrian  from  119  to  121  a.d.,  but 
was  removed  from  office  for  lack  of  respect  to  the  empress 
Sabina  (Spart.  Hadr.  9,  11).  Beyond  these  facts  nothing  is 
known  of  him  except  through  the  letters  of  Pliny,  who  says 
of  him  in  ii.  9.  4  C.  Septidum,  qtto  nihil  veriim^  nikU  simj^iciiis, 
nihil  candidiwt,  nihil  fideliuH  nom.  The  only  other  letters 
addressed  to  him  by  Pliny  are  I.  15  (Sel.  10),  vii.  28  (Sel. 
55),  and  viii.  1,  a  brief  letter  mentioning  a  safe  arrival  froni 
a  journey,  and  the  serious  illness  of  a  favourite  slave. 

1.  panic  accuratius,  with  wme  decree  of  care :    cf.  vii. 
6.  7  oralione  a/xuraJtiMima  (*a  carefully  prepared  speech.*) 

publicarem,  publish :  generally  post- Augustan  in  this 
sense,  and  not  rare  in  Pliny  :  cf.  e.f/.  i.  5.  2  (Sel.  4) ;  i.  8.  Ii  : 
IV.  27.  5;  but  in  iv.  11.  13  (Sel.  32)  in  the  classical  sense  of 
legal  confiscation  and  sale. 

colligerem  .  .  .  collegl :  with  this  cpanaleptic  fashion  <>t 
opening  a  sentence  cf.  iv.  13.  1  (Sel.  Xl);  v.  1(>.  9  (Sel.  39); 
and  the  pure  epanalcpsis  in  i.  12.  12  (Sel.  H). 

non  seruato  temporis  ordine:  undoubtrdly  true  within 
t\w  limits  nf  the  Invik,  or  small  group  of  UKiks,  to  which 
alniie  this  l«'tl.<*r  originally  served  as  th«»  intnMluciiou.     And 


160  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  1.  1. 

'  in  full  accord  with  Pliny's  evident  purpose  to  distinguish 
between  his  letters  aud  those,  for  example,  of  Cicero,  which 
were  and  are  of  great  value  as  historical  documents,  is  tlic 
fact  that  from  all  of  Pliny's  letters  the  dates  are  omitted 
\  (if,  indeed,  they  ever  were  dated),  and  of  very  few  can  the 
*  date  be  determined  within  the  limits  of  any  useful  approx- 
iumtion.  It  <loe8  not  follow,  however,  that  the  successive 
books  are  not  for  the  most  part  chronologically  successive 
groups  of  letters. 

ut  qtiaeque  in  manns  uenerat :  not  to  be  taken  too 
literally.  A  skilful  selection  and  a  careful  arnuigemont  are 
evident  in  all  the  books,  but  the  author's  eftbrt  is  to  give  the 
effect  of  casualness,  as  if  his  most  elaborate  efforts  were  tossed 
off  ciirrente  ccUamo. 

uenerat :  on  the  sequence  of  the  pluperfect  after  a 
perfect  definite,  whereby  the  pluperfoct  assumes  the  force  of 
a  simple  aorist,  sec  i.  2.  1  (SeL  2)  n.  promiseram  exhibeo. 

2      (I.  2.) 

A  new  speech,  and  its  models. — Maturus  Arrianus  (cf.  the 
addresses  of  iv.  8,  12  in  the  index  of  cod»  B),  or  Arrianus 
Maturus  (ill.  2.  2),  is  known  only  through  the  letters  of 
Pliny.  In  in.  2,  where  Pliny  asks  for  him  some  military 
sinecure,  he  is  referred  to  as  an  eques^  and  a  prominent 
native  of  Altinum  (in  Venetia).  The  other  letters  written  to 
him  are  ii.  11  (Sel.  17),  12  (Sel.  18),  nr.  8  (acknowledging 
congratulations  on  receiving  the  augurship),  12  (on  an  honest 
deed  of  a  provincial  quaestor),  vi.  2  (iSel.  41),  and  viii.  21 
(on  Pliny's  recent  book  of  verse).  The  nature  of  these  letters 
({uite  coincides  with  the  author's  statement  concerning 
Maturus  (ill.  2.  3),  huim  ego  conHilio  in  nei/otiut,  iudkio  in 
Htwliit  tUor, 

1.  librom:  the  ms.  of  a  speech  (cf.  e.g.  in.  13.  1  lihrum 
quo  nuper  ojttitno  jn-inclpi  coimui  gratum  egi).  in  this  case  as 
in  that  probably  the  elalmratcd  and  polished  final  copy, 
rather  than  the  pica  as  actually  delivered.  It  is  impossible 
In  say  what  plea  this  w.is.  though  the  lack  of  further 
i-ef<'ren(;c  to  it  establishes  the  probability  that  it  was  not  one 
of  those  deemed  later  by  Pliny  <»f  special  iin|>ortancc. 

promiseram  ezliibeo  :  similar  se(|uence  is  found  in  iii. 
7.  1 1  (ScL  25) ;  IV.  .*V>.  U  finm  rnHiqit  qnod  txhntinernt :  ix. 
3().  1  (Sel.  70);  Pnn.  .IS,  (il  :  cf.  also  i.  1.  1  (Sel.  1).  .md 
Kiaut  (Jelw.r  >yutax  untf  Sfi/  'fe."  jihuj^-mt  PUmium  p.  37. 
Tlic  perfect  tense  seems  to  iwvo  lost  in  Pliny's  niin«l  nmch  of 


f 


St  2.  NOTES.  161 

its  true  force  in  historical  sequences,  and  the  pluperfect 
therefore  stands  here  almost  as  a  simple  aorist,  while  in  other 
instances  it  api)ears  like  a  perfect  definite. 

exbibeo,  produce :  apparently  a  legal  term ;  see  />t<7. 
XLiii.  29.  3.  8  (of  a  writ  corresponding  to  habeas  corpus) 
exhif)ere  est  in  publicttm  producers  el  uidendi  tavgendxque 
hominifs /acultatem  praebere  ;  projyrie  autem  exhxhere  tM  extra 
secretum  habere :  PL  Ep.  v.  10.  1  appellantur  cotidie  [fua 
scriptd]  el  flayilantur^  cue.  iam  periculum  est  ne  cogantur  ad 
exhibendnm  fmnmUam  accipere.  The  word  is  used  several 
times  by  Pliny  in  this  meaning. 

|;-^w,  tcannth  [o/  ermdation]:  cf.  Arist.  Bhet.  ii.  11.  1  «/ 
yap  iCTiv  irfKos  \inn)  ris  iirl  tpaiPOfiivri  irapoviriq.  dyadCjv  ivTifiwv 
fcai  ivhcxott^vuv  aurtfi  \aPeiu  rrepl  rot's  bfiolovs  t^  <f>6<y€if  oi'x  6r( 
SWi^  dXV  &n  oirxl  Koi  avT(f  iariv  did  Kai]  iirieiKi^s  iariv  6  f^Xos 
Kai  iiri€iKu>v,  rb  5^  <pdoP€iv  <pavXov  Kai  «pavXwu.  Iwan  v.  M  tiller 
points  out  {Jahrenh.  ftber  d.  Fortsch.  d.  Alfn\  1883  p.  170) 
that  f^Xos  came  to  l)e  in  the  imiierial  pcriml  a  technical 
synonym  for  xopo'^"''^P»  ^"tl  so  for  stilus :  but  though  thin 
might  well  explain  how  the  gloss  tstih  displaced  it)\<t)  in  the 
text,  the  argument  is  by  no  means  convincing  for  the  mean- 
ing of  l;^}up  in  this  passage.  The  word  here  is  more  likely 
from  the  senno  cotidtanuH^  in  which  zelus  tended  to  displace 
Htudium  (cf.  French  zde), 

a.  Demosthenen,  etc.,  Demosthenes,  altoaya  your  delight, 
and  Calvua^  lately  become  mine :  Pliny  speaks  (vii.  30.  5)  of 
Demosthenes  /card  "MciSiov  as  his  model  for  the  speech  against 
Certus.  C.  Licinius  Macer  Caluus  (S*2-r.  47  b.c.)  was  dis- 
tinctly a  pupil  of  the  stricter  Attic  school  of  oratory,  as  dis- 
tinguished from  the  inot*e  tlorid  Asiatic  school  (Cic.  Rt-ut.  51  ; 
Or.  25;  Quint.  Inst.  xii.  10.  17  Atdci  iiniati);  and  the  elder 
Seneca  (Contr.  vii.  19.  8)  speaks  of  his  comjxmtio  as  motlellcd 
after  that  of  Demosthenes.  Some  of  the  criticisms  jiassed 
upon  the  speaking  of  Caluus  by  liis  contemi>orary  ('iccro  nn<l 
by  the  critics  nearer  Pliny's  time  arc  csjycciallv  intcrestiiif; 
(cf.  Cic.  IhiU.  283:  Sen.  Contr.  vii.  19.  0  1!".;  Quint,  bint.  \. 
1.  115:  Tac.  Dial.  21).  See  also  Pliny's  scornful  comments  on 
what  was  apparently  the  *  Asiatic'  style  in  v,  20.  4  f. 

meum  :  with  meuA  of  a  favourite  writer  of  former  times 
cf.  IV.  27.  4  mexis  CcUtUltut  et  Col  huh  ULfera<fpi€. 

duxntaxat:  with  a  sHchtly  corrective  force,  *of  course 
only,'  as  r.f/.  in  v.  G.  12  [Tibfris]  frwifs  duuhil  i»  urfttm 
hi^me  dumtaxat  et  uert-.  Klsowhere  in  the  lettiTs  dnmtaxni 
usually  has  the  meaning  of  *  though  only,'  or  *at  least,'  or 


162  C.  PLTNI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  &  & 

*  and  (hat  only/  or  *  provided  it  be  only.'  In  Pliny  it  TCgokily 
precedes  the  word  it  modifies. 

fignrls  oratlonli :  t.6.  the  structure  of  the  arnmwiit  and 
manner  of  putting  the  points ;  cf.  Cic  BruU  A  wgrftwiiw 

oraiionufque/ormia,  qwu  uocant  <rxiifutrtL  Figurae  (<ry(»MiTii,K 
as  distinct  from  tropin  form  the  subject  of  Quintiliiuni  nintli 
book.  It  is  in  the  command  of  Jigurae  that  DenuMthenet  Is 
said  by  Cicero  especially  to  excel  {BruL  141). 

uim,  Jire :  a  typical  virtue  of  Demosthenes  aecordiiig  to 
1)oth  Cicero  and  Quintilian ;  cf.  Cic  J>e  Or.  m.  28 ;  Qmnt 
X.  1.  106. 

panel,  etc.  :  words  of  the  Cumaean  sibyl  on  the  diffieoUj 
of  return  from  Hades ;  Verg.  Aen.  Yi.  129  fL  pemH  qmm 
aequus  amauit  \  luppUer,  out  ardem  etuxU  ad  tuthera  «dnfiit, 
I  dM  geniU,  poiuere,  Cf.  also  Sid.  Apol.  Sp.  iv.  Z,  10  nam  Is 
.  .  .  pauci  quo9  (xequus  ctma^Ut  imUabuntttr, 

8.  materia,  the  theme. 

Improbe,  arrogantly :  8C.  in  using  the  word  aemklaiMmi 
instead  of  imiteUumi,  Of.  Pliny  himself  at  another  time  (til 
90.  5),  qitam  [orationem  Demoethenia],  cum  companerem  'Ulo$ 
[libeltoit]t  habui  in  manibus,  non  tU  aemtdarer  {hnprobum  i 
ac  paene /uriosum),  sed  tamen  imitarer  et  aequerer, 

erat  in  oontentton»  dioendi,  toow  midk  eu  to 
polemical  treatment:  as  Demosthenes  reached  the  h^ 
point  of  his  eloquence  in  his  controversy  with  Aeschines,  so 
Pliny  found  his  best  stimulus  in  the  direct  antagonism  of  this 
occasion,  and  was  thereby  enabled  most  nearly  to  approach 
Demosthenes.  Cf.  Cic.  Fhil.  ii.  2  an  decertare  mecum  uoluit 
contentione  dicendi?  hoe  quidem  est  benejicium;  quid  enim 
plenius^  quid  uberius  quam  mihi  et  pro  me  et  contra  Antonium 
dicere? 

longae  desidiae  indormientem,  from  the  torpor  of  con- 
tinw.d  sloth  :  though  indormire  is  generally  used  of  falling 
asleep  over,  or  in  the  face  of  a  thing ;  cf.  Cic  Phil.  ii.  30  an 
fatfn  admouendae  sunt,  qfiae  te  excitent  tatUae  causae  imlor- 
mientem? 

4.  Marci :  sc.  Ciceronis,  who  was  Pliny's  most  constant 
rhetorical  mo<1cl ;  see  e.g.  i.  5.  12  (Sel.  4)  est  enim  mihi  cum 
Cicprone  avmulatio ;  iv.  S.  4  [M.  Tullins]  quern  aemtdari 
stttdiis  cnpio. 

Xt)K^vs,  rotdenrSfJleurs  de  rhAorique :  this  derived  mean- 
ing \A  from  the  use  of  the  word  to  denote  the  little  bottles 


2.  5.  NOTKS.  163 

that  held  unguents  for  feminine  make-up.  Pliny  perhaps 
borrows  the  word  straight  from  Cicero ;  cf.  AU.  i.  14.  3  totum 
hunc  locum,  quern  ego  xtarie  •nieU  orationihus  soleo  pingere,  de 
flammay  de  ferro—noati  illas  XrjKuOovs—tuilde  grauiter  per- 
Uxuit.  Horace  uses  the  Latin  equivalent  in  about  the  same 
sense,  though  with  a  slightly  derogatory- turn,  in  A.P,  91 
proicit  ampidlas  et  sesqnipedcdia  nerha  ;  Ep.  i.  3.  14  an 
trwjica  desaeuit  el  ampnUaUir  in  arte. 

itinere  decedere  :  Quintilian  (iv.  3.  12  f. ;  xi.  3.  164)  cites 
with  approval  such  digressions  of  Cicero's  as  the  description 
of  Sicily  and  the  story  of  the  rape  of  Proserpina  in  the  speech 
against  Verres,  and  from  that  for  Cornelius  the  panegyric  on 
Pompey.  Pliny  is  elsewhere  more  severe  in  his  jud^ent 
about  digressions ;  cf.  v.  6.  42  pj'imum  ego  officium  acnptoria 
exifUimo  iU  titxdum  swim  legal  ntque  idenfidem  interroget  se 
quid  coeperit  scribere  sciatque^  si  materiae  immorafur,  no7i  esse 
longum,  loiigvmmum,  si  aliqttid  arcessit  aiqne  atfrahit. 

acres  non  txlstes  esse,  to  he  forcible  but  not  stiff:  the 
Roman  disciples  of  the  Attic  school  of  oratory,  in  their 
anxiety  to  avoid  Asiatic  dififuseness  and  floridit}-,  were  given 
to  the  adoption  of  a  jejune  style,  which  was  not  a  true 
characteristic  of  Atticism,  as  men  like  Cicero  and  Quintilian 
are  at  pains  to  point  out;  see  Cic.  Brut.  284  turn  Bmtus, 
*  AUicum  se,'  inquit,  *  Caluus  no-<ter  did  oratorem  uoltbat  ; 
inde  ercU  ista  eanlitas  quam  ille  de  industria  co7isequebaiur.* 
*dicebat,'  inquam,  *  ita,  sed  et  ipse  erraltat  et  aliat  etiam  errare 
coffeba^,*  etc.  ;  Quint,  xir.  10.  21  ff.  mihi/aili  multum  uidentnr 
qui  sohs  exsie.  Atticos  credunt  lennes  et  lucidos  et  signijicantes  et 
qiiadavi  eloqunitiae  fnignlitate  contentos,  etc.  In  xii.  10.  16  ff. 
Quintilian  discusses  the  characteristic  differences  between 
Attic  and  Asiatic  styles. 

6.  exoeptione :  the  except io  of  Roman  law  was  the  answer 
filed  by  the  defendant  t^  the  allegations  of  the  plaintiff,  and 
on  this  the  issue  was  joined  :  sec  Dig.  XLiv.  1.  2  exceptio 
dicta  est  qnnsi  qnofdiim  exclu.sio  quae  opjwui  artioni  cuiusque 
rei  solel  oaI  exrludendum  id  quod  in  inlcntionem  condemna- 
tionemue  deductum  fst.  But  Pliny  means  rather  to  plead 
guilty  and  to  ask  for  censure  than  to  contest  the  case. 

intendam :  in  the  causative  sense,  *  prompt  you  to  use.' 

limam :  the  file  by  which  rough  surfaces  were  shaped 
and  smoothed.  The  fijrui-ative  use  a«  applied  to  the  fiolish  of 
writinirs  i.s  common  from  ("icero's  time  downward,  and  occurs 
half-a-doxcn  times  in  Pliny  ;  cf.  r.f/.  i.  8.  3  uerwn  Hiam  par- 


104  0.  PLINI  EFI.STTT;,AE  SELKCTAa  2L  5. 

tiadoi  qua  toUs  Uma  persequarU ;  i.  10.  11  (SeL  7)  UU  U 
expoliendum  limandumque  permUtwt ;  vm.  4.  7.  (SeL  56). 

oontubemalM,  inlimcUea:  the  extenncm  in  meBninf  of 
tbii  originally  military  term  begins  as  eacly  as  CScero's  tune, 
bat  reaches  its  present  stage  hardly  before  the  time  ni  Pliny, 
with  whom  it  and  its  congeners  are  favourite  wotds  in  tins 
sense. 

editions,  publication :  as  frequently  from  the  latter  half 
of  the  first  century  a.d. 

fortasse :  modifying  trrori,  *  what  may  be  only  my  own 
foolishness ' ;  cf.  similar  constructions  in  i.  6.  2  (Sel.  5)  wuUque 
$Uuae  €t  solUudo ;  in.  5.  4  (Sel.  24)  n.  Oemumiae  kuimme 
uieior;  viii.  24.  2  (Sel.  00)  homitiM  maxinu  Aomtnes;  and 
several  instances  in  the  Panegyric 

album  oalculum  adieceils,  vote  m favour  qf:  cf.  Ov.  UtL 
XV.  41  f.  mos  e/rat  aatiquua  niueis  atriaque  lapiili»,  \  his  dam^ 
wire  reoSt  iff  in  ahMluere  culpa  ;  Macar.  v.  57  Xcvk^  ^^0of : 
M  r(av  vikC^vtw  ;  Ap.  Sid.  Ep.  iv.  6.  3  cormUio  alhwn  calctiiwm 
nUnime  ajtponam.  In  another  sense  Pliny  says  (vi.  11.  3) 
o  diem  labium  notandumque  mihi  candidienmo  calcuio, 

6.  ex  eausis :  frequent  in  Pliny  for  the  more  classical  dt 
caiuitj  which  he  also  uses,  though  less  frequently  {e.g,  n.  17. 
29,— SeL  21 ;  viii.  20.  2,— Sel.  59). 

libelli  quoB  emiiimns :  the  only  sreat  speech  known  by 
us  to  have  been  delivered  by  Pliny  before  the  beginning  of 
Nerva's  reign  is  that  at  the  prosecution  of  Baebius  Massa  in 
93  or  04  A.D.  (cf.  vi.  29.  S ;  vii.  li^) :  but  he  may  well  have 
publisiied  other  less  important  speeches. 

in  manlbus  esse,  to  he  Ml  read:  cf.  vii.  .%.  5  q^uxm 
{orailonem  Deniosthe.niM]  Miiie^  cum  compotierem  illatt,  habui  in 
manibw.  Elsewhere  Pliny  uses  the  same  phrase  of  the 
process  of  composition,  '  to  oe  in  the  works '  ( =  ii.  5.  2 ;  v.  5. 
7,— Sel.  .37  inter  manw) ;  cf.  iv.  13.  1  (SeL  .S3) ;  ix.  36.  2 
(Sel.  70).     In  both  senses  the  plirsRe  is  common  in  Cicero. 

Ubliopolae :  the  Ixtok -trade  appears  to  have  started  in 
Rome  hardly  before  the  time  of  (/icero,  copies  of  whose 
speeches  and  other  works  were  sold  by  Atticus  (Cic.  Aft, 
XIII.  12.  2  ;  XIII.  22.  3  ;  etc.),  though  it  hadcxi.sted  in  Athens 
nearly  four  centuries  earlier,  and  in  Egypt :  see  Birt  Avtike 
iJiichwc/*en,  pp.  3.57  ff.,  435  ff.,  49.  In  Pliny's  time  it  had 
spread  even  mto  the  provinces  ;  see  ix.  11.  2  (Scl.  63). 

lane  blandiantur  cum,  et-c.:  cf.  the  sinnlar  concluding 
sentiment  in  vii.  4.  10  (SeL  47). 


3.  1.  NOTES.  »^ 

3.    (I.  3.) 

The  charms  of  country  life  should  be  a  stimulus  to  stutly. — 
Cauiuius  Rufus,  to  whom  tlie  letter  is  addressed,  seems  to  have 
been  a  literary  man,  specifically  a  poet,  and  a  man  of  wealth, 
if  we  may  judge  from  the  letters  written  by  Pliny  to  him,  or  to 
a  Caninius  (without  the  cofjnomen)  whom  there  is,  however,  no 
retison  to  believe  another  man.  In  ii.  8  he  is  still  enjoying 
retirement  on  the  Lacus  Larius.  In  viii.  4  (Sel.  56)  he  is 
planning  an  epic  poem  on  the  Dacian  War,  and  in  ix.  33  (Sel. 
69)  Pliny  sends  him  a  true  story  to  serve  as  a  subject  for 
poetical  composition.  In  iii.  7  (Sel.  25)  and  vi.  21  Pliny 
writes  him  tlie  latest  news  about  two  other  poets  ;  and 
finally  in  vii.  18  advises  him  about  the  safest  way  in  which  to 
leave  a  large  endowment  to  provide  public  dinners  for  the 
citizens  of  Gomum. 

1.  quid  :  on  the  multiple  anaphora  cf .  Lagergren  De  uita  et 
doc.  pp.  38  f. 

Comum :  mod.  Como,  a  town  situated  at  the  southern  end 
of  the  western  arm  of  the  Lacus  Larius  (Lago  di  Como),  about 
thirty  miles  north  of  Mediolanium  (Milan).     Julius  Caesar 

Slanted  a  colony  thei-e  in  59  B.C.,  calling  the  place  Nouum 
bmum,  and  from  his  day,  despite  temporary  emnarrassmetits 
through  the  machinations  of  his  political  foes,  the  prosperity 
of  the  town  seems  to  have  been  assured.  It  was  I^liny^ 
native  place,  as  well  as  the  home  of  his  wife  Calpumia  (see 
IV.  19,— Sel.  34) ;  within  its  territory  he  owned  extensive 
domains,  to  it  he  frequently  returned,  and  for  the  welfare  of 
its  people  he  established  various  beneticcnces. 

delidae :  from  the  Ciceronian  period  downward  the  word 
is  used  as  a  synonym  for  a  |)et,  or  favourite  (as  by  Plinv 
himself  of  his  reader  Encolpius  in  viii.  1.  2),  but  rarely,  if 
ever,  in  the  same  sense  of  a  lifeless  thing,  as  here  (cf.  also 
amortHy  ii.  17.  20  n.,— Sel.  21).  Elsewhere  Pliny  uses  it  in 
the  mcjining  of  *  luxury  '  or  *  self-indulgence. ' 

subarbanum  :  sc.  pmulhimfOs  freciucntly. 

porticus,  colonnade,  doiytfer :  a  covered  |Nissage  closed 
with  a  wall  on  one  side  and  ofioniiig  on  the  other  Iietween  the 
supporting  columns  on  some  pleasant  area  or  garden.  The 
Romans  ha<l  )x>rrowed  the  structure  from  the  Greeks,  and 
were  passionately  fond  of  it. 

uema  semper:  doubtless  1>ecause  oponing  only  toward 
the  south,  perhaps  upon  an  area  in  which  the  jJatanon 
opacissimua  ftood,  snrrounded  or  divided  by  the  eunpun  z  cf. 


166  C.  PLINI  EPISl^LAE  SELECTAE  8.  1. 

V.  6.  31  porticM  ante  medium  diem  hibema,  indimUo  die 
aesHna. 

platanon  (rXarot^t^),  grove  of  plane  trees;  cL  Petr.  131 
poiftero  die  in  eundem  platanona  deecendi.  The  pUoe  tree 
{plcUanw  orientalis  Limi.)  was  the  favourite  shade  tree 
among  the  Romans,  haWng  been  imported  into  Italy  from 
the  east  W  way  of  Greece  and  Sicily;  see  the  aoooont  in 
Plin.  N.ff.  XII.  ad  inil.  The  story  of  the  admiration  con- 
oeived  by  Xerxes  for  a  beautiful  specimen  of  this  tree  is  well 
known  (of.  Herod,  vn.  31 ;  Aehan  n.  14) ;  its  more  noble 
connection  was  with  the  grove  of  Academe  and  with  Socrates : 
of.   Plin.  l.e, ;  Cic.  De  Or,  i.  7.  28.    The  arrangement  of 

ricus,  platanon^  and  euripua  mentioned  above  is  suggested 
Vitruvius  in  his  description  of  the  palae9tra,  and  by 
Seneca  in  his  account  of  an  actual  villa :  Vitr.  v.  H/ackmeM 
autem  xysta  tic  uidenlur  ut  tint  inter  duos  porticua  Muae  mU 
piatanone$\  Sen.  Ep,  55.  6  pkUanona  medha  riwuM  emripi 
modo  diuidit.  Cf.  also  Pliny's  own  villa  in  TukU,  y.  6. 
20  eingit  areolam  quae  quattuor  platania  inttmbraiur.  inter 
hcu  marmoreo  lahro  aqua  exundcU,  etc. 

•nzipus  (etfpiTot) :  so  the  Romans,  following  the  Greeks, 
called  any  artificial  watercourse,  though  the  name  was 
more  properly  applied  to  straits  which,  like  the  enMoially 
famous  Euripus  between  Euboea  and  the  mainland,  showed  a 
freouent  ana  violent  alternation  of  flux  and  reflux.  Other 
such  canals,  probably  smaller  ones,  were  called  nili ;  cf .  CSc. 
L^,  n.  1.  2  ductuB  uero  itquarum,  quos  M  niloe  ae  enripoa 
uoeant, 

niridis  et  gemmeus,  mth  its  green  and  fUnoer-hespangled 
bankn :  cf.  v.  6.  U  pralajtorida  et  gemnua. 

8Utilectus,|seruiens  lacns:  i.e.  the  LArian  lake,  with  its 
closelv  surrounding  hiUs,  on  one  of  which  the  villa  of  Rufus, 
like  Pliny's  own  (cf.  ix.  7),  was  doubtless  situated.  The 
collocation  of  the  pair  of  epithets  is  prompted  doubtless 
both  by  their  alliteration  and  by  their  similantv  in  a  part  of 
their  ncld  of  meaning.  But  m  their  more  limited  sense 
wKtiecttu  apparently  means  simply  *  lying  below,'  while  the 
specific  subbrd illation  expressed  by  HeruienA  is  that  of  afibrd- 
ing  a  fine  view,  quite  as  if  the  lake  existed  for  no  other 
purpose.  Cf.  in  this  sense  v.  6.  23  o/im  [fentetrial  dtHjncit 
pratum,  wd  ante  puicinam^  tfnae  /eneetris  meruit  ac  evbiaett ; 
Stat.  II.  2.  73  flf.  xiio  niiqite  nolnjtta^t  \  atqne  omni  propj-ium 
(halamo  mare^  trannqne  inrcntem  \  Nerea  diuersis  seruit  fnut 
terra  ftneMris. — As  regards  the  asyndeton.  Kraut  {Utber 
Hynlax  u.  *Stii,  etc.  p.  45)  points  out  that  there  are  in  Pliny's 


3.  3.  NOTES.  167 

writings  about  40  instances  of  asyndeton  of  pairs  of  words 
like  this  :  cf.  also  note  on  i.  15.  3  (Sel.  10)  studuissenitts, 

gestatio,  an  odley-way^  where  gentle  exercise  was 
taken  in  a  litter.  It  Mas  one  of  the  indispensable  adjuncts 
of  great  Roman  gardens,  and  is  to  be  distinguished  from  an 
ambvlatio  (v.  6.  17),  set  apart  for  walking,  and  a  hippo- 
dromuii  (v.  6.  32),  used  for  riding  or  driving,  though  on 
occasion  it  might  serve  for  all  these  uses.  The  surface  was 
best  when  firm  and  yet  springy  (solida,  mollis),  like  that  of  a 
modern  cinder- track.  Cf.  ii.  17.  13  ff.  (Sel.  21) ;  v.  6.  17. 
With  the  formation  of  the  word  in  this  locative  sense  may  be 
compared  such  words  as  statio,  ambulcUio,  cencUio,  which 
occur  passim  in  Pliny  and  elsewhere. 

quod  plurimus  sol,  etc. :  the  defective  arrangements  of  the 
Romans  for  heating  the  air  of  rooms,  and  the  elaboration  of 
their  bathing  customs  made  a  sunny  position  for  the  bath- 
rooms a  necessity ;  cf.  Vitr.  v.  10  primum  digendus  locus 
[balinei]  est  quam  ccUlidissirmis^  etc. 

triclinia,  diiuwi-roonis :  from  the  Greek  form  of  dining- 
couch,  which  had  been  naturalised  in  Italy. 

popnlaria  .  .  .  paucorum, /or  «ia?iy  .  .  .  forftw.  even 
less  elaborate  houses,  like  some  of  those  at  Pompeii,  often  had 
more  than  one  dining-room,  so  that  the  room  might  be 
accommodated  to  the  size  of  the  party. 

cnUcnIa :  private  rooms, — if  for  day  use,  furnished  with 
easy-chairs,  and  a  lounge  or  couch  for  reclining  while  study- 
ing or  conversing  (cf.  e.g.  ii.  17.  21, — Sel.  21  ;  ill.  7.  4, — Sel. 
25),  and  if  for  night  use,  of  course  with  a  bed. 

2.  intenUone,  etc.,  by  your  dei'otion  to  your  property 
interests :  intentio  is  a  favourite  word  of  Pliny's  in  this 
sense.  With  obtundae  cf.  iii.  1.  11  (Sel.  23)  obiit  officio  ;  vi. 
16.  9  (SeL  45)  qtuni  stiulioso  animo  incohauerat  obit  ma^mo. 

felix  beatusque,  fortminte.  and  happy :  a  proverbial  col- 
location of  epithets ;  cf.  iii.  7.   2  (Sel.  25),  and  other  writers 

nnus  ez  multis,  wo  hfttrr  than  the  ruck  :  the  proverb  is  a 
common  one  in  I^itin,  corre.sponding  to  the  Greek  et$  tCcv 
iroXXtDi' ;  cf.  Otto  Sjirichivorfi r^  etc.,  p.  358. 

3.  quin  tu,  etc.:  i.e.  why  not  make  yourself  better  oflf  than 
the  onlinury  run  of  mortals  by  doing  something  worth  doing? 

humiles  et  sordidas  curas :  so  Pliny  characterizes  the 
ordinary  matters  of  daily  life  also  in  in.  20.  11  et  hercide 
quousfjut  ilia  uuiijaria  *  quid  wji»  f  ecquid  commode  ualtsf* 


168  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  8.  S. 

habeant  nonirae  ^vogue  liiterae  aliquid  fum  kumUe  nee  $or- 
didum  nee  prhuUte  rebus  indueum, 

alto  iiinffnique  Mceuo,  prqfound  cmd  tranquil  reOremetU : 
cf.  II.  8.  1  eiudia  alliesimue  iate  aeeeasua  a^fatim  [«twertQ; 
V.  6.  45  alUue  Un  olium  et  pinguhu  eoque  Mcmius  i  vn.  28.  8 
(iSel.  53) ;  IX.  3.  1  pingve  tUud  aUumque  oUum  plac&U ;  Sao. 
Ep,  73.  10 ;  Lttcan  x.  354  prnguie  wnmoe  ;  Ov.  Am.  x.  UL  7. 
SeccifHiis,  originally  used  in  this  sense  by  the  Augustan  poets, 
is  a  favourite  word  in  Pliny  for  a  vacation  life  in  the  eonntiy. 

te  studlis  adseris,  rescue  youreeff/ar  tht^ :  of.  n.  10.  4 
a  qua  [morUUitcUe]  adeerere  U  potea :  ni.  5.  4  (SeL  24)  «I  se  «6 
inturia  obliuionis  adaerei'et.  The  word  adeerere  had  ocfgfaially 
a  legal  signification,  denoting  the  formal  laying  of  grsap  on  a 
slave  in  the  ceremony  of  manumission  {admere  mamu  m 
liberUUem). 

etiam-somnns:  sc.  by  robbim^  yourself  of  sleep  for  tlie 
sake  of  study ;  ci  Hor.  Ep,  i.  2.  &ff. 

4.  efflnge  et  ezcude,  mould  and  fiLsIiion:  as  an  artist 
shapes  a  statue  of  enduring  bronze ;  cf.  Vers.  AeiL  vi.  847 
excudent  alii  spirantia  moUiue  cutra ;  and  of  a  literary  compo- 
sition Cic.  AU.  XV.  27.  2  Hbrum  tibi  oeleriUr  miUam  'cfo 
gloria  * ;  excudam  aliquid  HpakKeldeiw  quod  lateat  in  tkemimris 
tuie, 

reUqua  rerum  tnamm  :  on  the  frequent  use  in  PUny  of 
the  neuter  i>lural,  as  of  other  forms,  of  the  adjective  with  a 
limiting  genitive  see  Kraut  Syntax  u,  8tU  p.  7 ;  Holstein  De 
Flinii  min.  elocutione  disput.  aU,  p.  9. 

allum  atque  alium  etc.:  cf.  ii.  10.  4  habe  ante  oculoe 
mortalita^em,  a  qua  adserere  te  hoc  uno  manimento  potea  :  fiam 
cetera  fragilia  et  caduca  wm  mviius  quam  ipei  hominea  ocd- 
dunt  deainuntque  :  and  the  commonplace  of  nor.  Carm.  u.  3. 
1720;  II.  14.2128. 

4.    (I.  5.) 

The  contemplated  prosecution  of  Reguhis. — The  life  and 
character  of  C.  Licinius  Vocunius  Roman  us,  to  whom  this 
letter  is  addresiicd,  are  set  forth  in  ii.  13  (Sel.  19),  q.  u. 
Pliny  writes  to  him  nine  letters  of  the  published  collection, 
some  of  them  among  the  most  interesting  of  his  epistles,  and 
recommends  him  to  Trajan,  as  previously  to  Ncrva,  for 
admission  to  senatorial  rank  :  see.  iiesides  the  present  letter, 
II.  1  (Sel.  ir>),  VIII.  8  (Sel.  57),  and  x.  4.  He  may  well  be  the 
Voconius  who  was  a  friend  of  the  emperor  Hadrian,  who 
wrote  for  his  epitaph  the  verse  quoted  in  ui.  1.  7  n.  (SeL  23). 


4.  1.  NOTES.  169 

— This  letter  is,  with  one  exception  (i.  12, — Sel.  8),  the  only 
one  of  the  first  book  to  which  a  date  can  be  assigned  within  a 
small  limit  of  time.  It  was  written  within  only  a  few 
months  after  the  murder  of  Domitian,  but  later  than  Jan.  1, 
97.  The  emperor  is  dead  (§  1),  the  new  annual  magistrates 
have  entered  upon  office  (§11),  but  lunius  Mauricus,  one  of  the 
political  exiles  of  Domitian's  reign,  though  probably  already 
recalled  by  Nerva,  has  not  yet  arrived  in  Rome  (§§  10,  16, 
16).  That  he  was  perfectly  reestablished  in  Rome  before  the 
death  of  Nerva  is  certain  from  the  anecdote  narrated  of  him 
in  IV.  22  (Sel.  35). 

1.  Qidistine :  cf.  similar  introduction  of  the  subject  of  a 
letter  by  a  personal  question  in  iii.  20  meminisUue;  iv.  11 
(Sel.  32)  audiatme  ;  vi.  13  umqtiavme  uidinti  ;  viii.  8  (Sel.  57) 
uidUtine  cUiquando  ;  viii.  22  nostiiie, 

VL  Regrolo:  M.  Aquilius  Regulus  achieved  a  precocions 
reputation  as  a  voluntarj*  informer  in  the  last  years  of  Nero's 
reign  (see  ill.  7.  3, — Sel.  25, — n.  sponte  accusasne),  and  upon 
the  accession  of  Vespasian  was  rescued  from  vengeance  only 
by  the  efforts  of  his  younger  and  better  brother,  Vipst«nuB 
Messalla  (see  Tac.  Hist.  iv.  42).  There  seems  to  be  no 
evidence  that  he  prosecuted  the  trade  of  informer  under 
Domitian,  in  spite  of  Pliny's  virulence  against  him  in  this 
letter,  which  seems  to  have  been  aroused  chiefly  by  the  post 
mortem  attack  made  by  Kegulus,  as  a  firm  supporter  of 
Domitian,  upon  Pliny's  revered  friends,  Rusticus  and  Senecio. 
Whatever  Mauricus  may  have  advised  on  his  return  (§  10), — 
and  it  was  probably  prosecution, — Nerva  after  the  first  was 
unfavourable  to  a  revival  of  old  feuds  by  a  new  batch  of  pro- 
secutions (see  IV.  22, — Sel.  35).  and  Regulus  consequently 
escaped  Pliny's  dreaded  attack,  and  seems  to  have  lived  on 
fairly  good  terms  with  him  up  to  the  time  of  the  death  of 
Regulus  in  perhaps  105  or  soon  thereafter  (see  vi.  2, — Sel.  41). 
The  popularity  and  power  of  Regulus  as  an  orator  are  evident 
even  from  Pliny's  criticisms  upon  him  (see  i.  20.  14  ff., — SeL 
13  ;  IV.  7.  4  ff.,— Sel.  31  :  vi.  2,~Sel.  41),  and  Martial  exalts 
him  as  the  equal  of  Cicero,  quite  as  he  does  Pliny  himself; 
cf.  III.  21  (Sel.  29)  with  Mart.  iv.  16:  v.  28,  63;  vi.  64.  11. 
Martianus  Capella  apparently  joins  Regulus  with  Pliny  (i)er- 
haps  also  with  others?)  a.*  consummate  orators  of  the  age 
(v.  432).  Regulus  is  the  only  living  man  of  whom  Pliny  in 
his  letters  speaks  sharply,  and  the  case  against  him  for  very 
decided  delinquency  (»f  character  in  his  mature  years  appears 
to  be  not  proven. 

tlmidiorem,  hamiliorem :  on  the  asyndeton  see  i.  3.  1 
(SeL  3)  n.  subiectwt  f^truiois. 


170  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAB.  4.  1. 

Domitianl  mortem  :  Domitian  was  assassinated  on  Sept. 
18,  W  A.D.  (cf.  Suet.  Doni,  17 ;  Die.  Cass.  Lxvn.  18). 

irascerer :  here,  as  in  some  other  places,  the  word  seems 
to  be  used  in  a  semi-technical  way  of  the  disposition  toward 
vengeance  that  may  spring  from  anger.  Regulus  must  have 
been  perfectly  aware  long  before  this  of  Pliny^  ancer,  but  the 
death  of  Domitian  and  the  accession  of  a  prmce  of  undoubted 
character  now  left  Regulus  without  a  protector  from  le^l 
prosecution.  Informers  apparently  fell  under  the  penalties 
of  the  lex  Cornelia  de  sicariis  et  uenef^is  (cf.  Dig.  XLViii.  8, 
et  cd. ),  which  visited  deportation  (see  §  5  n.  relegtUua)  and  the 
confiscation  of  property  upon  persons  of  social  position  found 
guilty  of  compassing  the  death  of  any  one  by  false  or  in- 
sufficient testimony.  Culprits  of  low  station  suffered  death 
for  the  same  offence.  Cf.  §  8  iraacatur;  iv.  26.  2  iratum 
jtrincipem ;  ix.  13.  4  (Sel.  64)  ira  ;  and  even  ii.  20.  6  (Sel.  22) 
iram  deorxun. 

2.  Rustici  Aruleni  :  L.  Junius  Arulenus  Rusticus  had 
shown  his  daring  in  the  cause  of  justice  and  freedom  against 
tyranny  as  early  as  the  year  66  a.  D.,  when  as  tribunus  plebis 
he  had  been  prevented  from  interposing  a  useless  veto  in  the 
condemnation  of  Thrasea  Paetus  only  by  the  urgency  of 
Thrasea  himself.  Tacitus  characterizes  him  then  SMflagrcau 
iuuenis  cupidine.  latuiis  {Ann.  xvi.  26).  What  his  disposition 
was  toward  the  immediate  successors  of  Nero  we  have  no 
means  of  knowing,  further  than  from  the  fact  that  he  was 
praetor  in  69  a.d.,  and  must  at  least  have  preferred  Vitellins 
to  Otho.  Detailed  by  the  senate  among  those  officials  sent 
out  to  meet  the  approaching  troops  of  Vespasian's  command, 
he  was  not  only  unsuccessful  in  his  mission  as  an  agent  of 
peace,  but  was  even  wounded  by  the  an^y  invaders  (Tac. 
Hist.  III.  80).  His  conformity  under  Vitellius,  if  not  his 
general  tendency  toward  political  opposition,  perhaps  pre- 
vented his  further  political  advancement  (but  cf.  Dio  on  his 
not  asking  for  advancement),  though  he  seems  to  have  lived 
uiidisturl>ed  during  the  beneficent  reigns  of  Vesfiasian  and 
Titus,  even  when  Hclvidius  Priscus  suffered.  But  under  the 
tyranny  of  Domitian  his  independent  spirit  did  not  allow  him 
to  remain  ^jiiict,  and  his  condemnation  for  treason  by  the 
judgment  of  a  senate  totally  dcilioralized  by  fear  followed  in 
93  A.D.  ui)on  liis  publication  of  a  panegyric  upon  Thrasea 
Paetus  and  Helvidius  I'riscus.  His  book  had  the  high  honour 
of  Ixjing  jmblicly  bnriie»!  (Tac.  .If/r.  2).  The  Stoic  philosophy 
to  which  he  adliered,  and  which  was  lield  to  encourage  inde- 
pendent ideas  of  liberty,  is  ossified  by  Dio  (lxvii.  13)  as  a 
cause  contributory  to   his  death.      Suetonius  also  remarks 


4.  3.  NOTES.  171 

{Dom.  10)  that  the  banishment  from  Rome  of  all  teachers  of 
philosophy  was  connected  with  the  condemnation  of  Rusticus 
(cf.  III.  11.  2  n., — Sel.  26).  Pliny  elsewhere  calls  him  either 
Arulenus  Rusticus,  or  simply  Rusticus.  Tacitus  exhibits  the 
same  variations.  Domitian  calls  him  Junius  Rusticus  ;  Dio, 
Rusticus  Arulenus ;  and  a  single  inscription  (Orelli  1 190), 
possibly  referring  to  him,  gives  his  name  as  L.  Junius  Rusticus. 
For  further  references  to  him  in  Pliny's  letters  see  the  Index 
of  Proper  Names  in  this  volume. 

pericalum  fouerat:  but  apparently  Regulus  was  not  the 
chief  prosecutor. 

libmm :  evidently  a  speech,  as  so  commonly  in  Pliny's 
letters  (cf.  e.g.  i.  2.  I, — Sel.  2).  This  was  apparently  meant 
as  an  answer  by  Regulus  to  the  panegyric  of  Rusticus  on 
Paetus  and  Helvidius. 

redtaret  publicaretque :  on  the  public  or  private  reading 
by  an  author  of  his  own  work,  often  as  a  preliminary 
to  publication,  see  note  on  i.  13.  1  recUaret  (Sel.  9).  On 
publicaret  in  the  sense  of  ederet  see  i.  1.  1  (Sel.  1)  n.  puUicarem. 

Stoicomm  sixniam:  there  may  perhaps  have  been  some 
ostentation  in  the  philosophic  bearing  of  certain  of  these 
reforming  politicians,  who  sometimes  had  adopted  all  the 
Stoic  virtues  but  those  of  patience  and  self-possession. 

Vitelllana  cicatrice  stigmosum  :  i.e.  *  branded  with  the 
scar  that  marks  him  a  Vitellian,'  as  a  runaway  slave  might 
be.  The  reference  is  of  course  to  the  scar  of  the  wound 
mentioned  above,  which  apparently  was  on  his  forehead. 
The  Stoic  Rusticus  could  hanlly  have  been  proud  of  being 
known  as  a  quondam  partizan  of  Vitellius. 

8.  eloquentiam,  the  style  of  languaue :  evidently  the  fas- 
tidious Pliny  does  not  appreciate  highly  the  extreme  vigour 
of  the  figures  of  a  speaker  who  always  struck  straight  at  the 
throat  (cf.  i.  20.  14, — Sel.  13).  Perhaps  also  he  took  excep- 
tion to  such  neologisms  as  stifjmosum,  which  apparently 
occurs  elsewhere  only  in  Pctron.  109. 

lacerat :  ac  in  the  book  mentioned  above ;  cf.  such  uses  of 
the  present  tense  of  pjist  events  regarded  as  yet  current  as  iii. 
21.  1  (Sel.  31)  amlio  Valerium  Mardalem  dccesMitwe  ;  Cic.  Sm. 
44  Plato  *  escam  maJorum '  apjjtliat  nohiptaiem ;  and  §  2  above. 

Herennium  Senedonem :  a  native  of  the  province  of 
Baetica,  where  he  also  served  as  quaestor  (cf.  vii.  33.  5), 
beyond  which  point  he  di<l  not  continue  his  official  career 
(Dio.  Cas.  Lxvii.  13).  He  seems  to  have  lieen  well  known  as 
a   hm'yer  in   Rome,   and   two    of  his  prominent  cases  are 


172  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  4.  3. 

mentioned  by  Pliny.  In  90  a.  d.  he  appeared  for  Licinianus, 
who  was  accused  of  incest  with  a  Vestal  virgin  (iv.  11.  12, — 
Sol.  32),  and  in  93  in  conjunction  with  Pliny  he  appeared  for 
the  province  of  Baetica  agamst  its  former  governor  Baebius 
Massa  (vii.  33).  In  this  same  year  he  met  his  death.  Like 
Arulenus  Rusticus,  he  ventured  to  issue  a  panegyrical 
biography  of  Helvidius  Prisons  (vii.  19.  5, — Sel.  50  ;  Tac. 
Agr.  2,  45;  Dio  ^.c),  and  was  accused  of  high  treason  by 
Mettius  Cams,  condemned  by  a  terror-stricken  senate,  and 
executed.  For  further  references  to  him  see  the  Index  of 
Proper  Names  in  this  volume. 

Mettiiii  OaruB  would  seem  to  have  been  among  the  most 
infamous  of  the  informers  under  Domitian,  if  we  may  infer 
anything  from  the  way  in  which  Tacitus,  Juvenal,  and 
Martial  mention  him  as  the  type  ;  cf.  Tac.  Agr,  45  unaadhuc 
uicloria  Carus  Mettiiis  censebcUur ;  luv.  1.  33  S.  magni  delator 
amici  |  .  .  .  qjtem  Massa  timely  quern  munere  palpat,  |  Carus, 
etc. ;  Mart.  xii.  25.  5  ecce^  reuvi  Varus  te  dettUit.  According 
to  the  scholiast  on  Juvenal  Carus  was  a  dwarf  and  in  earlier 
life  a  pet  freedman  of  Nero.  His  prosecution  of  Senecio  is 
again  referred  to  in  vii.  19.  5  (Sel.  50) ;  and  Pliny  himself 
may  have  escaped  him  only  by  the  death  of  Domitian  ; 
cf.  VII.  27.  14  (Sel.  54).  The  ultimate  fat«  of  Carus  is 
unknown.  The  scholiast  on  Juvenal  declares  that  he  and 
[Baebius]  Massa  both  sufifered  death  upon  a  prosecution  by  a 
certain  Heliodorus,  apparently  meaning  within  the  limits  of 
Nero's  reign.  The  error,  bat  not  the  correction  of  it,  is 
manifest. 

Crasso:  M.  Licinius  Crassus  Frugi  was  of  a  family 
marked  for  violent  death.  His  father,  of  the  same  name, 
and  his  mother,  Scribonia,  were  executed  under  Claudius, 
together  with  his  brother,  Cn.  Pompeius  Magnus  Licinianns. 
Another  brother,  L.  Calpurnius  Piso  Licinianns  (cf.  ii.  20. 
2, — Sel.  2*2),  was  adoptea  by  Cralba,  and  was  murdered  with 
him  after  a  four-days  principality.  A  third  brother,  Crassus 
Soril>onianus,  apparently  ])erishcd  under  Vespasian.  And 
Crassus  Frugi  himself,  who  had  been  consul  in  64  a.d.,  was 
put  to  death  under  Nero  in  68  A.  i).  on  a  charge  brought  by 
Kc«{ulu8 :  cf.  Tac.  /Ii<f.  i.  48 ;  I  v.  42. 

Cainerino :  Q.  Sulpicius  Canierinus  Peticus,  cos.  tmff. 
in  46  A.D.,  one  of  the  Fratres  Artudes^  and  once  proconsul  of 
Africa,  was  condemned  to  death  in  67  a.d.  on  a  charge 
brought  by  Rcgulus :  cf.  Dio  Cass.  LXiii.  IS. 

molestos  sum,  meddle  with. 
4.  etlam  cum,   etc.  :  i.e.   even  on  an  occasion  when  he 


I 

I 


4.  6.  NOTES.  173 

might  be  expected  to  gather  as  large  an  audience  as  he 
could,  not  omitting  to  inWte  any  of  his  acquaintances  of 
rank. 

quam  capitaliter  me  lacessisaet,  wheU  a  deadly  ciSMult  he 
had  nuuU  vpon  me :  capitaliter  seems  to  occur  here  for  the 
first  time ;  but  cf.  e.g.  Veg.  ii.  22  cum  in  militem  cajntalifer 
atiimaduertilitr ;  Amm.  Marc.  xxi.  16.  11  iustumque  in  eiits 
modi  titvlia  cafiitaiiter  oderat.  For  a  list  of  the  adverlis  of 
this  form  used  by  Pliuy  see  H.  Holstein  De  Plinii  minoris 
elocHiione  (Naumburg,  1862),  p.  32. 

oentumuiros:    the   centumviral   court  appears  to  have 
been  established  at  least  as  early  as  the  beginning  of  the  7th 
century  A.u.a  to  deal   with   civil  questions  of  ownership, 
ffuardiauship,  relationship,  inheritance,  and  the  like  (cf.  Cic. 
x>e  Or,    I.    173).     Its  name  seems  to  have  come  from   its 
original  composition  of  three  citizens  from  each  of  the  thirty- 
five  tribes.     The  presidins/  officers  were  at  first  qvaestwii^  but 
Augustus  transferred  the  presidency  to  the  dcctmuiri  MUtthns 
ittdicaHduf  (»Suet.  Aiuf.  30),  acting  under  one  of  the  praetors, 
who  was  denominated  praetoi-  hasfarius^  or  ad  hastas,  from 
the  hasta,   the  symbol  of    Roman    possession,    which    was 
planted  in  the  ground  at  the  meeting  of  the  court  ((laiiis 
IV.  16).     The  earlier  place  of  meetine  appears  to  have  been 
the  open  Forum,  as  in  the  case  of  other  courts.     Later  the 
sittings  were  held  in  the  Basilica  lulia  (cf.  ii.   14.  4, — Sel.  2(),  i 
— n.  basilica).     The  increase  in  the  business  and  importance  \ 
of  the  court  led  to  its  enlargement  at  some  unknown  time  j 
during   the   first  century   a.d.  to  180  members,    who   were  | 
ordinarily  divided  into  tour  panels,  which  for  common  cases  i 
sat  separately,   though  sometimes   simultaneonsly,   but    for 
cases  of  especial  importance  might  sit  as  a  single  court  (cf.  i. 
18.  3,— Sel.   12 ;  vi.  33.  3 ;  Quint,  xii.  5.  G).     All  of  Plinv*8 
important  cases  seem  to  have  lieen  pleaded  before  either  this 
court  or  the  senate ;  cf.  vi.  12.  2  praesertim  in  harena  mra^ 
hoc  est  aptul  centumulrox, 

6.  Arrionillae,  Timonis  uzori :  the  people  and  the  caf>c  arc 
otherwise  unknown,  but  the  trial  was  evidently  during 
Uomitian's  reign. 

nitebamur,  we  were  renting. 

sententia:  possibly,  as  Schefler  suggested,  a  'ruling* 
made  by  Modestus  sitting  as  a  judge,  perhaps  as  praetor;  but 
quite  as  likely  an  *  opinion,'  as  of  a  iiiris  coiiMiilftis.  It  is 
hardly  likely  that  a  s|Kt,'fli  in  the  senate  is  here  meant. 

Metti  Modeiti:  he  is  shown  by  inscriptiouK  {0.  J.  <ir. 
427«.»,  42S(),  3S3r»;    C.I.L.   III.  355)  to  have  Ucm   legate  of 


172  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  4.  A 

mentioned  by  Pliny.  In  90  a.  d.  he  appeared  for  I^cinianiw» 
who  was  accused  of  incest  with  a  Vestal  virgin  (iv.  11.  12;— 
Sol.  32),  and  in  93  in  conjunction  with  Pliny  he  appeared  for 
the  province  of  Baetica  against  its  former  governor  BaebliM 
Massa  (vii.  33).  In  this  same  year  he  met  his  death.  lika 
Arulenus  Rusticus,  he  ventured  to  issue  a  paneg3rrioal 
biogri»>hy  of  Hclvidius  Priscus  (vil  19.  5, — Sel.  50 ;  Tac 
Affr.  2,  45;  Dio  Lc),  and  was  accused  of  high  treason  farr 
Mettius  Carus,  condemned  by  a  terror-stricken  senate,  ana 
executed.  For  further  references  to  him  see  the  Index  of 
Proper  Names  in  this  volume. 

Mettius  OaruB  would  seem  to  have  been  among  the  moii. 
infamous  of  the  informers  under  Domitian,  if  we  mav  inlir 
anything  from  the  way  in  which  Tacitus,  Juvenal,  «ad 
Martial  mention  him  as  the  type  ;  cf.  Tac.  Agr,  45  tutaadkuB 
uktoria  Carus  MeUiiis  censebcUur ;  luv.  1.  33  ff.  magni  ddaJUir 
amici  |  .  .  .  qxi^m  Massa  timet,  quern  munere  paljyai,  |  Carwt^ 
etc. ;  Mart.  xii.  25.  5  ecce,  reum  Varus  te  detulit.  According 
to  the  scholiast  on  Juvenal  Carus  was  a  dwarf  and  in  earlier 
life  a  pet  f rcedman  of  Nero.  His  prosecution  of  Senedo  is 
again  referred  to  in  vii.  19.  5  (Sel.  50) ;  and  Pliny  bimielf 
may  have  escaped  him  only  by  the  death  of  DomiUan; 
cf.  VII.  27.  14  (Sel.  54).  The  ultimate  fat«  of  Cams  fe 
unknown.  The  scholiast  on  Juvenal  declares  that  he  mhI 
[Baebius]  Massa  both  suffered  death  upon  a  prosecution  by  » 
oertain  Heliodorus,  apparently  meaning  within  the  limita  ef 
Nero*s  reign.  The  error,  but  not  the  correction  of  it^  ii 
manifest. 

Crasso:  M.  Licinius  Crassus  Frugi  was  of  a  family 
marked  for  violent  death.  His  father,  of  the  same  name, 
and  his  mother,  Scribonia,  were  executed  under  ClaudinSi 
together  with  his  brother,  Cn.  Pompeius  Magnus  Liciniani». 
Another  brother,  L.  Calpurnius  Piso  Licinianus  (cf.  ii.  90. 
2, — Sel.  22),  was  adopted  by  Galba,  and  was  murdered  with 
him  after  a  four-days  principality.  A  third  brother,  Crasana 
Scrilx>nianus,  apparently  iierishcd  under  Vespasian.  Aud 
Crassus  Frugi  hiinsclf,  who  had  been  consul  in  64  a.d.,  waa 
put  to  duath  under  Nero  in  68  a.d.  on  a  charge  brought  by 
Kc>;ulus :  cf.  Tac.  /list.  i.  48  ;  iv.  42. 

Camerino :  Q.  Sulpicius  Canierinu.s  Peticus,  cos.  s^jf, 
in  46  A.D. ,  one  of  the  Frafres  Aruales^  and  once  proconsul  of 
Africa,  was  condemned  to  death  in  67  a.d.  on  a  charge 
brought  by  Rcgulus :  cf.  Dio  Cass.  LXiii.  18. 

molestus  sum,  meddle  with. 
4.  etlam  cum,   etc.  :  i.e.   even  on  an  occasion  when  be 


4.S. 


^*-" 


onguiu.  v->. 
five  triM^ 

-wrVio  *»••* 
-t\ie   ka» 
-plaxitK  : 
IV.  \ft.    . 
trUe  o^ 

n.  oeuu- 

of   the  a 

OTdVnahr 

18.  a,-N 

court  <r 


174  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  i.  & 

Domitian  in  command  of  Lycia,  and  to  !»▼•  raeoeded  Antdtni 
Quietus  (VI.  29.  1)  as  proconsul  of  Asia.  Mothinff  fartlier  it 
known  of  him  beyond  what  is  stated  by  Pliny  in  tiiis  ktter. 

r^legatns:  by  this  form  of  banishment  the  culprit  did 
not  necessarily  lose  civil  or  personal  riffhts,  but  was  bound  to 
live,  for  a  specified  time  or  indefinitely»  outside  a  spedfiejl 
place  or  region,  or  within. a  specified  place  or  region,  ^y 
deportcUio,  on  the  other  hand,  which  finally  took  tlie 
place  of  the  former  hUertUctio  aquae  tt  ignM  (ef.  €,g.  Dig» 
XLViii.  19.  2.  1),  the  culprit  lost  all  civil  and  personal  rights 


(though  marriage  was  not  dissolved  by  it),  and  was  oarried 
(often  in  chains)  to  some  specified  place,  usuallv  a  small 
island,    where   he    lived    under   surveilUuice.      Napoleoo^ 


imprisonment  in  St.  Helena  partook  of  the  nature  of 
deportajlio ;  the  present  banishment  of  the  Bourbon  prinoes 
from  France  is  a  case  of  rdegtUio.  Cf.  Dig,  XLvm.  19,  2S ; 
Mommsen  Sii^frtchl  pp.  964  ff. 

Secnnde :  so  the  presiding  consul  addresses  Pliny  in  tho 
senate  (ix.  13. 9,— Sel.  64),  ancTso  the  emperor  Trajan  addresses 
him  always  in  his  rescripts  (cf.  Book  x.  pamm), 

quid  de  Modesto  sentlas :  t.e.  *  how  can  you  quote  here 
the  opinion  of  a  convicted  criminal  ?  or  do  you,  indeed,  dare 
to  say  that  you  do  not  think  him  a  criminal  ? ' 

perioulum :  for  utterances  more  innocent  than  this  had 
cost  men  their  lives  in  these  times  of  terror. 

flagitium :  for  Pliny  evidently  believed  Modestus  an 
innocent  victim  of  tyranny. 

mihi  deos  adftiisse :  the  proverbial  expression  is  not  to 
be  understood  as  implying  any  actual  belief  in  supernatural 
intervention  then,  or  ever,  in  the  affairs  of  men  :  cf.  also  I. 
12.  8  (Sel.  8)  ad/uU  <U\u  uoto ;  i.  22.  11  miperest  ut  pramisain 
[medicortim]  deuB  adnuat;  vu.  19.  11  (Sel.  50);  vii.  24.  3 
(Sel.  52)  fti  dew  adnuisset,  jHiter ;  x.  1.  2  (Sel.  73) ;  x.  2.  3 
(Sel.  74).  For  other  expressions  of  prayer  to  the  gods  see  v. 
11.  3  deos  precor  ut  animum  istum  tihi^  animo  isti  tempuH  [i.e. 
uitam]  qitam  lonffiMnimnm  trihuaiU ;  vi.  1 1.  4  q^iod  (faudium 
[sc.  in  the  success  of  his  young  friunds  at  the  Kar]  uf  jxirftehto 
capiam  deos  oro;  also  vii.  26.  2  (Sel.  53);  and  of  more  formal 
uota  for  the  emperor's  life,  welfare,  and  success,  x.  14,  tiH 
(Sel.  90),  51,  52  (Sel.  94),  100.  On  the  general  question  of  the 
Roman  belief  in  the  gods  during  this  jK-riod  «ee  Fne<llaiulcr 
Sittf^fjMch.  III.*  pp.  509  ff. 

6.  solebant :  the  sarcasm  is  pointed  by  the  position  of  the 
verb. 


4.  8.  NOTES.  175 

tertio,  etc. :  the  first  two  questions  had  been  *  What  is 
your  opinion  of  Modestus?*  The  substance  of  the  first 
answer  was,  *That  his  case  is  not  in  point  here';  of  the 
second  answer,  'That  his  case  is  already  closed.'  But  the 
sarcasm  of  solehant  irritates  Regulus  to  insist  on  his  inter- 
rogation, and  to  put  it  in  a  much  more  pointed  form.  The 
customs  of  a  Roman  court  allowed  to  the  fullest  extent  such 
altercatio  between  counsel. 

pietate,  loyalty :  the  exaltation  of  the  person  of  the 
princeps  had  proceeded  so  far  that  even  the  use  of  words  that 
might  be  construed  as  lacking  in  respect  to  him  made  a  person 
liable  to  the  charge  of  impietas,  and  hence  of  maiestas ;  cf.  Paul. 
SefU,  V.  29.  1  quod  crimen  \maie>itatis\  non  solum  faciOt  sed  et 
uerbia  impiin  ac  maledictia  tnaxime  exacerhatur.  It  would  be 
hard  indeed  for  Pliny  to  express  any  opinion  in  answer  to  the 
definite  question  without  either  stultifying  himself  or  laying 
himself  open  to  a  charge  of  impietas. 

7.  at  ego,  etc.  :  in  his  retort  Pliny  fairly  outreculates 
Regulus ;  even  to  raise  a  question  concerning  a  judgment 
already  approved  by  the  emperor  is,  he  suggests,  an  act  of 
impietas. 

utili  fortasse,  inhonesto  tamen :  the  question  of  a  pos- 
sible conflict  between  the  tUile  and  the  ho7iestum  was  an 
ethical  commonplace,  especially  of  the  Stoic  philosophy ;  cf. 
e,g.  the  discussion  in  the  third  book  of  Cicero  De  Officiis, 

8.  Gaecilium  Celerem :  possibly  the  i)erson  to  whom  vii.  17 
is  addressed,  but  otherwise  unknown. 

mox,  tJien:  i.e.  *next  in  order'  (as  frequently  in  Pliny), 
rather  than  *  soon.' 

FataLum  lustum :  cos.  svff.  102  a.d.,  and  probably  the 
friend  of  Tacitus  to  whom  the  Diodogua  de  Oratorifnts  is  dedi- 
cated. Pliny  addresses  to  him  one  letter  (i.  II),  urging  him 
to  write  him  a  letter,  and  perhaps  a  second  (vii.  2),  on  an 
allied  theme.     But  he  is  not  mentioned  elsewhere. 

Spurinnam:  see  iii.  1.  1  n.  (Sel.  23)  Spurinnam. 

mane  :  i.e.  at  the  usual  time  of  the  salufafio,  on  which 
see  III.  7.  4  (Sel.  2'))  n.  salntabatur. 

nideas,  tjo  to  sec  ;  cf.  viii.  S.  1  (Sel.  57)  uidistinf.  aliqnando 
Clitiimnum  /out*  m  ?  >n  nondum,  vide.  Cicero  uses  the  verb  in 
this  sense  a  number  of  times  in  his  letters. 

sed  plane  mane,  l/tU  [l)e  sure  that  it's]  early  i»  the 
mornimj. 


176  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  4.  8. 

effldas  ne :  with  this  dependence  of  a  final  instead  of  a 
consecutive  clause  upon  efficere  cf.  such  extensions  to  com- 
pleted action  as  in  Pan.  40  effedsti  ne  malos  principes  habjiis- 
semus;  Tac.  Affr.  6  effedt  ne  cuius  aUentis  aacrtleffium  res 
puhlica  quam  Neranis  sensisset, 

0.  coimiu  in  portlcam  liuiae  :  with  the  construction  cf.  v. 
1.  9  contienimus  in  aedem  Concordiat,  The  Portico  of  Li  via 
was  built  by  Augustus,  and  is  described  by  Dio  Cassius  as  a 
veplffTipoyf  that  is,  a  colonnade  enclosing  a  four-square  area. 
The  references  to  it  in  literature  and  in  the  Regionaries, 
certain  fragments  of  the  Capitoline  Plan,  and  some  drawings 
by  Palladio  of  ruins  seen  oy  him,  make  it  certain  that  the 
Portico  was  situated  on  the  Esquiline,  immediately  behind 
the  present  church  of  S.  Lucia  in  Selce,  and  to  the  west  of  S. 
Martino  ai  Monti.  It  was  one  of  the  great  structures  of 
Rome,  and  though  Trajan  is  said  to  have  held  court  there,  its 
purpose  seems  to  have  been  simply  to  serve  public  comfort 
and  convenience  as  a  shelter  and  a  lounging-place.  Cf.  the 
indications  of  literature  in  Huelsen's  Nonunclator  Topo- 
graphicus,  and  the  note  in  Gilbert  Oesch.  u,  Topog,  d.  tStadt 
Bom  im  Alt.  ni.  253. 

10.  dispietes  ipse,  deeide/cr  yoftrsel/ :  the  verb  is  especially 
common  in  Pliny  in  this  sense  of  discerning  between  a  number 
of  possible  courses  of  action. 

Blauricam :  Junius  Mauricus,  the  brother  of  Arulenus 
Rusticus,  showed  his  fearless  independence  of  character  as 
early  as  the  accession  of  Galba,  when  in  censuring  the  city 
mob  for  lawlessness  lie  declared  that  perhaps  Nero  might  yet  be 
desired  back  again  (Pint.  Galba  8) ;  and  again  on  the  acces- 
sion of  Vespasian,  when  be  wished  to  undertake  the  prosecu- 
tion of  the  informers  of  Nero*s  reign  (Tac.  Hist.  iv.  40).  The 
year  93,  which  was  fatal  to  his  brother,  saw  his  exile,  from 
which  he  had  just  now  been  recalled  by  Nerva  (Tac.  Agr.45;  cf. 
Ill  11. 3,  — Sel.  26).  He  was  treated  with  honour  by  both  Nerva 
and  Trajan  (iv.  22,— Sel.  35),  but  his  later  career  is  unkno^-n. 
Pliny  addresses  thrice  letters  to  him  ;  i.  14  (recommending  a 
husband  for  his  niece,  the  daughter  of  Kusticus),  ii.  18  (on 
the  selection  of  a  teacher  for  the  children  of  Rusticus),  and 
VJ.  14  (accepting  an  invitation  to  visit  him  at  Formiae). 
Martial  mentions  him  as  a  type  of  a^'qaifas  (v.  2S). 

bnlus  consilii,  this  determination:  sr.  whether  or  not  to 
prosecute  Regulus. 

11.  in  praetoris  officio,  at  the  pm^tor'/i  inj*taUation:  cf. 
Mart.  IV.  78.  5,  C  et  sine  te  nnlli /a^  est  prodire  tribune^  \  nee 


I 


4.  12.  NOTES.  177 

caret  officio  consul  uterque  tuo;  Amm.  Marc.  xxvi.  1.  1  cunc- 
torum  nomina  qui  cui  urhani  praetoris  officium  comieiiere  non 
sunt  expressa ;  Spart.  Hculr.  9.  7  Romae  uero  praetorum  et 
consilium  officia  frequentanit.  No  social  duty  had  become 
more  pressing  at  this  period  than  that  of  attendance  on  one's 
friend,  acquaintance,  or  patron,  when  he  proceeded  in  state 
to  take  possession  of  his  new  office.  Pliny  mentions  else- 
where (II.  1.  8, — Sel.  15)  that  the  aged  and  famous  Verginius 
Buf us  never  failed  to  come  from  his  retirement  in  the  country 
to  attend  him  upon  such  occasions,  and  that  another  aged 
and  famous  man,  Corellius  Rufus,  had  always  been  equally 
scrupulous  (IV.  17.  6).  Pliny  himself,  too,  is  at  great  pains 
to  apologize  to  one  of  his  friends  for  being  unable  to  return, 
apparently  from  Umbria,  in  time  to  render  him  this  courtesy 
(IX.  37).  Cf.  Mommsen  StaxU.^.  i.^  616 ;  Friedljinder  Sitten- 
gesch.  i.*  407.  As  the  praetorship,  though  not  the  consulship, 
was  held  at  this  time  for  an  entire  year,  dating  from  the  first 
day  of  January  (Mommsen  Sfaatsr.  ii.'  204  ;  i.^  599),  the  date 
of  this  meeting  with  Regulus  is  readily  fixed  as  Jan.  1,  97. 

secretum  petit,  a-iks /or  a  private  intervieio:  with  secreium 
in  this  meaning  cf.  iii.  1.  6  (Sel.  23) ;  Pan.  53 ;  Tac. 
Hist.  II.  4  pauca  in  praesens  et  solita  respondens,  jyetito  secreto 
/utura  aperil ;  Suet.  Cal.  23  auiae  Antoniae  secretum  petenti 
denegauit  nisi  ui  interueniret  Macro^  etc. 

Satrio  Bufo  :  mentioned  elsewhere  only  as  speaking  in  the 
Senate  when  Pliny  attacked  Publicius  Certus  in  the  year  97  ; 
cf.  IX.  13.  17  (Sel.  64). 

cum  Cicerone  aemulatio  :  on  Pliny's  enmlatiou  of  Cicero 
see  also  i.  2.  4  (Sel.  2)  n.  Marci. 

saeculi,  age :  as  frequently  in  writers  of  this  period,  and 
occasionally  earlier.  It  is  only  in  this  sense  that  Pliny  uses 
the  word  in  the  letters  (and  it  occurs  so  ten  times  there),  ex- 
cept  in  immediate  connection  with  the  name  of  an  emperor, 
when  it  means  his  *  reign  '  ;  cf.  iv.  11.6  (Sel.  32)  n.  suernlum. 

12.  nanc :  but  it  is  hardly  complimentary  to  Pliny's 
sagacity  to  suppose,  as  some  editors  have  done,  tliat  he  really 
did  not  comprehentl  the  sarcasm  of  Kcguliis  at  the  original 
time  of  its  utterance. 

intellegere :  sc.  illud. 

enim  :  introducing  the  reason  for  the  statement  that  the 
allusion  might  l)c  taken  as  complintentary  :  for  if  (a.«*  the  fol- 
lowing .«enteiiee  declares)  it  is  most  honourable  to  select  the 
best  mwlels  for  imitation,  the  recognition  by  an  np|Hiiient  of 
M 


178  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.        4.  ifc 

one's  emulation  of  Cicero  should  certainly  be  ooonted  a  com- 
pliment. 

la.  notabiliter :  post-Augustan. 

palleat  semper :  also  in  vi.  2.  2  (Scl.  41)  Pliny  refers 
to  the  paleness  of  Rcgulus,  but  ascribes  it  to  lutonting 
anxiety  al)out  his  legal  cases. 

haesitabondus  :  apparently  Ato^  Xcybfjuevw, 

14.  apud  Domitianum  redtata  est :  proliably  among  papers 
seized  and  examined  for  evidence  of  treasonable  oorrespoo- 
dence. 

Reg:ulus  omninm  bipednm  neqnissimiu :  O.  Keller  finds  here 
a  manifest  play  upon  the  meaning  of  reffvlua  {^wren).  As  the 
perky,  fussy,  pushing  wren  is  the  <  most  minute  and  con- 
temptible of  all  birds,  so  is  Regulus  the  most  despicable  of 
all  men  (of.  Arch.  f.  Lat.  Jjtx.  iv.  139).  But  the  meaninff  of 
nequtMHimuH  an  ])roperly  applied  to  the  wren  has  to  be  pushed 
too  far  here,  and  the  phrase  is  more  likely  simply  a  tradi- 
tional one  of  contenipt  :  cf.  Apul.  Met.  iv.  10  ommtcm 
hiptdum  nequiiMimns  Cfhryseros;  Cic.  Dom.  Sua  48  onuUttm 
non  hijytdnm  solum  xed  etiam  qiiadrupedum  impurissimo ; 
Lamprid.  Alex,  Sen,  9.  4  tile  omnium  non  solum  bipedum  9ed 
etiam  quadnipedum  aptircissimus. 

uerisslme  :  perhaps  Pliny  is  here  trying  a  play  of  his  own 
on  the  meanings  of  '  most  certainly '  and  *  most  truthfolly.' 

16.  dum  .  .  .  nenit:  from  the  time  of  the  comedians  the 
present  indicative  is  sometimes,  but  other  tenses  of  the  indica- 
tive are  rarely,  used  with  dnm  in  the  meanine  of  'until'  to 
express  the  subjective  imminence  of  the  critical  moment.  In 
this  especial  passage  Mauricus  is  perhaps  understood  to  be 
already  on  the  way  home. 

SvsKodcUprrov,  hard  to  demolish. 

locuples,  etc. :  the  wealth  and  popularity  of  Begnlns  are 
also  testified  to  in  ii.  2(».  13  (Sel.  22);  iv.  !2,  7  (Scl.  30,  31) ; 
cf.  Mart.  VII.  31.  It  i.<t  difficuU.  to  understAnd  how  he  could 
bo  at  present  snrh  an  object  of  fear  as  Pliny  represents ;  and 
tlie  continuance  of  his  jHipularity  among  re8|>cctiible  people  is 
an  indioution  (liat,  joined  with  a  fanta.stic  taste  and  manner, 
and  with  a  lack  of  ethical  appreciation,  he  must  liavc  had  a 
nnniber  of  attractive  iM>rs<mal  as  well  as  oratorical  qualities. 

coneussa  labantur :  with  evident  reference  to  the  figure 
al»ove  in  bv^KaOaiptTov . 

16.  ut  idemsaepius  dicam  :  ef.  siniikir  remmiptive  phrases 
towards  the  eoncUiyjon  of  a  letter  hi  ill.  1.1.  8  (Sel.  26)  tV/tic 


6.  1.  NOTES.  179 

enim  reuerior  unde  coepi ;  iii.  16.  13  (Sel.  28)  quod  initio  dixi ; 

V.  6.  44  uerum  illiic  wide  coepi ;  vi.  27.  5  t^  supra  scripsi ; 

VI.  33.  11  iterum  dicam. 

experimentis :  common  in  post-Augustan  Latinity,  like 
experieniia,  in  the  sense  of  *  exx>erience '  for  the  earlier  utfus  or 
res ;  of.  Krebs  Antih.^  i.  p.  502. 

mihi  ratio  constabit,  /  shall  be  able  to  render  a  due 
account  of,  I  sludl  have  a  good  reaso7i/or:  a  commercial  term, 
of  which  Pliny  (like  other  writers  of  the  empire)  seems  to 
have  been  fond ;  cf.  e.g,  i.  9.  1  (Sel.  6)  quam  singulis  diebtis 
ratio  constet ;  ii.  4.  4  facile  [liberalita^i  meae]  ratio  constahit  ; 
IX.  2.  6  quamuis  scias  illis  conslare  rationem ;  x.  3a.  3  (Sel. 
75) ;  and  the  variety  in  viii.  2.  8  magno  mihi  ratio  haec  stetit. 
17.  uerum  etiam :  Pliny  uses  this  phrase  much  more 
frequently  than  the  more  common,  and,  in  earlier  times, 
apparently  less  emphatic  sed  etiam  :  cf.  Kraut  Syntax  u.  StU^ 
p.  28. 

6.     (I.  6.) 

On  the  delights  of  hunting  with  a  notebook. — To  the  well- 
known  historian,  P.  Cornelius  Tacitus,  Pliny  addresses  this 
and  ten  other  letters,  viz.  i.  20  (Sel.  13),  iv.  13  (Sel.  33),  vi.  9 
(a  brief  answer  to  a  letter  asking  his  support  of  the  candi- 
dacy of  lulius  Naso),  16  (Sel.  45),  20  (Sel.  46),  vii.  20  (Sel. 
51),  33  (asking  commemoration  in  his  Histories),  viii.  7 
(acknowledging  receipt  of  the  MS.  of  a  speech),  ix.  10  (Sel. 
62, — a  close  pai-allel  to  this  letter),  14  (a  brief  note  on  the 
hope  of  enduring  fame  for  both).  In  a  number  of  passages 
there  are  evidences  of  the  strong  personal  and  literary  sym- 
pathy that  prevailed  between  the  two  men.  But  the  only 
facts  concerning  the  life  of  Tacitus  that  are  derived  from  the 
letters  of  Pliny  alone, — beyond  those  mentioned  in  the 
letters  cited  above, — are  that  in  97  a.d.  he  was  consttl 
mffectus  and  pronounced  the  funeral  oration  over  his  great 
predecessor,  Vcrginius  Rufus  (ii.  1, — Sol.  15),  aixl  tliat  in 
99  A.D.  he  was  joined  with  Pliny  in  the  prosecution  of  Marius 
Prisons  for  extortion  (II.  11, — Sol.  17). 

1.    ridebis  :  cf.  the  similar  oiiening  of  a  letter  in  vii.  29 
ridtbis,  deinde  indi\f)inhnriM^  deivde  ridebis. 
Jicet  rideas,  you* re  welcome  to  laugh. 


et  qnidem  :  oomiwre  the  similar  use  in  i.  12.  1  (Sel.  8) 
d^ceufnt  .  ,,  ft  qnitlnn  sftniUr  x  iii.  5.  11  (Sel.  24)  adnotahnfur. 
et  quidem  rurttimx  ix.  -.3.  2  (Sel.  *i7)  no^ti  me^  ei  quidein  ex 
studiis ;  III.  9.  2S  :  v.  8.  5 ;  vi.  5.  1. 


180  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  5.  L 

ad  retia  sedelMJii:  Pliny's  inactive  method  of  himting 
hardly  differed  from  that  of  any  other  Roman  except  in  the 
fact  that  he  busied  himself  with  composition  while  waiting 
at  the  nets.  The  passion  for  hunting,  so  marked  in  Assyria 
and  in  Greece,  was  practically  unknown  to  the  Romans  until 
introduced  into  Italy  with  other  Greek  fashions.  And  even 
then  the  Romans  never  learned  to  appreciate  the  excitement 
of  the  chase,  and  the  exhilaration  of  conflict  with  beasts  able 
to  offer  some  defence.  They  cared  mainly  for  the  mere 
brutality  of  killing,  and  the  counting  of  large  bags.  The 
thing  most  to  the  popular  taste  was  the  gladiatorial  uenatio  in 
the  arena.  Wlien  Romans  themselves  hunted,  it  was  usually, 
as  in  some  regions  to  the  present  day,  by  enclosing  a  consider- 
able space  in  the  forest  with  strong  nets,  and  driving  the 
same  into  this  ad-de-sae  by  a  long  line  of  beaters  with  dogs. 
The  noble  Nimrod  could  then  butcher  the  imprisoned  beasts 
with  safety  and  ease.  Cf.  fig.  990  in  Guhl  u.  Koner  Leben 
d.  Oritch.  u.  RomeVj^  and  such  literary  allusions  as  Hor, 
Epod.  2.  31  f.  avl  Irudil  acre»  hinc  et  hinc  mult  a  cane  \  apros 
in  ohstanlea  plagas.  On  the  other  hand,  such  passages  as 
Hor.  Carm.  i.  1.  25-28,  and  Verg.  Aen,  iv.  130  ff.  reflect 
rather  the  Eastern  idea  of  hunting.  On  the  whole  subject 
see  Miller  Das  Jagdto&ten  der  aUen  Oriechen  u.  R&mer. 

—  uenatralum,  lanoea :  the  former  was  the  usual  hunting- 
spear  for  thrusting,  with  a  long  and  broad  blade ;  the  latter 
was  used  for  throwing,  especially  with  the  help  of  an  ammen- 
turn ;  cf.  Baumeister  Denlemdlerf  etc.  iii.  p.  2077,  and  Linden- 
schmit  Tracht  u.  Betoaffhung. 

stilus  et  pngillares  :  temporary  notes,  or  even  brief 
letters,  were  usually  written  on  wax-tablets,  cerae  or  pugil- 
lares  (sc.  taJbeUae,  lihdli,  or  codicilli)t  these  beine  small,  thin, 
oblong  plaques  of  wood,  or  even  of  ivory,  hinged  together  on 
the  long  edge  to  form  diptychs  or  triptychs,  and  havine  on 
the  sides  that  folded  together  a  slightly  sunken  sunace 
covered  with  a  thin  coating  of  wiix.  This  wax  surface  was 
usually  tinted  red  or  black,  and  on  it  the  writing  was 
scratohcd  with  tho  stilus,  which  was  a  short  stick  of  bronze, 
iron,  bone,  or  ivory,  pointed  at  one  end,  and  with  a  knob  or 
flattened  surface  u't  the  other  for  convenience  of  erasure  by 
smoothing  the  surface  of  the  wax.  Cf.  vii.  27.  7  (Sel.  54) 
poscit  jtugilhrtH^  Htilintiy  lumen^  and  elsewhere  in  Pliny 
fKitsim  ;  and  the  illustrations  in  Baumeister  DrnL'mu/et%  etc., 
I.  p.  .S.'m  ;  III.  p.  15S4  f.;  Marquardt  I*riraff*hen,'-  pp.  SOI  ff. 

meditabar :  almost  the  technical  wonl  for  pootical  com- 
|>OKition,  which  is  doubtless  here  referred  to ;  of.  Verg.  £cl. 


e,  NOTES.  181 

6.  82  ff.  omnia  qua£,  Phoebo  qiiondam  meditante  beattut  I  audiit 
EwvtcLn  ...  I  ille  canit ;  Hor.  Sat,  i.  9.  2  nescio  quid  medi- 
tans  uugarum ;  Ep,  ii.  2.  76  i  nu7ic  et  uer&us  tecum  meditare 
canoros.  On  Pliny's  writing  of  verses  see  iv.  27  ;  v.  3  (Sel.  36); 
VII.  4  (Sel.  47),  9  (Sel.  49). 

plenas  tamen  ceras  :  of.  ix.  36.  6  (Sel.  70)  %ienor  aliquando, 
sed  710)1  sifie  jnujillaribuH^  vt,  quamuis  nihil  cejyerim,  non  nihil 
refei-avx.  With  the  colloquial  ceras  for pun'dlares  cf.  vii.  27.  9 
(Sel.  54)  rurstisque  ceris  et  Mo  incwnbit  (where  ceria  repeats 
pugillares  in  §  7). 

2.  mirum  est  ut  animus  ezcitetur :  cf.  vii.  9.  13  (Sel.  49) 
for  similar  phraseology,  and  i.  9.  1  (Sel.  6) ;  iv.  7.  1  {Sel. 
31 )  mirum  est  qnam. 

iam,  moreover,  and  in  the  next  place :  pointing  the  im-  - 
mediate  succession  in  thought  of  an  added  particular.     Cf. 
Hand  Turadl.  in.  144. 

undique  siloae :  cf.  i.  2.  5  (Sel.  2)  n.  fm-tasse  (for  the 
construction). 

magna  cogitationis  incitamenta  sunt  :  1)ut  Quintilian 
thought  otherwise ;  cf.  Inst.  x.  3.  23  mihi  certe  ivcnndwt  hie 
mu'jis  quam  studiorum  hortator  uidetur  esse  secessuM^  and  the 
passage  in  connection  therewith.  From  Pliny  himself  cf.  ix. 
10.  2  (Sel.  62)  poemaia  quiescunt,  quae  tu  inter  nemoi'a  et  lucos 
commodissime  perjici  2AUa<, 

3.  non  Dianam,  etc. :  a  fair  illustration  of  Pliny's  likinc 
for  an  epigrammatic  ending  of  a  letter.  On  the  sentiment  cf. 
IX.  10.  1  (Sel.  62)  apronun  tanta  jtenuria  est  ut  Mineruae  et 
Dianac,  qiias  nis  parifer  colnulasy  conucvirc  von  possit ;  and  on 
the  fact,  V.  18.  2  ff/o  in  TiUifcis  et  uenor  et  fttudeo,  quae  inter- 
dum  a/tertiis  interdum  aimul  Jacio,  nee  tamtn  adhuc  jjosiium 
pronuntiare  utnnn  ait  difficiliuH,  capere  aliquid  an  scrihere. 


e.     (1.9.) 

On  the  frittcriiijr  away  of  life  in  the  city.  -To  this  same  C. 
Minieius  Fuii<1anu.s  were  prohaMy  written  also  iv.  1.5  (asking 
him  as  prohahly  consul  the  next  year  to  select  Asinius  liassus 
iis  his  <|uacstor).  and  vi.  6  (re^niesting  his  .sii])iM)rt  of  the 
candidacy  of  lulius  Xa^^o).  Fundanus  apficars  to  have  been 
actually  romul  sujf'ertuH  in  107  or  108  A.D.,  and  proconsul  of 
Asia  under  Ha<lrian.  In  v.  If»  (Sel.  39)  Pliny  sf^eaks  most 
toufhingly  of  the  death  of  his  young  daughter. — On  the 
general  character  of  tlaily  life  in  imperial  Home  see  Fried- 
liinder  Sittengrsch.'^  vol.  i.  c.  4  Der  tjeseUiye  Vcrkehr 


182  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAK.  6.  1. 

1.  mirum  est  quam :  cf.  r.  6.  2  (Sel.  5)  n.  mirvm  eat  tU. 

ratio  constat,  one  can  render  a  justifiable  account :  c£.  L 
5.  IG  (S«l.  4)  n.  miVii  ra>tio  couHtabit. 

plorilms  ionctlsque,  a  ntimber  of  consecutive  days, 
a.  officio  togae  uirilis  interftii,  /  attended  a  coming  o/-age 
party.  On  the  day  when  the  young  man  celebrated  his 
arrival  at  majority  the  crimson-bordered  toga  {praetexta)  of 
boyhood  was  formally  laid  aside  before  the  altar  of  the 
Penates  at  home,  and  the  plain  white  toga  {pura)  of  manhood 
formally  put  on.  The  hulUt  was  also  dedicated  to  the 
Penates,  and  the  new  tiro,  accompanied,  if  of  prominent 
faniilv,  by  a  train  of  relatives,  friends,  and  clients,  went  to 
the  Forum  for  formal  introduction  as  a  citizen,  and  for 
entrance  on  the  tribal  list,  and  theuce  to  offer  sacrifice  on  the 
Capitol  to  Jove  and  luuentas.  The  rest  of  the  day  seems  to 
have  been  devoted  to  feasting  and  merry-making.  The  nsnal 
day  for  the  ceremony  was  the  Liberalia  (Mar.  17),  but  other 
days  are  also  mentioned.  The  year  was  determined  by  the 
authority  of  the  paier  familias,  and  known  instances  show  a 
variation  from  the  12th  to  the  19th  years  of  age,  with  most 
instances  falling  between  the  14th  and  16th  years.  The 
custom  of  making  a  great  day  of  this  occasion  seems  to  have 
been  popular  also  in  the  provinces;  cf.  x.  116  (Sel.  106): 
and  in  general  Marquardt  Privatleben^  pp.  123  ff.  ;  De-Marchi 
//  Ctdto  Privato  i.  p.  175. 

sponsalla,  nuptias :  social  obligations  with  regard  to 
attendance  upon  these  ceremonies  were  much  like  our  own. 
The  .spoiwo/ia,  earlier  marked  by  a  contract  between  the 
respective  patres  (cf.  the  comedians  pajvnm)  that  had  a  legal 
force,  had  come  to  be  merely  a  social  party  given  upon 
occasion  of  the  announcement  of  a  marriage  engagement.  On 
wedding  ceremonies  cf.  Manjuardt  PrivaXleben  '^  pp.  47  ff.  ; 
De-Marchi  11  Cvdto  Privato  pp.  145  ff. 

ad  sig^nandnm  testamentum  :  in  order  for  a  written  will 
to  l)c  valid  it  must  Ik;  signed  by  tlie  testator  in  the  presence 
of  seven  oualificd  witnesses,  whose  names  and  seals  must 
immediately  he  aihxed  in  one  another's  presence,  so  closing 
the  document  that  it  could  not  be  opcnea  without  breaking 
the  seals :  cf.  lust.  Inst.  ii.  10.  3.  TUe  occasion  of  the  sign- 
ing of  a  will  might  Ik)  ma<lc  a  social  function  by  the  testator  ; 
cf.  the  anecdote  alK)ut  Regulus  in  ii.  20.  10  f.  (Sel.  22). 

In  aduocationem :  i.f.  to  lend  moral  support  and  sliow 
sympHthy  by  attending  a  litigant  in  court ;  cf.  Ascon.  in  Dili. 
Vtrr.  1 1  qui  definrlit  alterum  in  iudicio  aw/  jxUrwiwt  dicitur,  si 
orator  est,   aut  odHocatns,   si  ius  sugtjtrit,  aui  praessntiam 


»e.  5.  NOTES. 

wjamcommodat  amico,  etc.  But  in  Pliny's  time  nduocnfio  and 
aduoccUua  had  already  begun  to  be  used  of  pleading  ;  cf.  t.y. 

V.  13.  2,  5,  6. 

in  consilium :  not  to  give  advice  to  a  non- professional 

Serson  on  points  of  law  (the  aclnocatw  or  the  iwia  consult  us 
id  that),  but  to  sit  as  one  of  a  nuinber  of  assessors  to  a  pre- 
siding magistrate ;  cf.  c.r/.  i.  20.  12  (8el.  13)  /requenttr  er/i, 
frequenter  iudiraui,  frequenter  in  consilio  fui  ;  iv.  22.  1  (Sel. 
35)  interfui  principis  optimi  cognilioni^  in  coimlimn  acl<timptu8  ; 

VI.  31.  I  euocatus  in  consiiium  a  Caesare  nostro  (where  the 
sequence  shows  the  nature  of  the  duty)  ;  v.  1.5  culhihui  in 
consilium  dttos  ,  .  ,  his  circumdatus  in  aibictUo  meo  sedi ; 
dixit  CurianuH  quae  pro  se  putabat  .  .  .  deinde  fitcessi  et  ex 
consilii  «enlentia  *  uidetnr''  iuqnam,  etc.  ;  vi.  11.  1  culkibitusin 
consilium  a  praefecto  urOLt  audiui  ex  diucrso  ayenten. 

3.  inania,  trivial^  uselei<8. 

cum  secesseris,  when  you  are  aicay  in  the  count ry :  the 
absolute  use  of  secedere  in  this  sense  is  coniinon  in  riiny,  and 
common  to  him  with  Quintilian,  Suetonius,  and  otiier  writers 
of  the  Silver  Age.  See  also  i.  3.  3  (Sel.  3)  n.  alto  pinguique 
secessu. 

BaUt  recordatio :  cf.  iv.  24.  1  subiit  recordcUio. 

quot  .  .  .  quam  :  on  the  (double)  epiphonema  see  iii.  5. 
13  (Sel.  24)  n.  tanta. 

firigidis,  dreary,  fruitless :  joined  with  inanis  also  in  iv. 
17.  4  omnia  istafriyida  et  inania  uidentur;  ix.  6.  3  (Sel.  61) 
in  re  inani,  frir/ida.     Cf .   yf^vxpos- 

4.  Laurentino  meo  :  Pliny's  country-seat  near  Laureutum 
is  described  by  him  at  length  in  ii.  17  (Sel.  21). 

corpori  uaco,  hare  lei^mre  to  devote  to  the  fnxiy. 

cuius  fUlturis  animus  sustinetur :  cf.  the  same  Hgure  in 
Lucr.  III.  125  7ion  omnia  corpora  ex  aequo  Julvire  salutrm. 

6.  The  two  clauses  nihil  .  .  .  audisse,  nihil  .  .  .  dizlsse 
paeniteat  corresiMiiul  respectively  lo  the  two  explicative 
clauses  nemo  me  .  .  .  carpit,  neminem  .  .  .  reprehendo. 

nemo  me  .  .  .  reprehendo:  i.*'.  I  am  neither  hurt  by 
malicious  insinuations,  n<»r  tempted  in  the  weaknesM  of  re- 
venging myself  in  kind.  The  reading  of  MV,  etc.  is  prolHibly 
due  to  an  attempt  to  amend,  in  the  interest  of  a  higher  ethical 
idea,  by  a  critic  who  di<l  not  olwervc  the  panillelism  noted 
above,  nor  understand  the  excee<ling  sensitiveness  of  Pliii}*  to 
hostile  criticism.     Cf.  also  vii.  2().  2  (Sel.  53). 

Inquietor :  a  verb  of  the  Silver  Age. 


184  C.  PUNI  EPISTVLAE  SELBCTAE.  6.  «. 

6.  nagotto,  (Ktivity:  the  ideal  of  life  for  a  well-bom 
Roman  was  still  so  thoroughly  an  active  political  career 
thiit  Pliny,  with  that  striking  deference  to  formalities 
from  which  he  supposes  himself  to  be  free,  can  hardly  keep 
from  apologizing  for  enjoying  the  quiet  of  a  literary  life.  Gt. 
Cicero's  opinion  of  hontistum  oiium  expressed  in  Ojf.  I.  09  £, 
and  Seneca^s  eloquent  praise  of  the  true  otiwn  of  atady  in 
Bnu.  Vit.  14  ff. 

|tovo-ctov,  hautU  of  the  Muses :  for  here  by  tiie  sea-shore, 
and  not  on  Helicon,  they  reveal  themselves  to  their  devotee. 
Sonic  editors,  following  apparently  a  discursive  and  pointiess 
note  of  Catanaeus  (15%),  imagine  Pliny  refers  to  the  famons 
Museum  of  Alexandria,  founded  by  Ptolemy  Philadelphns  as 
a  seat  of  learning 

inuenitis,  dictatis,  conceits,  compoiie :  as  if  identifying 
the  spirit  of  the  scene  with  the  writer  whom  it  inspires.  The 
common  practice  of  dictating  compositions  to  an  amanuensis 
is  referred  to  a  number  of  times  by  Pliny  (cf.  e.g.  ix.  96.  2, — 
Sel.   70). 

7.  multom  :  instances  of  such  adverbial  use  of  the  accusa- 
tive of  adjectives  are  found  occasionally  in  Cicero,  and 
not  infrequently  in  Horace  and  later  writers :  cf.  Kraut  SynL 
M.  Stil  p.  8. 

8.  Atllius :  doubtless  the  Atilius  Crescens  referred  to  in 
VI.  8  as  a  friend  of  Pliny's  from  boyhood,  bom  within  a  day's 
journey  from  Conuim.  (Pliny  mentions  the  learning,  the 
kjwrtH,  the  hilaritax,  and  the  facetiae  of  Atilius  Crescens  as 
his  especial  characteristics. )  Another  epigrammatic  remark 
of  Atilius  nobler  is  quoted  in  ii.  14.  2  (Set  20). 

eruditissime :  with  the  true  Roman  idea  that  wit  is  a 
matter  of  education ;  cf.  also  i.  16.  6  (Sel.  11)  n.  aut  uxorem^ 
etc. 

satins  est  .  .  .  otiosum  esse  quam  niliil  agere,  it  is  better 
to  he  idle  than  to  do  uothimj :  cf.  the  remark  of  the  elder 
Africanus  ({uotcii  by  Cicero  from  Cato's  6.vo<l>6iyiiara  in  Off. 
III.  1  nnnqnam  .<c  mimiM  ofio-^nm  c<se  quam  cum  otiofnis,  nee 
minnt  holum  qiiam  cum  Wmx  tsMtf  ((|uoted  also  in  Nep.  i.  27  as 
nunqnam  xe  plus  at f^r*.  quam  nihil  fuinat/eret,  etc.),  and  Seneca 
Breu.  Vit.  12.  2  quoruudam  otium  occujHitum  ext.  .  .  .  quorum 
uon  otiosa  uita  direnda  rM^  ned  desidiwa  occupatio  ;  13.  1  de 
itlii  tiftno  duhitahit  qitin  operate  nihil  a'lant ;  1<>.  1  fwro  ipteile- 
fjunt  miseri  tarn  din  /«e,  dnm  nihil  atjunf^  orcujtatos  fuiftne  ;  and 
from  Pliny  hiiiiself.  ix.  <».  4  (Sel.  Gl)  quot  [ilieM]  alii  otiosissimit 
occHjjationibns  ittt'dnut. 


7.  2.  NOTES.  186 

7.  (1.  10.) 

On  the  philosopher  Euphrates. — To  Attius  Clemens  is 
addressed  one  other  letter  (iv.  2,— Sel.  30),  but  he  seems  to 
be  otherwise  unknown. 

1.  8l  quando  .  .  .  nunc  mazime :  of.  simikr  openings  in 
IV.  15  id  quid  omnino,  hoc  certe ;  vi.  6  si  quando,  nunc  prae- 
cipuei  and  similar  phrasing,  though  not  at  the  beginning 
ot  a  letter,  in  iv.  13.  1  (Sel.  33)  si  quandolalias,  nunc  maxime ; 
vni.  4.  5  (Sel.  56)  si  quando  altas,  toto  ingenio  uehere. 

urbs  nostra  :  so  Pliny  calls  Rome  also  in  v.  6.  4,  viii.  20. 
2  (Sel.  59),  and  x.  68 ;  though  altogether  more  frequently 
Rome,  if  not  referred  to  by  name,  is  simply  urbs, 

liberalibns  studiis :  cf.  the  summary  of  subjects  compre- 
hended under  this  title  in  (Die.  De,  Or,  iii.  l^  nee  solum  has 
artes  q%iihu8  liberales  doctrinal  atque  ingenuae  continerentury 
f/fiometriain,  nrnsicam^  liUerarum  cognitume^n  et  poetarum,  cUque 
ilia  quae  de  natwHs  rerum,  quae  de  hominum  moribus,  qiiae  de 
rebus  publicis  dicerentur,  i<ed,  etc.  The  phrase  is  a  simple 
translation  from  the  Greek  eXevO^pia  fiadrifMra,  as  libenUts 
doctrinae  from  eXevdipioi  vaiMai. 

nunc:  under  the  beneficent  rule  of  the  new  emperor, 
Nerva  or  Trajan. 

2.  sufflceret  nnnm,  one  tcould  be  enough  to  prove  the 
assertion,  when  that  one  is  Euphrates.  The  use  of  the  im- 
perfect tense  is  apparently  suggested  by  the  unreality  of  the 
case  ;  *one  instance  would  be  enough,'  but,  as  a  fact,  there 
are  many  well-known  instances. 

Euphrates :  mentioned  by  Pliny  only  in  this  letter,  but 
known  from  other  sources  as  a  Stoic  philosopher,  bom  in 
Alexandria,  but  teaching  in  Tyre,  M'lio  came  to  Rome  in  the 
train  of  Vespiisian,  and  lived  there  in  ^reat  honour.  Worn 
with  age  and  illness,  he  committed  suicide  in  118  A.D.  by 
drinking  hemlock,  with  the  approval  of  the  emperor  Hadrian 
(Dio  Cass.  LXix.  8). 

militarem  :  tc.  as  tribune  ;  see  Introd.  p.  xxi. 

penitus  inspezi,  kyc*  intitnatiiy  acquainted  with :  cf.  iv. 
17.  5  iii^pcvi  euim  penitus  :  nihil  a  me  i/le  AvrrcYitw,  etc.;  X. 
86  r..  2  iv'<titia  eius  et  humanitas  jienitus  inspec/a  est. 

obuius  et  ezpositus,  accesxihle  and  ojmi :  the  epithets 
arc  rarely  usc<l  of  persons  in  this  sense  (perhaps  first  by 
Pliny?  an<l  only  in  this  place)  though  sometimes  of  personal 
qualities  (cf.  Tac.  Ann.  ii.  2  prompfi  atlifw*,  obuia  conntas; 
Stat.   Silu.  V.  3.  246  exjwnitos  semato  pondere  mores),  and 


186  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  7.  2. 

frequently  of  material  objects:   cf.  ii.  17.  25  (Sel.  21)  obuiiis 
et  paratus  umor ;  iii.  3.  6  dicendi /aatltas  aperta  et  expoHta. 

3.  aut  egro,  etc.  :  t.e.  perhaps  after  all  he  was  as  perfect 
then  as  now,  and  it  is  only  my  appreciation  that  has  grown 
with  growing  maturity  of  years  and  study. 

4.  nisi  axtifex,  nisi  sapiens :  Pliny  often  simply  compounds 
nisi  with  a  noun  or  an  adjective,  as  here  :  cf.  also  e,g.  iv.  13. 
8  (Sel.  33)  ne  .  .  .  nid  digitus  accipiat. 

5.  quo(iue,  cdso :  i.e.  as  well  as  those  who  are  truly  sapietUes. 
But  Pliny  occasionally  uses  gito^/ue  clearly  to  emphasise  the 
modified  word  {=eve7i),  as  in  v.  10.  2  tu  tamen  meam  quoque 
cunctationem  tarditatemque  uicisti. 

aduertant  et  adficiant,  win  the  attention  and  devotion  of-. 
with  this  limitation  and  intensification  of  the  meaning  of 
adficere  cf.  iii.  1.  9  (Sel.  23)  quihus  delectcUur  nee  adjicitur. 

latitudinem, «to^f/),  range:  cf.  i.  20.  19  (Sel.  13)  ora^io  UUa 
et  moijaijica  eJf.  excelsa  (of  Pericles) ;  Cic.  Or.  5  in  philofiophia 
amplitudo  FUUonis ;  Diog.  Laer.  3.  4.  Quintilian  in  ix.  4. 
129  gives  an  idea  of  the  quality  meant,  totum  autem  hoc  adhi- 
hendum  est  quod  sit  ampiitis  compositionis  genus,  cum  index 
non  solum  rem  tenet,  sed  etiam  captus  est  oratione  et  st  credit 
dctori  et  uolnptaie  iam  ducitur. 

effingit,  reproduces:  cf.  ix.  22.  2  in  quibus  [lyricis]  ita 
Hora^ium  ut  in  illis  [elegut]  ilium  alterum  [Propertiuni]  ejHngit ; 
Quint.  X.  1.  108  mihi  uuietur  M,  Tultius  ejffinxisse  uim  Demos- 
thenis,  copiam  Platonis,  ittcunditaJem  IsocraZis. 

ducat,  impellat :  on  the  asyndeton  see  i.  3.  1  (Sel.  3)  n. 
suhiectus  senUens. 

6.  demiBsns  capUlns,  ingens  barba:  for  a  few  centuries 
preceding  this  period  Romans  of  position,  like  Greeks  of 
similar  station  from  Alexander's  time,  had  been  accustomed 
to  wear  no  beard,  and  to  keep  the  hair  clipped  rather  closely. 
The  fashion  of  wearing  full  beards  increai»e<i  rapidly  from 
the  time  of  Hadrian,  who  was  tlie  tii*8t  of  the  emperors  to 
follow  that  custom:  cf.  Becker-Ooll  GnHus  in.  pp.  237  ff; 
Marquardt  PriixLtieben-  pp.  .597  tf.  ;  lUumeistcr  DadimVer 
artt.  Haartracht  and  Jjartlracht ;  Xicolson  in  Harv,  Class. 
Studies  II.  pp.  41  ff. 

nullus  horror,  etc.,  there  is  no  rudatess  in  his  manner,  no 
morosenesM,  much  Meriousn'fi'< ;  yon  iconld  confront  him  with 
reverence  hut  not  with  dreatl :  with  their  traditional  disregard 
of  new  fashions  of  dress  the  Stoic  philosophers  were  wont  to 
join  a  cynical  carelessness  about  gentle  manners. 


I 


7.  9.  NOTES.  187 

7.  attentus  et  pendens,  hanging  attentively  oil  hvnoordu-, 
pendens  in  this  sense  is  i-ather  a  use  of  the  Augustan  and 
later  poets. 

8.  Pompeins  lulianus  is  otherwise  unknown. 

prouinciae  prlnceps,  a  leading  man  in  his  province: 
probably  the  province  of  Syria,  where  Euphrates  taught :  of. 
e.g,  I.  14.  4  ifacrinus^  equestris  ordinis  princepff ;  iii.  2.  1 
MatwuH  AltiTuUium  est  princeps;  iv.  3.  1  quod  sanctitate, 
quod  auctoritaie,  aetate  quoque  princeps  ciuitatit. 

condidones,  possibilities:  this  use  of  the  word  dates 
from  the  republican  period,  and  perhaps  was  derived  from 
the  meaning  of  a  legal  option  rather  than  from  that  of  the 
terms  of  a  treaty  or  bargain.  But  it  came  to  mean  especially 
marriage  possibilities,  and  often  almost  with  personification 
of  the  party  under  consideration. 

0.  an :  here,  as  so  often,  the  essentially  forensic  character 
of  Pliny's  rhetoric  appears.  Simple  a7^-que8tions  are  regu- 
larly used  to  anticipate,  often  with  satirical  purpose,  the 
points  of  a  forensic  adversary  ;  cf.  i.  16.  8  (Sel.  11)  n.  an. 

officio,  ojfice  :  a  not  unusual  post- classical  use  in  the  sense 
of  muutis,  honovj  magutralus  (but  cf.  iii.  1.  11,— Sel.  23, — n.) 
The  especial  office  was  probably  the  prefecture  of  the  civil 
treasury  {pmefectura  aerari  Saturni)j  which  Pliny  entered 
upon  probably  in  August  or  October,  98  (see  x.  3a.  1, — Sel. 
75, — n.  uestra). 

ut  mazimo  sic  molestissimo  :  cf.  of  the  same  office  Paii. 
91  noiultmi  bieniiium  comj)feue ramus  in  officio  labor iosissimo 
et  maximoy  cum,  etc.  ;  and  'I'rajan  in  x.  9  (Sel.  78)  ad  tarn 
districtum  officitun. 

pro  txibiinali,  on  tlie  bench :  hc.  to  decide  questions 
concerning  the  financial  administration.  With  the  expression 
cf.  e,g.  Suet.  Claud,  42  tnullum  uero  pi'o  tribunali  etiam 
Homericis  locutus  est  uersibus. 

subnoto  libellos :  i.e.  after  examination  of  the  briefs,  or 
petitions,  submitted  in  appeal,  the  court  notes  upon  them  his 
decision  for  subsequent  record  ;  cf.  x.  90.  4  (Sel.  104)  adnotaui, 

inlitteratissimas  litteras,  moftf  unlitcrarji  Utttrs  :  here,  as 
in  III.  20.  11  ;  VI.  7.  3  (Sel.  4.>),  lifterac.  is  a])))arently  used  in 
the  plural  sense  of  epintolac,  and  here  the  oxymoron  is  the 
excuse  for  it :  cf.  the  same  plirase  in  Sid.  ApoU.  Ep.  iv.  3.  10 
(who  imitates  Pliny's  ideas  and  turns  of  plira.<!e  in  hundreds 
of  placrs  — too  many  to  Ik»  cito«l  in  these  notes);  and  cf.  the 
instances  of  oxymoron  in  Pliny  cited  in  Lagcrgreu  De  uita  et 
eloc,  p.  36. 


188  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELEOTAE.         7.  la 

10.  Id  ipfum  :  8c.  long  enoagh  time  even  to  compUun  that 
he  has  no  more. 

quando:  i,q,  'how  seldom.' 

philoaopliiae  polcherrimam  parttm :  the  dkhim  of  Eui^ra- 
tes  expressed  the  ordinary  teaching  of  tiie  Stoic  philotophy; 
ci  Gic.  Off.  I.  19  qtuie  omnes  arte»  in  ueri  inuutiQatifme 
ueraarUur,  cuius  studio  a  rebus  gerendia  abduci  contra  oMdmn 
est.  uirttUis  emm  laus  omnia  in  actione  amsiatit :  ibid.  iSS  erffo 
omne  ojficium  quod  ad  coniunctionem  honUnum  et  adaodeiatem 
tuendam  ualet,  anteponendum  eat  itti  officio  quod  cognitione 
et  acientia  continetur.    But  cf .  also  i.  0.  6  n.  (iSeL  6)  neffoUo, 

cognoBcere :  of  conducting  the  investigation  (oL  x. 
96.  1,  Sel.  104,— n.  eognitionibua),  while  ludioare  indicates  the 
delivery  of  sentence. 

promere  et  exeroere  iostitiain :  probably  the  two  verbs 
are  closely  related  here,  the  phrase  summing  np  the  details 
of  Pliny's  official  duties  {*  to  interpret  and  enforce  justice*) ; 
but  a  comparison  with  e.fj.  Hor.  Bp.  ii.  i.  104  clienti  promere 
iura  might  tempt  one  to  think  tliat  the  first  verb  refers  to 
the  honoured  and  dignified  duty  of  giving  legal  advioe  to 
friends  and  clients. 

ipsi :  sc.  philosophi. 

11.  com  proxime,  the  very  next  time :  Pliny  also  uses 
proxime  of  time  immediately  prece<lent:  cf.  in.  10.  1  cum 
proxhne  apttd  uos/ui ;  vii.  11.  5  cum  proxime  iatie  fm. 

uenias,  permittas:  the  hortatory  use  of  the  second 
person  of  the  present  subjunctive  with  a  definite  subject  is 
rare  except  in  the  comedians,  and  in  Silver-age  and  later 
Latin.  Most  of  the  instances  in  Pliny  (cf.  especially  Pan,  61, 
78,  85,  91)  are  apparently  deferential  in  tone. 

limandum  :  see  i.  2.  5  (Sel.  2)  n.  limam, 

12.  bonum:  Pliny  uses  inuidere  in  his  letters  at  least 
fifteen  times,  and  among  these  instances  not  more  than  two 
are  quite  probably  with  the  ablative  of  the  thing  and  the 
dative  of  the  person  (iii.  8.  2 ;  vii.  28.  2,— Sel.  55).  Only 
in  this  collocation  does  he  use  the  ablative  with  inuidere.  His 
other  constructions  of  the  verb  are  with  thcdativc  of  the  person 
or  of  the  thing,  with  the  dative  of  the  person  and  accusative 
of  the  thing  (as  here),  with  the  dative  of  the  person  and  a 
<}urx/-clausc,  «and  absolutely.  The  construction  with  the 
ablative  of  the  thing  is  by  no  means  uncommon  in  Silver-age 
and  later  I^tin,  ana  Quintilian  says  of  it  ix.  3.  1  jMteiie  tarn 
quidquid  loquimur  fiyura  itt,  ut   *  hac  re  tnuic/ere,'  nofi,  ut 


8.  1.  NOTES.  189 

omnes  ueieres  et  Cicero  praeeiptte,  *hanc  rem,'  .  .  .  ei  mUle 
alia, — uUnamqiu  non  pdora  uincomL 

sensom  nolaptatemqne :  with  the  hendiadys  cf.  Cic. 
Boac.  Am.  129  ex  animi  mei  sennu  ac  dolore ;  and  see  the 
instances  in  Pliny  cited  in  Lagergren  De  uita  et  eloc.  p.  45. 

amiclB  flmperesse,  my  friends  have  and  to  spare. 

8.    (I.  12.) 

On  the  death  of  Corellius  Rufus. — Nothing  is  known  of 
Calestrius  Tiro,  to  whom  this  letter  is  addressed,  further  than 
what  is  contained  in  a  few  of  Pliny's  letters.  More  than  one 
definite  statement  in  the  letters  shows  him  to  have  been  an 
intimate  friend  of  Pliny.  They  were  apparently  of  about  the 
same  age,  had  done  their  preliminary  military  service  (see 
Introduction,  p.  xxi)  together,  and  had  been  quaestors  the 
same  year.  By  virtue  of  the  iiis  triurti  liberotmm  (see 
Introduction,  p.  xxii)  Tiro  held  the  tribuneship  of  the  plebs 
a  year  in  advance  of  Pliny ;  but  they  were  praetors  in  the 
same  year  (cf.  vii.  16).  About  the  year  106  a.d.  Tiro,  the 
date  of  whose  consulship  is  unknown,  went  as  proconsul  to 
Baetica  (cf.  I.e.  ;  vl  22.  7),  where  he  was  perhaps  yet  in 
command  when  Pliny  wrote  to  him  ix.  5,  commending  his 
administration. — The  death  of  0)rellius  probably  took  place 
in  97  A.D.,  but  was  certainly  later  than  Pliny's  attacK  on 
Publicius  (Dei*tus,  which  was  made  during  that  year ;  cf.  ix. 
13.  6  (Sel.  64). 

1.  si  iactura  dicenda  est,  etc.  :  Pliny's  hesitation  was  pro- 
bably about  the  intensity  of  the  word.  As  a  close  reader  of 
Cicero  he  could  hardly  fail  to  remember  that  Sulpicius  in  his 
well-known  letter  used  it  of  the  death  of  Tullia  (Cic.  Fam. 
IV.  5.  4  in  unhix  muliercnlae  animida  si  iactura  fa^ta  e^O»  m 
well  as  the  verb  amittere  {ibitl.  3  at  uero  malum  est  liberos 
amittere),  and  doubtless  Pliny  might  have  used  caiamitas,  or 
some  like  word,  instead.  But  iachira  had  probably  come  to 
be  the  ordinary  word  for  the  *  loss '  of  a  friend  by  death,  and 
so  had  outlived  the  vividness  of  its  mcanint;.  Others  have 
supposed,  but  without  sufficient  consideration  of  the  wearing 
down  of  original  value  that  a  word  undergoes  in  the  course  of 
a  lon|^  life,  that  Pliny  might  object  to  iactura  on  the  ground 
that  its  meaning  was  too  literal  (for  it  originally  referred  to 
jettison),  and  therefore  sugi;e.sted  too  slight  or  too  material- 
istic an  idea  (cf.  viii.  l(i.  3, — Sel.   ')S,— </a?w»iw»i). 

Corellius  Rufus  :  that  he  was  of  senatorial  rank  is  known 
from  VII.  31.  4,  where  he  is  said  t*»  have  been  ap^iointed  to 


19ft  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  &  1. 

osaign  certain  land-grants  of  Nerva  (of.  Dio  Oaai.  ixvnL 
2.  1,  who  says  that  for  this  office  certain  senators  were  desig- 
nated). Bevond  this  nothing  is  known  of  his  official  life. 
His  need  of  a  deputy  to  assist  him  in  the  work  of  Nenra's 
commission  {l.c)  is  perhaps  an  indication  that  his  appotnt- 
meut  hardlv  antedated  the  final  attack  of  his  disease.  Tlinv 
lauds  his  character  again  at  some  lenffth  in  rv.  17,  and  both 
there  and  elsewhere  (cf.  ix.  13.  6,— 3eL  64)  speaks  of  him  as 
his  own  constant  adviser,  though,  or  periiaps  because,  oon- 
servative  and  cautious. 

et  quidem :  cf.  i.  6.  1  (SeL  5)  n.  et  qmdem. 

sponte :  used  in  classical  Latin  only  with  a  posMSstve 
pronoun  (or  cdUna)  in  sAreeroent,  but  in  later  Latin  either 
absolutely  or  even  with  a  limiting  genitive  ;  of.  Kreba- 
Sohmals  AwUbarbaaru»^  lu  p.  546. 

eznlcerat,  inUmiyieH :  the  word  seems  to  be  espeoially 
used  of  grief ;  cf.  viil  23.  5  quod  ud  maxime  dolortm  meum 
'  exulcercU;  ix.  9.  S>  9ed  quid  dolorem  tuum  extUceroJ ;  Sen. 
Cons.  Helu,  1.  3  uerehar  nt  haec  turn  cansolaiio  tMei  md  eaenl' 
ceratio  ;  Petr.  Ill  omnium  eundem  esse  exitum  ti  idem 
damicUium  et  cetera  quibus  exuleeratae  menu»  ad  aamiUatem 
reuooaniwr, 

non  ex  natnn  neo  flatalis,  hy  decree  neither  of  nature  nor 
of  fate :  for  death  by  '  natural  causes '  (cf .  mor^  below)  may 
come  either  at  the  end  of  a  long  life,  when  man^i  work  tt 
done  {ex  naiura)^  or  prematurely  {ex  fiUo),  snatching  him 
away  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness,  or  even  in  childhood  or 
youth.  But  death  from  violence,  whether  self-inflicted  or 
not,  is,  as  Cicero  says  in  Phil,  i.  10  praeter  naturam  etiam 
praeterqwb  faium.  (Cf .  Gellius*  inconclusive  discussion  of  this 
passage  in  N,A,  xiii.  1,  and  such  other  passages  as  Verg. 
Aen,  IV.  696  f.  (of  Dido)  nee  faio^  merila  nee  morte  peribat,  \ 
eed  mieera  ante  diem^  mtbitoque  aceenaa  furore :  lust,  il  2.  13 
profecto  .  .  .  neq^ie  plus  hominum  ferrum  et  arma  quam 
naturalin  fatorum  condicio  rajteret. )  But  there  was  some- 
times a  mixture  of  ideas,  the  arbitrary  interruption  of  the 
recognized  course  of  nature  by  a  premature  death  by  violence 
being  especially  ascril>ed  to  fate,  and  a  suicide  especially 
excepted  from  the  realm  of  nature  and  fate. 

2.  atcumque  :  joined  with  ma{fnum  ('however  great  be  the 
comfort,*  etc.),  as  the  insertion  of  uero  in  the  following 
clause  seems  to  indicarc,  though  the  early  position  of  the 
adverb  shows  a  trace  vi*t  remaining  of  the  cl.issical  fooling 
for  utcumqne  as  introducing  the  clause  (as  in  ii.  11.  14, — 
Sel.    17,  etc):  but  cf.    v.  .'».    *2  (Sel.   37)  f^  htK  utcwnque 


8.  3.  NOTES.  191 

tolercLbile,  grauius  iUud ;  and  the  not  infrequent  usage 
from  Livy  downward  (Krebs  Antibarbarus  ii.*  p.  639). 
Other  occurrcSDces  of  utcumqv£,  in  Pliny  are  ii.  11.  14 
(Sel.  17)  utcumque  tanien  animum  cogitalionemque  collegi  ; 
VI.  20.  19  (Sel.  46)  ctiratis  utcumque  corpwihus ;  ix.  13. 
23  (Sel.  64)  cLctUmem  meam,  utcumque  potui,  recoUegi 
{  =  quantum  fieri  potuit);  vi.  2.  4  (Sel.  41)  sed  utcumque  ae 
fiabcni  ista ;  vii.  33.  10  haec^  utcumque  se  hahent  {=quocumque 
modo). 

qui  morbo  flniuntur  :  evidently  defining  the  cases  of 
death  fcUodea  as  well  as  those  ex  natura. 

ez  Ipsa  necessitate  soladum :  of.  Oic.  ^e^i.  4  qui  autem 
omnia  bona  a  se  ipsi  petunt,  its  nihil  nudum  potest  utderi  quod 
ncUurcLe  neeessitas  ad/erat. 

accendta  mors :  of.  Liic.  rv.  482  ff.  par  animi  law  est  et 
quos  speraueris  annas  \  perdere^  et  extremae  momentum  abrum- 
pere  lucis,  |  accersas  dumfata  manu. 

8.  smnma  ratio  :  the  exaltation  of  the  reason  over  the 
emotions  was  the  especial  aim  of  the  Stoic  philosophy  ;  cf. 
§  9  n.  aJbstinebat  dbo.  Lecky  has  a  few  interesting  pages  on 
the  Stoic  doctrine  of  suicide  in  Hist.  Eur.  Morals  i.  pp.  223- 
235 ;  see  also  Zeller  QescK  d.  Phil.  iii.«  pp.  284-288  ;  649 ;  692. 

quanqaam :  used  by  Pliny  twenty-six  times  without  a 
finite  verb,  but  of  these  instances  less  than  one-third  are  with 
participles, — a  usage  which  is  distinctly  post-classical,  though 
it  occurs  once  in  Cicero  {Fin.  v.  68).  In  ten  instances  (so 
Kraut  and  Draeger ;  but  E.  B.  Lease  says  seven)  quanquam 
is  used  by  Pliny  with  a  verb  in  the  subjunctive,  and  in  fewer 
(so  Draeger)  instances,  as  usually  in  earlier  Latin,  with  the 
indicative  :  cf.  Kraut  Synt.  u.  Stil  p.  35 ;  Draeger  Hist.  Synt, 
II.»  pp.  766,  815. 

oiuendi  causas :  cf.  v.  5.  4  (Sel.  37)  n.  uiuendi  causas 
eotidie  finiunt ;  Quint.  Decl,  in.  14  barbaris  causam  uifae  non 
/lahendbus  :  Sen.  Med.  o47  haer  ravsa  uitac  fftt  (sc.  chihlren) ; 
PI.  N.H.  XXII.  \^  addiderc  tmteiidi  jyretia  ibliciae  luxusquc. 

opUmam  conscientiam :  cf.  x.  12  (Sel.  79)  Inmam  con- 
scientiam  ;  Tac.  A*jr.  1    hoimcroiixnfntinc  prctio. 

flliam  :  Kc.  Corcllia  Ilispulln,  to  whom  Pliny  writes  in.  3, 
recom mending  a  teacher  for  lier  son,  who  seems  to  have  just 
reached  the  age  when  the  rhHor  Latintm  took  boys  in  hand. 
Corcllia  appears  to  have  In-en  then,  and  perhaps  wa.s  already 
at  the  time  of  her  fatlier's  death,  a  widow.  In  iv.  17  Plinv 
aj^rcef»  to  act  as  her  advocate  in  a  law-suit  against  a  consul- 
designate. 


192  C.  PUNI  EPISTVLAE  SELBCTAE.  &  & 

nzoMm :  Hitpulla,  the  wife  of  Corellins,  it  mentloDed 
onW  in  this  letter.  Perhaps  she  did  not  knig  snnrife  her 
husband. 

nepotem :  cf.  note  on  JUiam  above. 

sorores :  Corellia,  one  of  the  sisters  of  Gorelliiis  Riifin, 
wife  of  Minicios  lostus,  and  mother  of  an  intimate  friend  of 
Pliny's,  is  mentioned  in  vu.  11,  and  addressed  invii.  14  in 
the  matter  of  the  purchase  by  her  from  Pliny  of  some  land  on 
the  Lago  di  Como. 

pignora :  the  word  denoted  at  first  (apparently  no 
earlier  than  the  elegiasts)  not  in  general  'hostages  to 
fortune'  (Lord  Baoon),  but  'pledges'  of  mutual  love 
between  husband  and  wife, — t.e.  children.  But  this  fiffora- 
tive  use  was  rapidly  extended  to  include  first  gnmdohilami, 
then  parents,  afterward  any  blood-relation,  ami  finally  «ven 
friends,  as  here,  and  in  other  writers. 
4.  pretia  uiuendi = uiuendi  causcu  in  §  3. 

ipsum  audiebam  :  sc.  dicere  or  dkentem.  On  the  ffeneral 
subject  of  ellipsis  in  Pliny,  which  is  very  common  and  some- 
times very  striking,  cf .  Lagergren  De  uUa  et  doc  pp.  40  £ 

pedum  dolore :  probably  podagra^  the  gout. 

patrlus  bic  Uli :  and  therefore  inevitable ;  not  brought 
on  in  the  case  of  Orellius  by  a  dissolute  life. 

A.  abstineiitia  sanctitate,  by  s^-denial  and  eotUinemce: 
of.  the  prescription  of  Celsus  against  the  gout,  rv.  31  quidam 
cum  toto  anno  a  tdno^  mulao^  uenere  aibitemperaueni,  secunVcUem 
ioUu8  uitae  coneecuti  aunt,  idque  utiqut  post  primum  dolorem 
aeruandum  est,  etiamai  quieuil.  On  the  asyndeton  see  i.  3.  1 
(Sel.  3)  n.  nibieetus  sermens. 

quod  uiridis  aetas,  ao  long  as  he  toaa  in  the  full  vigour  €f 
life  :  cf.  VII.  24.  1  (Sel.  52)  ii.  usque  ad  nouisMimam  ualetudinem 
uiridia  ;  Verg.  Aen,  vi.  304  cruda  deo  uiridinque  aeneclus, 

indignisslma,  most  cruel, 

6.  iacentem,  lying  sick :  cf.  ii.  20.  1  (Sel.  22)  Verania 
Pisonis  grauiter  iacehat ;  v.  21.  2  lulhts  Vcdens  grauiter 
iacet. 

7.  hoc  moris:  cf.  Pan,  39  neminem  hoc  nccesaitudinin 
deatituct ;  and  note  on  secreti  below. 

quotiens  intrasset :  beginning  with  Livy,  the  use  of  the 
subjunctive  (and  more  freciuently  the  pluperfect  tense)  is 
common  in  place  of  the  earlier  indicative  in  clauses  denoting 
actions  fitM|uently  re|)eateil,  an<l  introduced  by  any  of  the 
indefinite  relatives;  cf.  ill.  16.  4  (Sel.  28)  quotiens  hurartf. 


5.  9.  NOTES.  193 

qnanquaxn  :  cf .  §  3  n.  qtianquam. 

secret!  capacissima  :  cf.  ii.  13.  10  (Sel.  19)  cuius  [so. 
amicitiae]  esse  eum  capacem ;  x.  50  solum  capax  dedicationis 
(but  also  with  the  dative  in  ii.  17.  3,— Sel.  21,— uilla  usibtis 
capax) ;  and  on  the  general  subject  of  the  genitive  with 
adjectives  in  Pliny,  Kraut  p.  12  f .  ;  Holstein  De  Plin. 
rtiin.  eloc.  disp,  altera  pp.  9  f. 

8.  circumtnlit  oculos  :  sc.  to  make  sure  that  no  one  was 
within  hearing. 

istilatroni,  The.  AsAassm  :  perhaps  even  the  usual  title  by 
which  Domitian  was  referred  to  among  his  enemies  :  cf.  Mr. 
Gladstone's  constant  reference  to  the  Sultan  of  Turkey  as 
*  the  Great  Assassin.' 

dedisses,  Jiad  you  given :  a  good  instance  of  the  infre- 
quent coordination  (instead  of  subordination  with  si)  of 
protasis  with  apodosis  in  unreal  conditions ;  cf.  Cic.  Att.  ix. 

6.  6  mux  fuissemus,  conMlinm  certe  non  defuisset  ;  Off.  iii.  75 
dares  hanc  uim  M,  Crasso.  ,  .  .  in  foro,  mihi  crede,  saltaret. 

fecisset  quod  optabat :  Pliny  may  have  had  other  reasons 
for  believing  that  Ciorellius,  had  he  been  in  good  health,  would 
have  conspired  against,  or  with  his  own  hand  would  have 
killed,  the  tyrant ;  but  in  the  utterance  quoted  there  appears 
to  be  no  reason  for  supposing  that  Orellius,  any  more  than 
Pliny  himself,  or  many  other  illustrious  Romans,  would  have- 
anticipated  the  emperor's  fate  by  assassination,  optabat  of 
course  is  *  wished  for,'  i.e.  *  to  have  done,'  not  '  wished  to  do.' 

deus :  cf.  I.  5.  5  (Sol.  4)  n.  mihi  deos  adfniAse, 

aoto  :  sc.  to  live  long  enough  to  see  Domitian  dead. 

ilia :  specified  in  §3. 

minora,  insufficient:  as  too  slight  to  hold  him  to  life 
against  the  force  of  the  considerations  that  pulled  in  the  other 
direction. 

9.  naletudo,  illness :  as  frequently, 
temperantia ;   i.q.  %5  ahstinentia. 

perseuerantem  constantla  fuglt,  ^Vs-  persistence  he  escajyed 
by  hiff  rewluienesn  :  sr.  in  the  determination  to  die.  Corellius 
was  but  carrying  out  consistently  the  Stoic  doctrine  of 
freedom  of  the  soul :  cf.  the  well-known  utterance  of  Seneca 
Prou.  6.  6  /erte  /ortiter.  hoc  est  quo  devm  antecedajtis :  Hie 
extra  patieniiam  malonitii  ext,  uos  Mupra  jnttientiam.  con- 
temnite  pauper  tat  cm  .  .  .  conlemnitc  dolort-m  .  .  .  contemnit. 
foriunam  .  .  .  ante  umuia  cnni  ne  qnin  van  tmeret  inuitose 
jtatU  txihM.  si  pvgnare  non  vvltix,  lintfugere  ;  etc. 
N 


194  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAK.  &  a 


atettnabat  cibo:  the  pi-eferenoe  anumg  Stoic  tnicidet 
for  death  by  voluntary  starvation  ■eema  to  be  dne  to  the  £Mt 
that  the  quality  of  persistent  resolution,  as  above  niddni 
passion,  is  better  shown  in  such  a  death  than  in  one  that 
follows  irrevocably  upon  an  immediate  decision :  c£.  i.  22.  10 
nam  imjtetu  quoaam  tt  inatintiu  proeurrere  ad  mcrUm  com- 
mune  cum  tmiltis  ;  deliberare  tcero  e<  coMaa»  tiwt  exfefndertt 
ntqiie  sitnaait  ration  uilae  mortvtque  cmuUium  vd  nuapere  nd 
fionere  ingeutis  est  animi.  In  iii.  7  (SeL  25)  Pliny  speaks  of 
the  similar  suicide  of  Silius  Itidicos  (cf.  Mayn't  notes, 
especially  on  ^finiase  uitam), 

G.   Oeminium:    otherwise  unknown,  as    is  also    Inlios 

Atticus,  mentioned  below. 

10.  K^Kpuca :  cf .  the  utterance  of  a  man  in  similar  case  after 
the  third  day  of  abstinence,  in  Epict.  n.  15  f.  ixpiptp 
dfroKapTepeTv.  iyvtav  iyu>  ijSri  rpiniv  if/iipop  Ixorrof  aih'oO  rift 
dxoxv^,  Kcd  €\6ujv  €iniv6aif6fiiiv  ri  iyivero, — WirfMira,  ^ftiaUfi 

admirationis  :  sc.  for  the  firmness  of  will-power  shown  in 
it. 

11.  quae  aetas,  etc.:  the  sixty-seven  years  of  Corellius  do 
not  indeed  fall  far  short  of  the  biblical  three-score-aud-ten ; 
cf.  also  Sen.  BreiL  Vit.  3.  5  qwu  tarn  HtUta  morteUUatis  Minh 
in  quinqtuiqeimmum  el  nexarjenmnum  annum  differrt  aana  am- 
ailiaf  et  iiuU  uelle  uitam  incohare  quo  pauci perduxenuU?  but  in- . 
stances  of  a  much  greater  ase  were  certainly  not  rare  in  Roman 
times.  Seneca  mentions  the  hundredth  year  or  more  as  the 
extreme  of  human  life  (Hreu.  Vit,  3.  2).  The  elder  Pliny 
(A*.//.  VII.  162  it)  actually  mentions  102  persons  of  the  ace 
of  10(>  years  or  over  as  living  in  the  eighth  region  of  Italy 
{Oallia  cittjxulana)  in  the  time  of  Vespasian's  census,  and  of 
these  the  oldest  had  attained  the  maturity  of  150  years ;  but 
the  census  returns  must  have  been  much  exaggerated  in  these 
details.  An  interesting;  tabulation  of  the  age  at  death  as  in- 
dicated in  28,  ()().')  sepulchral  inscriptions  in  the  CJ.L,  is  given 
hy  A.  (i.  Harkness  in  the  Trniis.  of  the  Amer.  Phi/of.  Aswc. 
xxvir.  pp.  51  (T.,  but  the  conclusions  therefrom  are  uncertain. 
(The  threo  highest  aj^es  mentioned  are  in  vol.  viii. — inscrip- 
tions of  Africa— Iwing  ITm,  160,  and  170  years  resiMJctively  ; 
an<l  it  is  interesting  to  notice  that  as  in  a  modem  census  the 
ages  tend  to  group  themselves  decidedly  at  the  multiples  of 
five ;  cf.  E.  T.  Merrill  in  Pror,  Amer.  Philol.  Amoc.  xx.m. 
(1900)  p.  XX.)  ripian  {Duj.  xxxv.  2.  68),  in  discussing 
certain  nsufrurts,  gives  the  legal  expectation  of  life  for  those 
l)etwcen  5.'»  and  60  years  of  age  as  sevon  yeai-s  :  for  all  above 
this  age  as  five  ytrars.      Modern  Knglish  Hfe-tiibles  gives  the 


8.  13.  NOTES.  196 

expectation  of  life  at  60  years  as  from  13  to  14  years,  at  70 
years  as  from  8  to  9  years  (Newsholme  Vital  StcUistics  '  p.  299). 
But  comparative  statements  like  these  for  different  centuries 
and  countries  are  notoriously  useless,  owing  to  complexities 
introduced  by  migration  and  other  elements. 

decessit  supentitibus  suis  :  the  primal  regard  among  the 
Romans  for  the  preservation  of  the  family,  with  its  rites,  led 
to  their  viewing  with  especial  horror  any  reversal  in  the 
natural  order  of  death  :  cf.  iii.  7.  2  (Sel.  30)  iisque  cut  stipre- 
mum  diem  beatus  et/elix,  nisi  quod  minorem  ex  liberis  diiohvs 
ainisit,  sed  m/iiorem  .  .  Jloreiitem  .  .  reliquit,  and  Mayor's 
note  thereupon*  and  upon  luu.  10.  241  funera  nat07^i7n ; 
also  Tac.  Afjr,  44 ;  Shaks.  Rom.  aTid  Jul.  v.  3.  214  f.  O  thou 
UfUaught,  whcU  mannem  is  in  thisy  |  To  press  hefore  thy  father 
to  a  gravel  Tiberius  was  doubtless  held  to  be  most 
savagely  unnatural  because  (Suet.  Tib.  62)  identidem  /elicem. 
Priamum  uocabat,  quod  superstes  omniu7n  siiorum  exstitisstt. 

florente  re  publica  :  sc,  under  tlie  beneficent  reign  of 
Nerva,  or  possibly  of  Trajan  (cf.  introd.  n. ). 

quae,  etc.:  cf.  Seru.  ap.  Cic.  Fam.  iv.  5.  2  quae  homi- 
nibus  noH  miwis  qitam  liberi  cara  esse  debent,  patriam 
honestcUem  dignitatem  fumorea  omnes. 

12.  tanquam  et  iuuenis  et  fortissiml :  cf.  (of  Corel lius)  iv. 
17.  6  qucLsi  iuvxnis  et  ualidus. 

fortissinii,  in/uU  vigmir :  cf.  iv.  1.  T  fortes ;  vi.  4.  3  (SeL 
42)  fortem  ;  vii.  23.  1  ;  etc. 

morte  doleo,  doleo  autem  meo  nomine  :  witli  the  chiastic 
repetition  of  the  verb  cf.  e.g.  v.  14.  5  (Sel.  liS)collegain  prae- 
fertura  aerarii  fuit,  fuit  et  in  consulcUu ;  viii.  8.  6  (Sel.  57) 
balineum  HisptllcUes  jmblice  jrraebent^  praebcnt  et  hospitium  ; 
VIII.  18.  7  omnibus  ad/imfatibus  gratia  relata  est,  tilata  et 
uxori. 

amisi  enim,  amisi :  with  tlie  mournful  iteration  cf.  v.  16. 
9  (Sel.  39)  quid  amiserit.    nminit  enim. 

testem,  rectorem,  magistrum,  sujyporter,  guide,  ruler ; 
cf.  (of  Corellius)  iv.  1".  6  illc  mcuM  in  pefendis  honoribus 
suJTmgator  et  testis,  .   .  ille  in  gerf.ndis  ronsiliator  el  rfctor. 

in  summa:  in  classical  l^tiii  more  fro(|uently  nd  sum- 
mam;  but  cf.  i.  14.  6:  15.  4  (Sel.  10);  ii.  11.  25  (Sel.  17); 
VI.  21.  7;  VIII.  4.  8  (Sol.  50). 

Caluisio :  cf.  intrinl.  note  to  ii.  20  (Sel.  22). 

13.  sponte  :  cf.  §  1  n.  sjwnh.. 


IM  a  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAB.  §«  L 

9.  (L  la.) 

On  the  decav  of  public  interest  in  reottationt.— Q.  Bodm 
Senecio,  to  whom  Pliny  addresaes  this  letter  and  nr.  4 
(asking  a  tribuneship  for  a  friend),  was  cohshI  ardmatrim  in 
99  A.D.,  and  again  u  107.  The  provincial  governonhip  re- 
ferred to  in  IV.  4  would  naturally  fall  between  tha  two  oon- 
salihips,  and  a  few  years  after  the  first.  Platarofa  dadfanted 
to  Senecio  his  '  Lives,*  and  some  of  his  other  worioi ;  and  tlie 
especial  regard  of  Trajan  for  Senecio  is  indicated  not  only  liy 
the  two  eponymous  consukhips,  but  by  the  iaot  nentionad  of 
the  emperor  by  Dio  (Lxvin.  16),  j^nfffc  Si  md  rtO  ZotrwUm  toC 
re  ndXfiov  koI  tov  KiXffov  eUimaf  oOna  vov  odrodt  rCkf  iXXnr 
Tpoerlpaiaew,  An  inscription  {CLL.  vm.  7066, » Wflmanns 
1 194a,  Dessau  1 105)  shows  him  to  have  been  the  ■on-in-lnw  of 
the  distinffuished  S.  lulins  Frontinus  and  father-in-lnw  of  Q. 
PompeiusTalco  (cf.  introd.  note  to  i.  23,— SeL  14). 

1.  prouentnm,  crop :  cf.  vrn.  19.  2  vt  ex  thuUis  (fcnuHum, 
nc  Hitdia  hilaritcUe  firouemimt ;  Quint,  xii.  10.  11  turn  deimU 
effioreaccU  oratorum  ingens  prouefUus ;  lust.  xiii.  L  12  m^qn^ 
enim  unquam  antea  Macedtmia  tarn  darorum  tUromm 
proue$Uu  floruit :  Aeschin.  Tim,  87.  16  ^o/A  fnfrSpvw. 

Aprili :  the  month  was  probably  a  favourite  one  beoame 
of  the  agreeable  character  of  the  weather.  Moreover  there 
were  few  business  days  in  that  mouth,  the  buii  AfegcUtntie^, 
Cerialea,  and  FUtoIm  falUns  within  its  limits.  In  vin.  21.  2, 
however,  Pliny  speaks  of  choosing  July  for  one  of  his  own 
recitations,  quo  maxime  lUes  inter qtiieMcunl ;  while  Juvenal  (3.  9) 
reckons  among  the  especial  dange»  of  city-life  the  exposure 
to  AugwUo  recitantea  mewte  poetam, 

redtaret :  thepnictice  of  reciting  publicly  the  literary  cooi- 
positions  of  others  goes  back  in  Greek  lands  to  the  time  of  the 
rhapeodists.  Herodotus  is  said  to  have  read  his  own  history 
to  public  audiences,  and  from  that  time  on  the  custom  spread 
in  Greece  and  Greek  countries.  The  first  piblic  readings  in 
Rome  were  like  those  of  the  earlier  humanists  in  Italy,  read- 
iuffs  of,  with  comments  uimn,  the  classics  of  the  |iast.  Asinius 
Pollio  is  said  by  the  elder  Seneca  to  have  lieen  the  first  of  the 
liomans  to  rc;ul  his  own  writings  before  an  nndience  of  invited 
guests  {Cofttr.  IV.  proem.  2).  The  practice  iinmetliately 
became  common  and  so  continued,  under  tiie  unusual  stimulus 
i»iven  to  literary  nn<l  rhetorical  studic?  by  the  closing  of  the 
formerly  free  avenues  to  ])olitical  distinction.  The  lack  of  easy 
mean»  of  nul)lic«itiou  doubtless  coiitrilnittil  somewhat  to  the 
same  result.  In  v.  X  8-11  (Sel.  .W)  Pliny  gives  hi»  rciMons 
for  reading  his  works  to  audiences  of  frienilsTcf.  also  v.  12.  I), 


9.  2.  NOTES.  IW 

and  in  vii.  17  defends  the  practice  further  ;  and  references  to 
such  readings  by  himself  and  by  others,  and  of  widely 
diifferent  sorts  of  literature,  abound  in  his  writiuirs  (cf. 
especially  ii.  19  ;  viii.  21).  On  the  general  subject  cf.  Frietl- 
liinder  SiUengeschichU^  ill.  pp.  419  tf.;  and  the  material  col- 
lected by  Mayor  in  his  commentary  on  luu.  3.  9. 

studia,  letters. 

pigre  coltiir :  but  Pliny  is  able  to  congratulate  himself 
that  people  come  to  his  recitations  with  alacrity  (iii.  18.  4), 
and  sometimes  listen  for  two  days,  and  beg  for  more  {ihid.\ 

IV.  5.  2 ;  viiL  21.  4). 

2.  stattonibns,  loimging-places :  cf.  ii.  9.  5  itaqtte  prenao 
amicos,  stippiico,  ambio,  domos  stalioiiesqite  circumeo ;  luu. 
11.  3,  4  onmU  \  comticttui,  thermae^  iftaiioiies,  omne  thtatruni. 
The  magnificent  porticoes,  and,  later  than  Pliny's  time  for  the 
most  part,  the  great  l)athiug  establishments,  famished  the 
favourite  stattones.  There  too  one  might  consult  lawyers : 
Gell.  XIII.  13.  1  ill  plerUque  Rmnae  tttationibtia  ius  ptiblice 
docentinm  atU  re-spondentium.     Cf.  also,  of  a  lazy  life,  Mart. 

V.  20.  8  ff.  sed  gestcUio, /abtUae,  lUtelli,  \  cavipus,  porticxis^ 
umbra,  Virgo,  thermae,  |  ha>ec  esseiU  loca  semj^r,  hi  labored. 

praefationem,  introdticlion :  differing  from  exordivm  as 
being  no  part  of  the  book  or  speech  proper  (cf.  dizerit,  not 
recitauerit).  It  was  spoken  while  the  reader  was  yet  seated, 
even  when  he  delivered  his  speech  standing  ;  cf.  ii.  3.  1  f.  sermo 
Graecu8,  imrno  Atticus :  prae/atioiies  ieraae,  (/raciles,  dulces, 
grauea  itUerdum  et  erectae.  poscit  controuersiaa  plures, 
electionem  auditonbus  ^^erwiiWiV, — saef^e  ttiam  jmrtes, — stirgit, 
amicitur,  incipit;  »Sen.  Contr.  iii.  in-oem.  11  Silo  Pompeins 
gedens  et  facundua  et  litterattiA  est,  et  haberetur  diaertvs  si  a 
praeloctUione  [=prae/afione]  dimiiteret :  declamat  tarn  male  vt 
uidear  belle  optassf  cum  dixi,  *  nunquam  surr/aa  *  /  But  Plinv 
certainly  ar^es  in  ii.  19  as  if  si>eeches  were  recited,  or  read, 
while  seated :  perhaps  the  custom  of  the  Roman  of  rank 
differed  from  that  of  tlie  professed  rhctoiician.  Other  forms 
of  composition  naturally  niii^ht  be  read  while  seated  ;  cf. 
Pers.  1.  17  fitde  leges  ctlsa.  The  pratfoUio  was  the  traditional 
place  for  conciliatory  excuses:  cf.  iv.  II.  2  (iSel.  32);  iv.  14. 
8  ;  VIII.  21.  3  forte  aciidit  ut  iod'-m  ditmaiic  in  adnocatioiiem 
subitum  rogarer,  quod  mihi  cau.^im  praditqtwndi  dedit.  sum 
aiim  deprecatus  nt  (pus  ut  irrtuerciUtmi  OfKris  aryueret,  quod 
recitaturus,  etc.  :  ^lart.  iii.  18  /ter/rijcisne  luas  questa  est 
prae/atio /auccH.  |  cum  te  (xcusari^,  Maximc,  quid  recitas? 

euoluerit,  unrolled,  and  hence  fuishtd  :  for  the  liber  was 
a  roll  of  papyru*  wotind  upon  a  rod  {umbUicua),  unrolled  with 


198  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELBCTAE.  9.  2. 

the  one  hand  and  rolled  up  in  the  other  as  the  reader  pro- 
ceeded :  cf.  Sen.  iSuas.  vi.  27  si  hie  deaiero,  9cio  /nturum  Mt 
utw  iUo  loco  cUfinatui  legere  quo  eyo  a  achokulid»  reeeuM ;  efyo 
tU  librum  uelitis  tu^ue  ad  umbilieum  rtuoluert,  adidam 
sucmoriam  proximae  mmilettu 

alll  dlssixnulanter,  etc.,  some  dyly  and  sUaithily,  others 

opeiUy  aiid  boldly. 

8.  hercule :  this,  with  me  hercule,  is  a  favourite  expletive  of 
Pliny's,  occurring  fifteen  times  in  the  letters. 

Claudiuxn  Caesarem :  according  to  Suetonius  {Cleutd.  41) 
Claudius  not  only  was  himself  an  author,  but  gave  readings 
from  his  works  before  assuming  the  principate,  and  after  that 
time  employed  one  of  his  slaves  to  act  for  him  vicariously  in 
the  same  matter,  as  indeed  Pliny  at  one  time  thought  of  doins 
(cf.  IX.  34.  1).  Pliny  might  have  found  a  nobler  example  of 
an  imperial  auditor  in  Augustus  (cf.  Suet.  Aug,  89  rectiarUis 
et  henigne  et  patienUr  avdiit,  nee  tantum  carmina  et  historias^ 
tied  et  oratione-i  et  dicUogos ;  Suet.  Tib,  61  ;  and  on  the  recita- 
tiou  by  Vergil  of  his  Aeneid  before  the  emperor  Seru.  on  .^en. 
IV.  323;  VI.  861),  but  the  point  here  is  on  the  condescension 
of  the  uninvited  guest.  The  Romans  had  already  learned 
with  great  zeal  their  lesson  of  the  divinity  that  doth  hedge  a 
king. 

Palatio :  Claudius  lived  in  the  domus  Tiberiana  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Palatine ;  but  Palatio  must  not  be  taken  here 
in  its  very  late  meaning  of  '  the  palace.*  .  In  inscriptions  the 
imperial  residence  on  the  Palatine  is  always  domus  PalcUina^ 
Augustatuif  Tif}eriaiia.  On  the  north-eastern  part  of  the  hill 
Augustus  had  built  a  temple  of  Apollo,  with  Latin  and  Greek 
libraries,  and  porticoes  adjoining  (Suet.  Aug,  29),  and  this  was 
a  favourite  place  for  recitations  as  for  study ;  cf.  the  Comm. 
Cruq,  on  Hor.  Sat.  i,  10.  38  Tarpa  fuxt  index  crilicuSf 
auditor  assiduus  poenuUum  et  poetarum  m  aede  ApoUitUs 
seu  Muaarumy  quo  conuenire  poetae  wlebant  suaque  scripla 
recitare. 

clamorem :  the  sincerity  and  effectiveness  of  applause 
was  judged  to  stand  in  a  relation  of  direct  ratio  with  its  noise. 
And  even  Pliny,  who  on  occasion  declares  (ii.  10.  7)  an  atten- 
tive and  eager  silence  to  be  as  complimentary  as  shouting, 
is  at  another  time  (vi.  17)  highly  disgusted  with  the  super- 
ciliousness of  auditors  who  sit  quietly  in  their  places.  I5ut 
the  philosopher  Musonius  (cf.  ill.  11.  5,  7, — Sel.  26)  spoke  on 
the  subject  with  no  uncertain  voice  (ap.  Gell.  v.  I). — Cf.  ii. 
14.  nn.  (Sel.  20)  on  applause  in  the  court-room. 


10,  1.  NOTES.  199 

Nonianum :  M.  Seruilius  Nooianus  was  consul  in  35  a.d., 
and  died  in  59 :  cf.  Tac.  Ann.  xiv.  19  Sei-^iUius  diuj'oroy  mox 
tmdendis  rebxis  Romania  Celebris  et  elegantia  uitae  ;  Quint,  x. 
1.  102  [Seru»  Nan.]  qui  et  ipse  a  iiohis  auditus  est,  dari  uir 
tntjenii  et  senterUiis  creber,  sed  7nimu  pi^essus  quam  historiae 
auctoritas  poshilcU  ;  Tac.  Dial.  23.  The  elder  Pliny  (xxxvii. 
81)  speaks  of  him  as  tlie  grandson  of  that  Nonius  whom 
Antony  put  on  the  list  of  the  proscribed  on  account  of  a  jewel 
that  he  possessed,  and  great-grandson  of  the  struma  Nonius 
of  Catullus  52.  Valerius  Probus  ( Vit.  Pers. )  says  of  Persius, 
coluU  tU  patrem  Seruilium  Nonianum. 

4.  quia  non  perdiderlt :  the  mood  shows  that  Pliny,  with 
the  excessive  ingenuity  of  phrase  to  which  he  sometimes 
inclines,  twists  the  unreasonable  reason  actually  given  by  the 
auditor  into  this  oxymoric  form. 

6.  ex  caosis  :  cf.  i.  2.  6  (Sel.  2)  n.  ex  causis. 

10.  (I.  15.) 

The  fury  of  a  host  scorned.  —On  the  person  addressed  see 
introd.  note  to  i.  1  (Sel.  1). 

I.  heu8  ta,  see  here,  you  !  :  the  pronoun  is  perhaps  vocative, 
even  here  in  close  conjunction  with  the  verb:  cf.  ix.  12.  1 
heus  lu,  nunquamne /ecisti  quod  a  patre  corripi  posset  F  and  the 
frequent  union  by  the  comedians  of  tu  with  heus  in  a  single 
exclamation. 

promittiB  ad  cenam :  sc.  te  uenturum.  The  ellipsis  seems  to 
be  a  colloquialism  in  this  expression  :  cf.  Plant.  SticK  596  ad 
cenam  hercle  alio  promuti/oras ;  Pctr.  \Oad  cenam  promiitimiat ; 
Phaedr.  rv.  25.  15  cui  cenam  mihi  jn-omille  ;  and  the  modifica- 
tion in  Plaut.  Stick.  483  tu  ad  me  turn  uis  promittere ;  Cic.  De 
Or,  IL  27  ad/ratrem  promiserat, 

didtor  ins,  tfie  court  is  in  sesMon :  cf.  e.g.  Cic.  Fam.  xiii. 
14  ea  res  [sc.  a  suit  for  payment  of  a  debt]  a  VolccUio^  qui 
Romae  ius  dicilt  reiecia  in  Galliam  est. 

ad  assem,  to  the  uttermost  farthing :  cf.  Hor.  Kp.  ii.  2. 
26  f.  LuciUli  mil&*  uiatica  ad  a^^m  jyerdiderat ;  and  the  well- 
known  proverbial  use  of  o^  for  the  most  insigniticatit  value. 

ixnpendium  reddes  :  Pliny  humorously  threatens  his  friend 
with  action  to  recover  damages  (perhaps  under  the  Lex  A<|ui- 
lia;  cf.  Dig.  ix.  2.  27.  5)  for  the  spoiling  of  the  uneaten 
dinner.  Any  loss  inflictcil  up>n  a  person  by  the  malicious- 
ness {/lolo)  or  gross  carelessness  (culjta  lata)  of  anotlicr 
rendered  the  culprit  responsible  to  the  full  extent  of  the 
injury  done  :  cf.  Dig.  i..  16.  V.K\,  etc. 


2IK)  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.        W.  1 

nee  id  modicum :  the  ofTcudtHl  host  solemnly  details  as  if 
rooet  luxurious  tiie  extreme  simplicity  of  his  v^^etarian  diet 
and  old-fashioned  entertainment,  as  against  tlie  modern  delights 
of  nalato  and  eye  which  the  peccant  guest  had  the  bad  taste 
and  poor  judgment  (so  he  implies)  to  prefer.  The  osnal 
Rouian  dinner  began  with  various  hors-dCoeuvrt»  (called  j/ustef, 
gustatioy  or  promulsis),  which  were  followed  by  one  or  more 
courses  {/ereuta,  missua)  of  some  sort,  and  those  by  aeamdae 
tnenttae  (the  dessert)  of  pastry,  nuts,  and  fresh  or  preserved 
fruits.  Pliny's  enumeration  begins  in  normal  order  with 
hors-d'oeuvrest  washed  down  by  muUum,  and  proceeds  to 
the  regular  /ercula ;  but  how  many  of  these  oourses  there 
were,  he  does  not  attempt  to  say,  contenting  himself  with 
cUia  miUe, 

a.  lactncae :  the  Romans  of  the  imperial  period  recopnixed 
several  varieties  of  lettuce,  and  spoke  of  it  as  good  to  induoe 
sleep,  and  especially  serviceable  among  the  hors-dPoeavrt»  as 
an  appetizer:  cf.  Plin.  N.H,  xix.  127  atomaeho  fiutidium 
aufenint  [laclttcae']  cibique  appetentiam /aciunt.  At  an  earlier 
period  it  had  been  the  fashion  to  serve  it  later  in  the  meal  as 
a  salad :  cf.  Verg.  Mar,  74  graUique  nobilium  requies  Itutuca 
dhorumx  Mart.  xiii.  14  cludere  auae  cetias  Icituea  aolebcU 
auorutn,  \  die  tnihi,  cur  nostras  mciAat  ilia  dapes  f 

singulae :  the  numerals  are  doubtless  meant  to  give  the 
effect  of  precision  in  the  reckoning  of  damages,  and  only 
incidentally  of  frugality  in  the  supplies. 

oodieae:  snails  belonged  also  in  the  promuUis;  ef. 
Mart.  XI  ,1.  53  cum  pinguis  mihi  turtur  erity  kLciuca^  ucUdns : 
I  el  cochlear  tihi  habe,  perdere  nolo  /amem,  Celsus  (ii.  24) 
mentions  them,  with  lettuce,  among  the  articles  of  diet  quae 
stomacho  aptissima  sunt.  Varro  {B.R.  in.  14)  describes 
the  different  varieties,  and  the  manner  of  raising  them. 
They  are  still  an  article  of  diet  in  Italy. 

oua:  eggs  were  so  commonly  eaten  among  the  hors- 
d^oeui^res  as  to  give  rise  to  proverbial  expressions;  cf.  Hor. 
SaX.  I.  .3.  6  ab  ouo  usque  ad  mala  {i.e.  from  beginning  to  end 
of  the  meal) ;  Cic.  Fam.  ix.  20.  1  inteyram  /amem  ad  ouum 
adferOy  itaqae  ust/ue  ad  astum  uitulijium  opera  perducitur.  The 
eggs  thus  wjrved  were  apparently  *  soft-boiled ' :  cf.  Petr.  33 
Triinalchio  alt,  *  fKinonis  oita  gcUlhuu  iw.'Wi  sujyponi.  et  meher- 
culen  timeo  w,  iam  eoncepti  nint ;  teinptemuM  tamcn  si  adhur. 
sorhilia  sint.* 

halica  (Grk.  4X«f,  or,  earlier  ami  more  properly, 
X^vSpoi) :  wheat,  barley,  or,  more  fret^ueutly  in  Italy,  spelt 
{triticum  i^pelta),  hulled  and  crushed,  like  oatmeal  or  cracked- 


10,  2.  NOTES.  201 

wheat,  and  cooked  variously  to  be  used  as  food  ;  then,  a  de- 
mulcent drink,  prepared  from  the  same,  like  barley-water. 
The  spelling  without  the  initial  aspirate  (against  the  best 
Mss.  of  a  number  of  authors)  rests  on  the  authority  of  the 
Greek  derivative,  of  a  play  on  the  word  in  Mart.  xii.  81.  3, 
and  of  a  direct  statement  of  Verrius  Flaccus  quoted  by 
Charisius  p.  75,  alicam  sine  adspiratioiie  dictam  Verrius 
tradit,  et  stc  rmdti  dixerunt  (cf.  also  Festus  7).  Yet  it  is  a 
question  whether  the  lexicographers  were  not  influenced 
simply  by  their  false  derivation  from  cUere. 

mulso :  wine  straight  from  the  press,  mixed  with  a 
certain  proportion  of  honey,  and  sealed  up  at  once  in  jars : 
cf.  the  receipt  in  Colum.  xii.  41.  It  was  served  regularly 
after,  or  with,  the  hors-d^oeuvres  (hence  promvlsis).  The 
custom  of  mixing  mtUsum  with  hodica  seems  to  be  indicated 
by  Mart.  xiii.  6  nos  alicanit  poterit  mvlsum  tibi  mittere 
dittes. 

nine :  the  use  of  artifically  preserved  ice  and  snow 
(especially  of  the  latter)  to  cool  wine  is  apparently  a  refine- 
ment introduced  in  the  first  century.  Pliny  the  Elder  waxes 
unusually  eloquent  in  condemning  the  practice  as  a  mark  of 
degeneration  ;  cf .  N.  H.  xix.  54  f.  heu  2>rodigia  tientris  /  .  .  . 
aquae  qtuHjue  aeparanturf  et  ipsa  natume  elementa  ui  pecuniae 
dtscreta  sunt,  hi  niues,  tUi  glaciem  potant^  poenasque  montium 
in  uoluptatem  gidae  tiertunt^  etc.  Seneca  follows  suit  in  yat. 
Qu,  IV.  13;  Ep.  119.  3.  Cf.  also  luu.  5.  49  ff".  The  custom 
18  not  infrequently  mentioned  elsewhere,  and  has  survived 
till  the  present  day.  Addison,  in  his  Remarks  on  Italy 
comments  at  some  length  on  the  universal  use  of  snow  in 
Naples  to  cool  drinks,  remarking,  '  There  is  a  great  Quan- 
tity of  it  consumed  yearly  .  .  .  insomuch  that  a  Scarcity  of 
Snow  would  raise  a  Mutiny  at  Naples^  as  much  as  a  Dearth 
of  Com  or  Provisions  in  another  Country.' 

fearculo =repositorio,  the  'tray'  upon  which  each  course 
was  brought  to  the  table  :  cf.  Petr.  Cetia  7'rim.  ptissim. 

oliuae  :  olives  were  served  among  the  hors-d'oeun-es,  and 
also  in  the  regular  course,  which  Pliny  apfmrently  begins  to 
recount  with  this  dish  :  cf.  Mart.  xiii.  3(5  haec  quat  ricenis 
nenit  subducla  trapttis^  \  incoha^  aOjue  eadcm  Jiiiit  o/iua 
dapcs. 

betacel :  Martial  (in.  47.  9)  mentions  beets  as  pigro 
uentri  non  inutilcH,  but  yet  calls  them  (xiii.  13.  1)  faftrorum 
ftrandia. 

cacurbitae:  the  elder  Pliny  {S,H.  xix.  71  i\.)  describes 
the  various  uses  of  the  gourd,  and  characterixes  it  in  its  green 


202  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.        10.  SL 

BttkUi  ixa  in  cihin  «alither  etc  hnis.  Like  the  cucumlier  (cucHmi») 
it  was  sometimes  preserved  ffreen  in  brine  or  under  ground 
from  one  season  to  another  {wid. ). 

bulbi :  the  bulbous  roots  of  a  certain  plant  of  which  a 
number  of  varieties  were  recognized  by  the  ancients.  Pliny 
the  Elder  (xix.  93  ff.)  mentions  bulbi  in  close  connection 
witli  onions  {cepae)  and  garlic  {cUhim),  but  as  distinct  from 
them. 

mille  :  of  indefinite  multitude,  as  more  especially  in  livy 
and  the  Augustan  poets ;  cf.  also  i.  20.  10  (Scl.  13) ;  ui. 
1.  11  (Sel.  23) ;  iv.  7.  2  (Sel.  31) ;  v.  9.  4  his  uerbis  ac  milU 
praeterea ;  ix.  26.  9  el  mille  tcUia,  Pliny  does  not  uae  the 
classical  seacenti  and  trecenti  in  this  sense. 

comoedum :  a  slave  especially  trained  to  read  or  recite 
scenes  from  well-known  comedies :  cf.  ix.  17.  3  (of  entertain- 
ment at  a  dinner)  cum  lector  aiU  lyrist es  aut  comoedus  induetus 
est ;  and  further  of  Pliny *s  own  custom  ix.  36.  4  (ScL  70) 
cenanli  mihij  fti  cum  itxore  uel  jxiicci-i,  liber  legitiir  ;  x>ost  cenam 
conwedus  aiU  lyristes  ;  ix.  40.  2  (Sel.  72)  iion  iam  comoedo  aut 
lyrislae  post  cenam  locns.  So  of  Spuriuna*s  habit  in  iii.  1.  9 
(Sol.  23)  frequenter  comoedis  cena  distinguitur :  and  one  of 
Pliny's  slaves  is  especially  said  (v.  19.  3, — Sel.  40)  to  be 
accomplished  as  comoedtis,  lector,  and  cit?uirista  (between 
which  and  lyristea  Pliny  probably  made  no  distinction).  Such 
a  union  of  accomplishments  in  one  slave  was  exceedingly 
unusual,  in  a  time  when  there  was  the  most  minute  sub- 
division of  slave-labour.  The  custom  of  such  dramatic 
readings  at  dinners  is  often  mentioned  by  other  writers, 
especially  of  this  period. 

lectorem :  the  readings  at  dinner  might  be  from  Homer, 
Hesiod,  the  Greek  lyric  poets,  or  even  from  writers  of  other 
sorts  of  literature,  Greek  or  Latin  (cf.  v.  19.  3,—Sel.  40). 
Varro  (ap.  Gell.  xiii.  11.  5)  mentions  the  custom  as  if  an 
established  one,  saying,  in  conuiuio  legi  non  omnia  debent,  «ed 
ea  ]H)fis.'Hmum  qtuie  simul  sint  ^uxpeXi)  et  dthctent ;  Nc|>os  says 
of  Atticus  {Att,  14.  1),  7i€7t(6  nnqiiam  sine  a/iqna  iectione  apnd 
eum  renalum  est ;  and  sucii  readings  continued  to  be  perhaps 
the  favourite  acroama  of  the  Romans. 

lyristen  :  anciently  the  Romans  had  flute-players  at  their 
baniiuets  (Quint,  i.  10.  20),  and  with  the  growing  refinement  of 
taste  and  the  intrmluction  of  Eastern  luxury  (Liv.  xxxix.  0) 
came  in  nuisic  of  a  better  sort,  chiefly  produced  upon  the 
various  sorts  of  lyres.  Usually  players  were  trained  as 
soloists,  but  orchestral  performers  at  dinner  (syniphoniaci)  are 
mentioned  as  early  as  Cicero's  time  ;  cf.  Cic.  Mil.  55 ;   Vtrr. 


r 


M.  3.  NOTES.  »3 

V.  64 ;  and  the  amnsing  HUxy  told  by  Uacrobins  (ii.  4.  eS) 
aboat  Aagnstos  aod  tiie  dinner-orcfaestFa  of  Torooius 
Fbtccus.  FetiXNiiiis  represents  many  of  the  dabonte  opera- 
tions of  Trimalcfaio's  famous  dumer  as  carried  on  to  the 
acoompanuDent  of  music 

8.  ostiea :  oysters  were  held  to  be  the  first  of  table-dauitaes 
(Plin.  N.H.  xxxiL  59  palmuk  w&auartim  diu  iam  tribm€Uur 
illis)j  and  had  been  a  loxory  in  Rome  since  at  least  the  time 
of  Lucilius  (of.  e.g.  LuciL  xm.  ap.  Non.  216  hoc  Jit  idan  in 
cena;  daibis  ostrea  nulUfHn  Ntcmaticm  empta).  There  were  a 
number  of  recognized  varieties,  coming  from  places  ranging 
between  Cyzicus  and  Richborongfa  (PUn.  X.  ft.  xxxii.  ^  f . ; 
luu.  4.  141) ;  but  those  from  the  Lucrine  lake  had  the  best 
reputation ;  d  Plin.  N.H.  a,  168  oalrearum  uimaria  primus 
omtUum  Sergius  Orala  inuenit  in  BaioutOj  aettiU  L.  Chvum 
oratcrU,  ante  Mardctan  beUum  [90-88  B.C.]  .  .  .  U  jfrimus 
optimum  aaporem  ostreis  LucrinU  adivdicanit ;  et  mult.  aL 

uulnas  :  the  matrices  of  sows  were  one  of  the  most  prized 
delicacies  in  Rome  from  early  times  (cf.  Hor.  Ep.  I.  15.  41 
obeso  nil  melius  turdo,  nil  uulua  pulchrius  ampla),  and  in  the 
Edict  of  Diocletian  (4.  4)  they  are  the  highest  priced  meat 
Indeed,  pork  in  general  enjoyed  a  reputation  above  that 
among  either  Jews  or  Christians  of  later  days:  cf.  Plin. 
N,H,  VIII.  209  neque  alio  ex  animaii  numerosior  materia 
ganeae  ;  quinquaginta  prope  saporesy  cum  ceteris  singuli, 

echinos :  both  Juvenal  and  Horace  join  sea-urchins  with 
oysters  as  a  delicacy ;  cf.  luu.  4.  143  ;  Hor.  Sat.  ii.  4.  33. 

Gadi tanas :  the  Romans  im|K)rtcd  for  their  amusement  at 
banquete  female  dancers  both  from  the  East  (cf .  Verg.  Cop.  1 ) 
and  from  the  West, — especially  from  Gades.  But  these 
dances  were  apparently,  like  some  others  that  have  had  the 
same  origin  in  more  modem  days,  of  an  influence  anything 
but  moral  Both  Juvenal  and  Martial  condemn  them  in 
unmeasured  terms,  and  both  Juvenal  and  Martial  charac- 
terize in  imrt  by  llie  absence  of  tSpanish  dancers  the  frugality 
and  propriety  of  the  dinner  to  which  they  invite  friends, 
Martial  proiiiising  instciid  the  old-fashioned  music  of  the 
slender  llutc,  and  Juvenal  readings  from  Homer  and  eI<M|Ucnt 
Maro  (luu.  11.  1G2  ff.  ;  Mart.  v.  78.  26  ir.). 

dabis  poenas :  rep&itiug  the  threat  maile  aljove,  i//i/X9i- 
dium  rediUx. 

non  dice  quas :  waiving  the  immediate  specification  of 
the  precise  amount,  that  the  uncertainty  may  increase  tho 
terror  of  the  culprit. 


2D4  C.  PLINI  KPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.        1«,  X 

inuidisti,  yoM  have  euUed  i/rwigmiify, 

nescio  an:  not  in  the  senae  of  *  probably,'  a8  ctftan  in 
Cicero,  but  simply  of  *  perhape,'  leaving  the  question  entirely 
open.  Invariably  in  Pliny  the  phraw  is  usedf  either  with  th» 
neutral  force,  or  almost  witli  an  inclination  toward  negation, 
as  eg.  in  iii.  1.  I  (Sel.  23),  vii.  19.  4  (SeL  50). 

sad  tamen,  ye« :  spoken  in  oorreotion  of  his  own  hentatioo 
in  expression. 

loslsaemns,  jtMedi  cf.  i.  11.  1  ludert  mt  jmioM?  mrio 
peto, 

atoduinemns,  Uamed:  with  reference  to  the  literary 
entertainment  provided.  Pliny  could  not  allow  himself  to 
think  of  bein^  simply  jolly  for  an  entire  evening. — Triple 
asyndeton  of  single  words  occurs  toward  150  times  m  Pliny^ 
extant  works,— about  100  times  in  the  letters  alone.  On 
double  asyndeta  of  single  words  see  L  3.  1  (Sd.  3)  n.  mUneeiwt 
9eruiens. 

4.  appazatias,  more  elaborcUely :  cf.  Hor.  Oarm,  i.  38.  1 
Perskos  odi,  puer^  apparatus. 

hilarins,  etc.,  with  viort  jollUg,  /ranineMj  abctmkm: 
onder  Domitian  and  his  spy-system  such  absence  of  reserve 
would  have  been  impossible. 

in  Bumma :  cf.  i.  12.  12  (Sel.  8)  n.  t»  gumma. 

expertre,  try  it  once. 

11.     a  16.) 

Tlie  praises  of  Ssiturninus.  —It  is  impossible  to  determine 
whether  this  letter  was  written  to  the  firucius  Clarus  men- 
tioned in  n.  9.  4  as  an  upright  man,  and  an  eloquent,  skilfnU 
and  faithful  advocate,  or  to  his  son.  Sex.  Emcius  Clams,  in 
wliose  candidacy  for  the  tribuneship  Pliny  in  the  same  letter 
declares  his  absorbing  interest.  The  latter  is  more  likely. 
Sextus  was  the  maternal  nephew  of  C.  Septicius  Clarus,  on 
whom  see  introd.  note  to  i.  1  (Sel.  1 ).  His  8ulNie(|uent  career 
seems  to  have  justified  Pliny's  high  opinion  of  him.  The  date 
of  his  first  consulship  is  unknown  :  but  in  his  old  age  he  was 
honoure<l  with  a  second  consulship  {ros.  ord.  146  A.D.  ;  cf. 
Cell.  XIII.  18.  2;  Spart.  Sen.  1.  3).  He  had  also  scr\'cd  as 
pnuftctM  urbi  (Gell.  I.e.  ;  vii.  6.  12),  and  when  legate  of 
Trajan  in  the  Parthian  war  had  captured  Sclcucia  (Dio.  Cass. 
Lxviii.  30.  2). 

I.  Pompeinm  Satnminnm :  unknown,  except  from  Pliny's 
letters,  who  addresses  to  him  i.  S.  in  answer  to  a  request  tor 


11,  2.  NOTES.  205 

8ome  composition  of  hia  own,  and  to  a  Saturninus  four  other 
brief  letters  (v.  21,  vii.  7,  16,  ix.  38),  from  which  nothing 
can  be  deduced  concerning  the  person  addressed  except  what 
is  also  told  in  this  letter, — that  he  was  both  a  lawyer  and  a 
man  of  letters,  and  a  friend  of  some  of  Pliny's  friends. 

hunc  dico  nostrum,  /  mean  thcUfrietul  of  ours :  the  com- 
plexity of  Roman  nomenclature  at  this  period  makes  it  quite 
possible  that  there  were  other  men  bearing  this  same  lutmen 
and  cognomen, 

tenet,  habet,  possidet:  Florentinus  in  the  Dig.  xlvi. 
4.  18  ^ives  these  three  words  together  in  quoting  from  Gallus 
Aquilios  a  formula  of  stipulation  {qiuxi'iie  tu  meum  habes,  teneSy 
jwssides),  and  Papinian  (Dig.  xli.  2.  49)  points  out  the  legal 
distinction  between  tenei-e  and  the  two  other  words,  while 
Fronto  {De  Diff.  2196)  defines  the  difference  between  habere 
and  possidere.  But  though  the  idea  of  complete  and  absolute 
possession  is  conveyed  by  them,  considerations  of  rhetoric 
rather  than  of  law  doubtless  suggested  to  Pliny  the  use  of 
this  triplet  «is  of  others. 

2.  siue  meditata,  etc.,  whether  he  was  speaking  with  pre- 
vious preparation  or  extemporaneoiiMy :  cf.  ii.  3.  2  (of  the 
impromj^tu  speaking  of  the  rhetorician  Isaeus)  midta  lectio  in 
8uf)itiSf  muUa  scriptio  ducet, 

proferret :  apparently  an  instance  of  the  imperfect  sub- 
junctive  in  the  third  person  in  protasis  •  (cf .  the  classical  use 
of  the  present  subjunctive  in  the  second  person  with  the 
same  sense)  to  express  an  oft  recurring  fact.  The  construc- 
tion occurs  in  isolated  instances  in  Catullus  and  Caesar,  but 
becomes  more  frequent  in  the  Silver  Age. 

adsnnt  aptae  crebraeque  sententiae,  his  speech  is  marked 
by  many  happy  aphorUms  ((Jrk.  7i'u;/xai) :  the  Auct.  arf  Heren. 
(IV.  24)  defines  sententia  thus :  sententia  est  oratio  tnimpta  de 
uitaj  quae  atU  quid  sit  aut  quid  ojHtrteat  esse  in  uita  breuiter 
osttndit ;  but  gives  a  warninj^  about  its  too  frequent  use  in 
speeches  ;  iv.  25  sententioA  tnterjxmi  raro  conuenit^  ut  rei 
actnr^'s^  nan  n'ntendi  praereptorfs  videamur  esse.  Cicero  repre- 
sents Crassus  as  praising  the  effect  of  senfnUine  ;  De  Or.  I.  31 
quifl  tnim  est  tarn  iunnnlum  cogvitu  afqvc  anditn  guam 
sajtinUibus  senfcufiis  grauibnsquc  nerbis  ornafa  oratio  ft  ptUita  ? 
apd  Antonius  as  not  objecting  t<»  their  frr<|Uoncy  ;  Dc  Or.  ii. 
34  quitl  antrm  svltti/ins  qvam  crebnu'  anifopqHe.  sentential? 
Quintilian  in  nioix»  tluin  one  place  .speaks  of  the  use  of  sen- 
tnitiae  as  an  increasingly  popular  rhetorical  device  in  his  own 
«lay  (cf.  f  .g.  i.  S.  9  in  jiirrittqiif.  voHururiiy  qui  omvimn  ojtf^rum 
so/am  virfufnu  srutuitirts  pntnmcrunt)^  and  after  arguing  the 


206  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.        IL  % 

matter  concludes  (viii.  5.  34),  ri  neeesse  sU,  mienm  Uhm 
horrorem  dieendi  malim  qnam  iatam  nouam  lianiiam  f  md 
ptUet  media  qttaedam  wa.  Pliny  quotes  a  saUaUta  of 
Licinianus  in  iv.  11.  2  (Sel.  32). 

graois  et  decora  constructio,  a  stately  and  hanmomout 
sentence-structure :  cf.  v.  8.  10  cUia  uerba,  alius  somes,  alia 
constructio :  Cic.  De  Or,  i.  17  ipsa  oratio  eo^fanmanda  «oil 
solum  electione  sed  etiam  construetione  uerbarum,  Qnintilian 
calls  the  quality  compositio,  and  discusses  it  in  IntL  Or,  OL  4. 

sonantia  aerba  et  antiqna,  ufords  sonorous  with  asUsquHy. 

4.  oonttonibus :  the  speeches  put  by  the  historian  into  tho 
mouths  of  his  characters,  like  tlutt  of  Pericles  over  tiie  dead 
at  Marathon  in  Thucydides,  and  Uiose  of  Calgaooa  and  Agri- 
cola  in  the  Agricola  of  Tacitus. 

snis :  not  that  the  historian  was  not  the  composer  of  the 
contiones  as  much  as  of  the  rest  of  his  work,  but  to  mark  the 
distinction  between  his  real  speeches  in  active  life  and  those 
that  he  in  his  writings  professedly  reports  from  the  lips  of 
others. 

pressior  et  drcomscriptior  et  addoctior,  more  condenaed 
and  limited  and  confined,  * 

6.  Catullus  aut  Caluos  :  these  two  lyric  poets  and  intimate 
friends  of  the  Ciceronian  age  are  joined  together  in  mention 
by  more  than  one  writer :  cf.  iv.  27.  4  ff.  canto  carmina  uerMus 
minutis,\his  olim  quibus  et  m^us  Gaiullus  |  et  CcUuusuelereaquei 
Hor.  Sat.  I.  10.  18  f.  simius  isfe  \  nil  praeter  CcJuum  et  doetus 
caiUare  Gatidlum ;  Ov.  Am.  iii.  9.  61  f.  obuius  huie  uenioA^ 
hedera  iuuenilia  cinrtus  \  ternpora,  cum  Caluo^  docte  Caiulle^ 
fm  ;  Prop.  xii.  25.  4  ;  34.  87  ^ ;  el  cU,— On  Calvus  as  an  orator 
cf.  I.  2.  2  n.  (Sel.  2). 

amaritudinis,  sting:  sc.  in  epigrams.  Plin^  joins 
amaritudo  with  vis  in  iv.  20.  3  (ingento  vim  et  amarUuainem 
dofor  atUlidit) ;  with  nis  and  instantia  as  proper  qualities  of 
history  in  v.  8.  10;  and  in  vi.  21.  5  characterizes  a  writer  of 
Old  Comedy  thus :  non  illi  uis,  lum  grandifas,  non  MuhtilifaM, 
liort  amaritwlOf  non  didrcflo,  non  lepos  defuit.  Cf.  also  his 
cliaracteriziition  of  Martial's  epigrams  in  in.  21.  1  (Sel.  29). 
Qnintilian  refers  to  the  same  quality  in  x.  1.  96  tmiim  acerbitas 
in  Cafnl/o,  Hibacvlo^  Horatio  .  .  .  reparittnr. 

mollibUB  leuibusque.  nutve.  and  smooth :  so  Cicero  {Or,  20) 
sptsiks  of  a  style  of  speech  that  is  not  n-ytrr  but  /Puis ;  cf. 
also  Lncr  v.  137S  tenia  carmina  :  Quint,  viii.  3.  40  direre 
aMftfr*'  an  fruiter  (e«ld.  leniter) ;  et  cU. 


11,  6.  NOTES.  207 

durinscnloe,  a  trifle  mare  nigged  :  such  collo<juial  forma- 
tions  of  diminntives  on  the  stem  of  the  comparative  occur  in 
the  comedians,  in  Cicero's  letters,  and  in  the  writers  of  the 
silver  and  later  ages ;  cf.  meliusculuSy  ptUidiusadns,  nitidi- 
U8culu8f  longitLscultm  (even  in  Cic.  Arch.),  The  elder  Pliny 
uses  duri%i8culu8  of  Catullus  in  N.H,  pr.  1. 

/luasi  Catullus  :  Pliny  may  have  in  mind  such  abomina- 
tions of  awtward  elision  as  "Cat.  22.  4  piUo  ease  ego  iUi  viUia 
aut  decern  atU  pluray  or  73.  6  qiuim  modo  qui  me  unum  cU^ie 
nnicum  amicum  Jiahuit :  but  perhaps  it  is  simply  the  colloquial 
verbiage  of  Catullus  that  seems  to  Pliny  to  give  a  frequent 
tone  of  rudeness  to  his  verse.  Or  it  may  be  the  departure 
from  regularity  in  metrical  substitutions  in  the  hendeca- 
syllables  that  Pliny  has  in  mind.  At  any  rate,  he  apparently 
judges  that  these  ruder  verses  were  purposely  inserted  here 
and  there  to  prevent  the  whole  from  seeming  too  nicely 
studied  and  artificial ;  cf.  Hor.  A. P.  26  f.  .sectanteni  leuia 
nenti  \  defcmnt  anhniqiie. 

6.  esse  :  with  ellipsis  of  the  accusative,  as  not  infrequently 
in  Pliny. 

Flautum  uel  Terentium :  the  high  excellence  attributed 
to  their  writings  as  norms  of  language  is  sufficiently  attested 
by  such  passages  as  Quint,  x,  1.  99  licet  Wtr^-o  Mv^as^  Aeiii 
Sdhnis  sentf.vtiny  PlatUino  dicat  fiermove  loc^UMraa  /nissc,  /ti 
LfCUine  loqxU  itellent ;  Caes.  ap.  Suet.  Vit.  Ter,^  tu  qvoqne^  tu 
in  summiSf  o  dimidiate  Menander^  \  poneris,  et  merito,  puri 
Hermxynis  arnator. — Pliny  remarks  in  vii.  9.  8  (Sel.  49)  presxitH 
ftermo  punisqv£  ex  epifttidis  petitur.  Cf.  also  Cic.  J)e.  Or.  in. 
45  equidem  cum  midio  socrum  meam  Laeliam—facxlinx  enim 
mnlierea  incomiptam  antiqiiitatem  consentaiit^  quod,  multorum 
ae-nnoiiia  expertes  ea  tenent  semper  quae  prima  didicej^unt — ned 
earn  sic  audio  ut  PlatUum  mihi  aid  Nacninm  uidear  audire. 

aut  nzorem,  etc. :  for  such  excellence,  Pliny  assumes,  can 
l»c  the  result  only  of  long  truining  and  practice:  and  since 
lloman  maidens  ordinarily  marrictl  young,  and  did  not  attend 
the  .school  of  the  rhetor,  the  talent  shown  in  these  IctlcrK 
must  have  l)cen  <ac(|uirc<l  since  the  writer's  niarricage,  and 
'  under  the  tuition  of  her  husband.  And  since  she  had  had  u<» 
other  husband  than  Satuminus  {qvam  virijinnn  nccrpit),  to 
him  must  belong  the  credit.  Pliny  here,  as  always,  ascrilies 
everything  to  8chof»ling  and  nothing  to  native  genir.s :  cf.  I. 
9.  S  (iSel.  6)  n.  frudititsime. 

quam  oirg^inein  accepit:  with  the  phraseology  r-f.  vim. 
'2^i.  7  uATor  qvam  nittt  fimium  vinjimm  nrnfunit. 


208  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.        11,  7. 

7.  eondein  le^ro :  the  author  is  identified  with  his  wiirk»  m 
in  II.  14.  2  (Sel.  20)  ab  Homero^  and  not  iinooiniiioiily, 
especially  of  famous  writers. 

cum  remittor,  when  I  am  taking  my  ease :  cf.  XX.  S.  2 
Ulos  contendere  eniti,ho8  quiesctre  remUti ;  vil.  9.  9  (Sd.  4S)fa» 
est  et  carmine  remitti. 

non  tanquam  enndem :  i.e.  always  finding  new  beantiea 
ill  him. 

8.  neque  enim,  etc. :  the  complaint  about  the  popnlar 
preference  for  what  one  can  no  longer  have  is  itaelf  old;  ef. 
e.g.  Soph.  Ai.  961  ff.  ;  Plaut.  Capt,  142  f.  ;  Hor.  Jfy.  TL  1. 
21  ff.  [popuinSf]  mat  quae  terria  aemota  suiaque  |  UmmriXmB 
dpfuncta  uidei,  fastidU  et  odit ;  Carm.  lu.  24.  31  f.  mrintem 
incolumem  odimwt,  \  subkUam  ex  oeulia  quaerimu»  nmkU  $ 
Tac.  Agr.  1  noatris  temporibua  ineurioaa  sttorum  a^tcM ;  Awm, 
II.  88  lietera  extMimwit  recentium  ineurioai;  and  Martial  (VXXI. 
69)  on  the  man  who  praised  none  but  dead  poets.  Pliny  pro- 
tects himself  in  vi.  21.  1  by  saying,  ftum  ex  iia  qni  miraniur 
antiquna ;  lum  tamen^  ut  quidam,  temporum  nostrorum  ingeiUa 
tleapich.  Cf.  also  i.  16.  8,  9  (Sel.  11);  Mart.  i.  1.  6;  On. 
PoiU.  IV.  16.  3. 

an :  as  frequentlv  in  ar^mentative  lanffuage,  even  in 
early  Latin,  to  introduce  a  single  question  that  anticipates 
indignantly  an  opponent's  argument;  cf.  i.  10.  9  (Sel.  7)  n.  am. 

imagines,  portraits :  the  fondness  of  both  Oreelu  and 
Romans  for  portraiture  is  indicated  by  the  number  of  portrait- 
statues  and  busts  that  have  survived  to  our  own  times. 
Varro's  collection  of  700  portraits  of  illustrious  Greeks  and 
Romans,  with  epigrams  and  biographical  notes  {Hebdomades, 
or  De  ImaginHma  lAbri  xv.;  cf.  Qell.  iii.  10.  1,  17;  Plin. 
K.H.  XXXV.  11)  was  a  most  famous  thing  in  its  day,  and 
widely  published.  Atticus  published  a  smaller  collection 
of  Roman  worthies  (cf.  Plin.  I.e.).  It  became  the  fashion 
to  have  the  portraits  of  authors  prefixed  to  their  works,  and 
to  adorn  libraries  with  their  likenesses.  Pliny  himself  (iv. 
28)  sends  to  upper  Italy,  to  the  birthplace  of  Cornelius 
Nepos  and  T.  Catius,  to  secure  goo<l  copies  of  portraits  of 
these  authors  to  1>cautify  the  library  of  a  friend.  (On  the 
whole  subject  cf.  Friedir»n<ler  SiffeufffHch.*^  iii.  2.37  ff.). 

languescit :  a  ^ooil  example  of  the  interrogative  use  of 
the  present  indicative  in  impassioned  argument  to  express  an 
api>oaI  under  the  guise  of  iniliirnAnt  incredulity. 

9.  prauum  malignomqne,  j»* rrtrne  aiul  nuan. 
nemm  etiam  :  cf.  i.  r>.  17  (Sel.  4)  n.  uertim  ctiam. 


12.  1.  NOTES.  209 

12.  (I.  18.) 

The  interpretation  of  dreams. — C.  Suetonius  Tranquillus, 
best  knoM'n  to  us  as  the  author  of  the  Liven  of  the  Caesars, 
was  apparently  just  beginning  a  career  at  the  bar  when  this 
letter  was  written  (he  was  bom  not  much  before  75  a.d.).  In 
a  later  letter  Pliny  mentions  securing  for  him  a  military 
tribuneship  which  he  finally  asked  to  have  transferred  to  a 
friend  (in.  8.)  Trajan  granted  him  at  Pliny's  request  the  ius 
trium  liberorum  (x.  94,  95),  and  it  has  been  supposed  by  some 
scholars,  though  unnecessarily,  that  Suetonius  was  a  member 
of  Pliny's  staff  in  Bithynia  at  that  time.  In  i.  24  Pliny  urges 
a  friend  to  secure  for  Suetonius  at  a  good  bargain  a  coveted 
estate  near  the  city,  and  in  ix.  34  asks  the  advice  of  Suetonius 
about  having  his  lector  read  instead  of  the  author  at  a  public 
recitation.  The  volumes  which  he  urges  Suetonius  in  v.  10 
to  publish  without  further  delay  were  probably  not  the  eight 
books  de  CaesarHm  uita,  which  were  not  actually  published 
until  120  A.D.  Nor  were  they  probably  any  of  the  other 
works  of  which  fragments,  or  mention,  have  come  down  to 
us  :  for  all  of  these  apparently  were  written  in  the  forty  years 
of  his  life  after  his  removal  from  the  office  of  episttUarum 
magister  under  Hadrian,  at  the  same  time,  and  for  the  same 
reason,  that  his  friend  Septicius  Glarus  lost  his  office  of 
praetorian  prefect  (cf.  in  trod,  note  to  i.  I, — Sel.  1). 

I.  somnio :  the  almost  universal  belief  in  antiquity  (and 
to  a  marked  degree  among  modem  nations)  in  the  presage  of 
dreams  is  well  known.  Many  books  were  written  by  Greeks 
and  Romans  on  their  proper  interpretation,  of  which  the 
most  elaborate  and  famous  was  that  by  Artemidorus  of 
Daldis  at  the  end  of  the  second  century  a.d.  Others,  by 
Chrysippus  and  Antipater,  are  cited  by  Cicero  in  his  argu- 
ment against  the  prophetic  character  of  dreams  in  Diu.  ii. 
119  ff.  Even  a  scientific  man  like  (lalcn  governed  his 
practice  in  accordance  with  the  suggestions  of  dreams,  and 
such  a  rationalist  as  the  elder  Pliny  was  not  free  from  the 
same  superstition  (cf.  X,H.  x.  211  with  xxv.  17).  The 
l)clief  of  the  emperor  Augustus  in  the  authority  of  dreams  \» 
familiar  from  Suet.  Autj.  91.  Pliny  says  (in.  T».  4,  —Sel.  2-1) 
that  his  great  uncle  wrote  his  treatise  on  the  (Joriuan  Wars  in 
rcsjionse  to  a  dream  :  and  he  himself  mentions  (v.  .'>.  Tiff., — Sel. 
.37)  with  ap))iirc'nt  belief  in  its  meaning  the  dream  of  Fannius. 
and  is  apparently  sure  of  the  reality  of  sueh  dream-visions  as 
tiiosc  narrated  in  vii.  27  (Sel.  54).  Ci.  V\\vA\\iiu\vv  Sithv- 
fffsch/'  in.  pp.  r»(i7  ff.,  and  .MayorV  note  on  PI.  h'p.  ni.  5.  4. 

petam  :  Pliny  i)crhaps  had  some  iiersonal  influence  with 


210  C.  PUNI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAK.         M.  L 

the  oflScial  before  whom  the  case  was  to  be  triad  (aae  balovr)  ; 
or  else  Suetonius  trusts  to  the  general  repatatkiD  of  Pliny  «■ 
likely  to  make  for  the  success  of  an  application  aabmtttod 
through  him. 

panenlos  dies  exenaem ;  plead  exewm  for  a  /km  doyv : 
with  the  construction  cf.  vni.  12.  1  htmc  ioiuM  Mem  esee¥§o 
(Pliny  desires  to  postpone  an  engagement). 

Kal  «ydp,  etc  :  the  remark  of  Achilles  in  Horn.  li.  i. 
63,  when  urging  the  employment  of  an  intarpratar  of 
dreams»  or  of  some  other  soothsayer,  to  determine  the 
reason  for  Apollo's  wrath  and  the  proper  way  to  pnipitiate 
him. 

a.  an :  Pliny's  more  frequent  usage  is,  as  here,  to  omH  tbe 
interrogative  particle  with  the  first  member  of  a  dcmUe 
question,  whether  direct  or  indirect. 

contraria :  for  that '  dreams  go  by  contraries '  aeeme  to 
have  been  as  common  a  maxim  in  ancient  dream-books  as  in 
modern  cues ;  cf.  e.g.  Luc.  Pharn.  vn.  21,  22  xme  jier  asn&ioes 
aoliUu  contraria  uisis  |  naticituita  quies  magm  UUU  omma 
planelu9. 

8.  lunl  Pastoris :  otherwise  unknown. 

soorns  mea:  «e.  Pompeia  Celerina ;  see  vi.  10. 1  (SeL  44) 
n.  Mcrusmeae, 

adoolnta  genibos :  t.e.  in  the  traditional  attitude  of  a 
suppliant,  prostrating  herself  before  and  ffrasping  the  knees 
of  the  person  addressed  :  cf.  Plin.  X.n,  xi.  250  haminia 
tjenibits  qiiaedam  et  re/igio  inest  obseruatione  gentium,  hue 
mipplicen  altiiiguiU,  ad  fiaec  mantu  tendunl,  htuc  nt  oros 
adarantt  /orloMtis  quia  inest  its  uitalitas.  But  cf.  Verg.  Atn, 
III.  607  dixerat,  tt  grnua  amplexus  genilmsqne  nolitta$u  haere- 
batf  whereon  Servius,  physici  dicunt  egse  eonseeratas  numinilma 
singulas  corporis  partes,  vi  ,  ,  ,  gemta  Misericordiac,  nnde 
haer  tangunf  rogante^,  Cf.  furthermore,  of  the  extreme  of 
entreaty,  ix.  21.  1  (Scl.  (i\t)  athiofiUHx  jtfdihis  meis  hafsit. 

adulescentulos  adhuc:  the  date  is  undeterminable. 
But  as  J'liny  was  Imrn  after  Anj^.  24,  61,  and  l>cforc  Au;;.  24, 
0*2  (koc  Iiitro<l.  p.  xv),  and  made  Iuh  first  apfM^arance  at  the 
liar  in  his  nineteenth  year  (v.  8.  S),  this  «U-lnit  may  have 
taken  pla^^'c  as  early  as  the  cud  of  the  year  70,  or  as  late  as 
the  first  half  of  81  ;  and  the  plea  for  Junius  Pastor  was  proh- 
ably  nr»t  delivcriMl  very  80f)n  after  that  occasion  (sec  notes 
IkjIow).  Accordhij;  t^»  Varro  (ap.  ('ens.  />iV  Xnf.  14.  2)  a 
man  might  Iw»  railed  nthiliHCPUH  from  hi«  «ixtfeiitli  to  iii» 
thirtieth    year,    and    IMiny's    diminutive    can   hardly    iii«Mn 


13.  NOTES.  211 

more  than  that  he  was  then  in  the  early  years  of  his  now  long 
established  legal  practice. 

in  quadruplici  iudicio  :  cf.  i.  5.  4  (Sel.  4)  n.  centumuiros. 

contra  Caesaris  amices .-  the  hesitation  on  this  account 
might  fit  better  a  date  in  Domitian's  reign  than  in  that  of 
Titus  (see  note  above). 

4.  Xo7iord)i€vos  :  the  reason  for  the  choice  of  a  Greek  word 
13  not  clear,  for  it  forms  no  part  of  the  quotation,  and  Pliny 
was  not  addicted  to  Greek  tags  in  his  letters,  as  was  Cicero. 

els,  etc.:  the  words  of  Hector  (//.  xii.  243)  when  Poly- 
damas  would  have  the  attack  on  the  Greek  camp  discontinued 
because  of  a  bad  omen.  Cf.  the  utterance  of  Q.  Fabius 
Maximus  as  augur  (Cic.  Sen.  11),  opiimis  auspiciis  ea  gen 
qiLoe  pro  rei  pMicae  salute  gererentur.  The  Homeric  apo- 
thegm is  quoted  in  Cic.  Att,  ii.  3.  3,  and  elsewhere. 

fides  :  8C,  toward  his  client. 

ianuam  famae  patefecit :  although  Pliny  was  yet  aduJe- 
scenttUitfi  {v.  s.),  there  is  no  reason  to  suppose  from  this  phrase 
that  this  was  his  first  case.  If  it  Mere  so,  he  would  doubtless 
have  specified  the  fact  plainly  ;  and  moreover,  a  case  in 
quadruplici  iudicio  was  hardly  one  to  be  entrusted  to  a 
perfectly  inexperienced  barrister. 

5.  an :  as  not  infrequently  from  alK)ut  the  middle  of  the 
firat  century  a.d.  to  introduce  a  single  indirect  question 
without  implication  of  an  alternative. 

sub  hoc  exemplo,  ttcting  on  this  precedent :  i.e,  that 
dreams  often  go  by  contraries. 

in  bonum  uertas,  way  change  to  good :  i.e.  prove  in  your 
own  case  the  inversion  of  the  omen. 

quod  dubites  ne  feceris  :  doubtless  a  bit  of  popular  wis- 
dom, though  smacking  strongly  of  the  Stoic  commonplace : 
cf.  Cic.  Ojf.  I.  30  henf  praecipiunt  qui  netant  quicqnam  agere 
quod  duhifes  aequum  sit  an  iniquum. 

6.  stropham,  emxion  :  the  metaplior  is  apparently  from 
the  twisting  and  twining  by  which  a  wrosth»r  eludes  liis 
adversary  ;  cf.  Plat.  Jt'p.  40;k'  dewb^  uv  r-fpi  to  ddiK€tv  icai 
iKavo^  wd<ras  arpotfih^  ffrp^tficaOai  :  Sen.  Kp.  '2t\.  .'»  (ul  ilhnn  dhm 
qno  rrtnofiM  sfro/ihin  arjvcis  de.  in*  itidirnfnrtts  xi/wi. 

ratio,  r / re  n msfa  n cf. s. 

13.  (I.  20.) 
Tlio  proper  length   of   a  |>l«'.i.  -  On  Cnrnelins  Tacitus,    to 
wliMiii  tile  |«'tter  is  .uliliessed.  see  tln'  inlro.lm.'tniv  note  to  i 
r.  (Sel.  .5). 


S12  C.  PUXI  EFISTVLAE  8ELECTAK.        IS.  L 

I.  aaqiM  ...  nt  oocan  ooly  here  in  PliiMr,  bat  is  foond  bolh 
in  PlautuB  (?  with  7110«»,  Aaim.  83S)  and  m  Horaee  {Oarm,  1: 
16.  7).  Klsewhei«  Pliny  uses  either  aegme ...  gnaw  or  the 
more  claatical  atqwe  ...ac:  cf.  Krehe-Schmals  AnHbarhurms*^ 
p.  10& 

a.  prmenaricfttio :  the  figure  is  from  straddling,  «id  the 
legal  crime  consisted  strictly  in  a  praaecntor  betraying  his 
case  by  oollnsion  with  the  «^fence.  Later  on  the  term  was 
loosely  extended  to  include  a  simihtr  act  by  the  ooansal  for 
tlie  defendant:  cf.  Dig.  XLVin.  16.  1.6|iiiOMtiar»oailor«M  ein» 
eiMe  oUendimM  qui  eotiwiU  cum  rso,  H  trandmHeie  munet'^ 
accurnxntU  drfimgiiwr^  to  qmod  propria»  qmdem  probaUemm 
dimmularel,  fains  wro  m  excwKUkme»  tuJmUttrti  3  Irid. 
Orig.  X.  223  praemarioMior,  malae'Jidei  admoeaim»^  U  qm  nd  4m 
acruMHdo  uocitHra,  ud  in  drfendmdo  ptyfiUmra  pruUmrmi^ 
a  Hi  inuUlitrr  dtdneqtK  ponat,  mercedMgraHa^Bciikei  conmpim», 

tncnlcanda,  etc,  hammered  m,  drivm  Aoms,  elendbed. 

ictn,  ffdocity;  mora,  inertia:  Pliny's  langwage  is  non- 
technical, hut  he  is  well  aware  of  the  fact  that  die  momentum 
of  impact  varies  not  simply  as  the  velocity  but  also  as  the 
mass  of  the  moving  body. 

4.  Lysiae :  this  well-known  Attic  orator  (458-  drc  378  B.a) 
was  in  high  esteem  among  the  ancients,  and  is  esneciallT 
compared  with  Cato  bv  Cicero  {Brul.  eS  £),  who  oaUs  both 
of  them  breues,  and  characterizes  Lysias  elsewhere  [Or,  90) 
as  caHsiiliaim  non  qnidem  amplum  atque  grandem^  s¥htUem 
d  elefjaiUcm  tnmtn^  et  qui  in  Jorcn>nlni8  caiUM  powU  praedart 
comwUere.  Quintilian  also  estimates  him  shrewdly  in  InM, 
Or.  X.  1!  78  Lyncu,  subtUiM  atque  eUgans  ft  quo  nihU^  m  oraiori 
nalis  est  tlocere,  qnaera*  perfectiwt.  nihil  entm  €Hl  ineme,  nihil 
nrceMitum;  pui-o  tamen/onli  qvam  magna  fiumini  propior, 

Oraccborom:  the  preeminence  of  Tiberius  and  Qaius 
Oracchiis  anion^  the  earlier  Roman  orators  was  often  insisted 
on  by  (Cicero :  cf.  De  Or.  i.  38  omnium  mihi  uiiUtor^  exctptin^ 
Ct'OMfifit  nohis  (hiohiiH  (i.e.  Crassus  and  Antoniiis),  elofrntnti»' 
ximoH  fnuliMsf  Ti.  ft  O.  Sfmpronins ;  and  there  was  a  decided 
revival  of  interest  in  ut  least  Gains  (the  more  (doquout ;  cf. 
Liv.  per.  &i:  Veil.  11.  fi.  1)  in  Pronto s  time;  cf.  Fronto  Kp, 
p.  \4'}  tribwiafin  Cnfonin  ct  Gracchi  et  Cicfronui  orationihwt 
Cftthraia,  Quiiitilian  ackiiowIedgt*8  their  excellence,  with 
th:it  of  Cato,  luit  i\\u\9'  it  necessary  to  warn  students  against 
a  too  servile  imitation  of  thcni  :  cf.  hu^t.  xii.  10.  10  »rjt  fncrc 
qunnlfim  iimnn  dicnuli  coufficiovr  tfmjtomm  horridiorn, 
(I'loffni  DtHffUfttH  lam  iMfjrtiif  vim  itrar.  hc  /crcnfia.     hinc  ninl 


! 


13,  4.  NOTES.  213 

Laeliif  A/ricani,  Catonti  etiam  Gracchique ;  ii.  5.  21  ne  quit 
eon  aiUiqii'Uatis  nimiiLS  admirator  in  O'racchorum  Catonvtque 
et  aiioruvi  aimilium  lectiont  dnrcacere  uttit  :  JitiU  eniiti  hon'idi 
aiqtie  iciuni  :  nam  neque  uim  eo^mm  adhnc  intellectu  con- 
stquentur^  et  elociUioney  quae  turn  dne  duhio  erat  optima,  sed 
nostris  temporibu-i  aliena  eat,  contenti,  quod  est  jpessimum, 
similes  sibi  magnis  uiris  uidebuntur. 

Catonis  :  sc.  the  Censor,  wlio  is  often  joined  with  the 
Gracchi  among  the  older  orators  ;  cf.  the  citations  above. 
Cicero,  however,  wouhl  not  have  put  him  in  the  same  class 
with  Lysias,  and  speaks  less  approvingly  of  his  style  than 
of  that  of  the  Gracchi :  cf.  Bi-xU.  293  t-inun  uix  tenebam  cum 
Attico  Lysiae  Catouem  nostrum  comparahas,  mafpium  vieher- 
ctUe  homineni  iwl  jtotius  sxi/mmum  et  sinytUarem  uirum  ;  nemo 
dicet  sectis:  sed  oratorem?  sed  etiam  Lysine  idmilem?  quo  nihil 
potest  esse  pictius ;  294  orationes  autem  eitis,  ut  Hits  tenipoHlms, 
ualde  laudo  ;  signijicant  enim  qvandam  formam  iwienii,  sed 
admodnm  impolitam  et  }ilane  rndem  ;  cf.  also  Z)«  Or.  i.  171  ; 
Or.  152  orationes  illae  horridulai'  Catonis.  He  also  came  into 
vogue  again  in  later  days ;  cf.  Fronto  I.e.  ;  ^part.  Hadr.  16.  6 
[Hadi'ianus']  Ciceroni  Catonem  jn-aetidit ;  and  the  defence  of 
Cato  against  the  criticism  of  Tiro  in  Gell.  vi.  3. 

circumcisae  et  breues:  cf.  the  similar  collocation  of 
epithets  in  in.  7.  11  (Sel.  2n). 

Demofithenen,  etc. :  Pliny  cites  the  first  three  of  the 
Alexandrian  canon  of  the  ten  Attic  orators.  Cf.  the  charac- 
terization of  them  in  Quint,  x.  1.  76ff.  ;  Tac.  Dial.  25;  and 
Pliny's  own  remarks  upon  Demosthenes  (whom  he  calls  tile 
norma  oratoris  tt  re*jufa)  in  ix.  20.    See  also  i.  2.  2,  3  (Sel.  2). 

PoUionem,  etc.  :  the  group  of  orators  here  cited  are  those 
especially  praised  (with  (Muus)  by  Quintilian  (X.  1.  113if.  ;  2. 
25)  and  by  Tacitus  {Died.  21,  25),  though  Asiuius  Pollio,  the 
famous  orator,  poet,  historian,  and  critic  (75  B.C.-5  A.D.), 
might  seem  to  have  ap])roached  the  Gracchi  in  style. 

Caesarem :  sc.  Julius  Caosiir,  of  whom  Quintilian  says 
{I.e.)  si  j'oro  tantum  uacasfnt^  mm  alius  ex  nostris  cotUra 
Cicerontm  nominnrttm'.  Ciciio's  praise  of  his  oratory  is 
ecjually  marked  (cf.  linU.  201  f.,  et  al.)^  and  so  is  that  of 
Tacitus  (/>!«/.  21,  et  al.). 

Caellnm:  sc.  M.  Caclius  Kufns,  the  friend  and  earlier 
follower  of  Cicero,  uho  praises  his  oratory  highly,  but 
remarks  that  he  was  better  in  attack  than  in  defence  {Bmt. 
273),  in  which  opinion  Quintilian  (vi.  3.  09;  x.  1.  115)  and 
apparently  Tacitus  (/.c.)  concur. 


214  C.  VUNI  EPISTVLAB  SELEDCTAE.        18L  4. 

M.  TttUium:  Quiiitilian  also  oppotes  Cioero  to  th» 
Gracchi  and  Ovto;  viii.  5.  33  quo  moao  poteM  prcbart  OSoe- 
rotitm  qui  nihil  piUtt  vx  Catone  UraeehiaqHe  mviamdumf 

quae  maxima :  hc.  doubtless  the  sttocessful  defenoe  of 
Cluoiitius  from  the  charge  of  iioisouin^  hU  step-faUher,-- for 
tho  third  lK)ok  of  the  actio  ftecnwia  agamst  Verm»  whieh  is 
longer,  would  hardly  be  reckoned  by  Pliii3r  as  a  plea»  sinoe 
it  was  not  actually  delivered.  And  there  is  no  indioatioa 
traceable  elsewhere  that  one  of  the  speeoh'te  no  looker  extant 
{e,g.  one  of  the  two  for  C.  Comelins  mentioned  Mow)  em 
be  meant.  According  to  Quintilian  (n.  17.  21)  (Soevo 
boasted  te  Unebras  offudiM-ie  iudicibu$  in  caum  C^tunti^  and 
Sidonius  says  (Ep,  viii.  10.  3)  Afcureus  TtJiiuB  m  aeUombm 
ceteris  ceterw,  pro  Anlo  Otuentio  ipae  ae  niciL 

hercule :  cf.  i.  13.  3  (Sel.  9)  n.  hercvk, 

mellor  quo  malor:  not  agreeing  with  the  sentimeot 
of  the  famous  epigram  of  Calliniachus  preser%'ed  in  Athen. 
III.  p.  7*2  &ri  KaWifiaxoi  6  ypafAfwrtK^  t6  /tiya  (kfiKloi^  Cror 
i\€yf¥  tlvai  rf  fieydXt^)  KaK<}. 

5.  statuas,  por^mt^-^a^u««:  slgna,  hitsts:  pletonui,  iMtN<etf 
portraits.  But  while  statua  is  regularly  used  of  fall-length 
statues  of  men,  aignum  is  as  commonly  applied  to  tiie  statne 
of  a  god  ;  and  that  may  \ye  the  distinction  here. 

nihil,  etc:  nothinff  was  more  depictive  of  Roman 
character  than  the  taste  lor  the  colossal  as  such. 

nolnminibos  ipsis,  etc.:  so  the  formal  in^iugural  address 
of  Verginius  as  consul  was  written  out  in  a  more  stately 
roll  than  usual ;  cf.  ii.  1.  5  (Sel.  15). 

9.  incomprehensibilis  et  lulnicus :  t.e.  hard  to  catch  and 
hard  to  hohl. 

ita  eludit  nt  contendat,  he  evades  by  the  claim, 
ego  contra  puto :  yet  Pliny  did  precisely  the  same  thing 
in  the  aisc  of  his  Pancg^'iic  :  cf.  iii.  IS.  1  qncul  tfjo  in  ntnafu 
ctim  atl  ra^ionein  et  loci  et  tem}K)riH  ex  more  fin nstm^  fHwo  rini 
comteni*'ntittHimn7n  crallili  earlcm  Ufa  .t/w^Wiw  t^t  vittrinn 
uoluminf  amftlccfi :  and  of  his  speech  for  Clarius ;  cf.  ix.  *2H.  T» 
estte  tibi  rcddifam  onitiouem  pro  Clario,  eamquc  visttm 
uberioreni  qiuim  dicenfe  me,  audiente  te,  /uerit,  t^t  tifterior  : 
mtdta  enim  jxtMea  im^rui.  And  Quintilian  sanctions  the 
practice  in  xii.  10.  55. 

7.  mnltonim:  C.  (saUui  might  have  been  cited,  who 
appears  to  have  published  only  the  peroration  of  one  of  his 
speeches  (Cio.  BnU,  127)*  and  L.  Crassus,  who  puMisiied  only 


13.  9.  NOTES.  215 

parts  of  his  defence  of  Lioinia  (Cic.  BriU.  160)  and  of  Q. 
Caepio  (ibid.  164).  With  the  collocation  multae  mtUUn-wa 
cf.  VIII.  8.  7  (Sel.  57)  nittlta  irndtoram, 

Clceronis  pro  Murena :  the  defence  of  L.  Licinius  Murena, 
cos.  desig.  in  63  B.C.,  from  the  charge  of  ambitfis.  The  sjieech 
as  preserved  to  us  is  of  quite  respectable  length,  but  in  §  57 
the  paragraphs  de  Poslunii  criminihuSy  de  Serui  adnlettceiUia 
are  given  by  title  only.  Tlie  third  part  of  Cicero's  earliest 
speech,  the  one  jyro  QuiuctiOj  of  the  year  81  B.C.,  appears 
also  to  have  been  omitted  in  publication.  The  speech  pro 
Vareno  is  not  extant.  But  Cicero's  usual  custom  seems  to 
have  been  to  publish  his  speeches  in  substantially  the  same 
form  in  which  they  were  delivered,  even  though  they  were 
not  committed  to  writing  till  after  delivery  (cf.  Bi-ut.  91  ; 
Tiisc.  IV.  65). 

subscriptio  :  the  written  declaration  of  the  crimes 
alleged,  which  the  plaintiff  was  compelled  to  file  before 
admission  to  standing  before  the  court :  cf.  /)ifj.  XLViii.  2.  7 
61  cui  crimen  obiciatu7\  praecedere  debet  crimen  .subscriptio, 
qudc  res  ad  id  inueiUa  est,  ne  facile  quit  pronUicU  ad  accuna- 
tionem,  cum  sciat  intdlam  tdbi  nonfuluram. 

8.  ait,  etc.:  cf.  Cic.  Cluent.  199  meutn  laborem,  qui  totam 
hanc  cauftam  ttetere  insiiiuto  solus  peroratU.  But  Cicero 
seems  to  have  reference  not  so  much  to  the  length  of  the 
speech  as  to  the  extreme  conii>lexity  of  the  case,  the  ciitirc 
content  of  which  he  mastered  and  presented,  instead  of 
sharing  it  with  other  counsel. 

pro  C.  Comelio  quadriduo  eg^se :  cf.  A  scon.  p.  62  Oi*. 
Cicero  ipse  sifpiijicat  qvxUriduo  Comel'mm  de/eudistte,  quas 
acfiones  cmUuUsne  eum  in  duos  orationes  apjxirel.  It  does  not 
follow  that  Cicero's  actual  speeches  were  unusually  long,  as 
much  time  must  have  lieen  consumed  in  the  examination 
of  witnesses,  and  in  the  other  incidents  of  a  wrangling' 
trial.  The  case  was  tried  in  65  b.c.  on  a  technical  charge  of 
maiestOr'i,  an<l  apparently  was  of  the  utmost  importance. 
But  the  speeches  have  come  down  to  us  in  the  merest 
fragments  only. 

unuxn  libnim  :  A.sconius  {I.e.)  siKjaks  of  two  s|>ceclH.'s  for 
C.  Cornelius.  IMiny  apiKirently  refers  to  them  a.s  a  single  Uwik 
(cf.  also,  though  they  are  less  clear,  (^>uintilianV  references), 
because  they  were  published  together.  And  Cornelius  Nepos 
(ap.  Hieron.  Ep.  72),  says  that  the  defence  of  Cornelius  was 
delivered  me.  pratsenfe  iistkm  patne  uerbis  qnibus  edifa  est. 

9.  actio  :  a  speech  as  heard. 
oratio :  a  speech  as  read. 


216  C.  PUNI  EPISTVLAE  SELBCTAE.        13.  «L 

pertuatiun  habeo.  i>to.  :  I'liny  may  be  right  in  inawtug 
that  the  critical  i-coder  of  a  speech  should  alwajra  imagiiie 
hiiiiftelf  a  listener  :  hut  he  is  most  certainly  wrong  in  asserting 
that  any  effective  speech  cannot  fail  to  make  good  reading 
afterwartl.  His  attitude  is,  as  usual,  too  severdv  academic. 
He  is  attributing  too  little  influence  to  the  living  voice, 
anil  to  the  contagious  syin|)athy  of  an  audience. 

10.  flguras  extemporales :  cf.  Quint,  xi.  2.  47  idque  m 
tvctionihus  inter  praecijnui  serHandum  eal  lU  ,  ,  .  cotfiiantibu9 
fwiinuiiqtiam  et  dubitantUms  MtniUt  qitaetert  ukkamw  qmu 

cUtulimu'*. 

artiflcem,  etc.  :  in  Verr.  n.  iv.  6 ;  cf.  Quint  ix.  2.  61, 
who  (|  notes  the  passace  under  the  remark  (§99)  sumt  ei  iUa 
iiiciindd  et  ad  coinmeiuJafionem  ctim  varielcUe  turn  etiam  t/MCi 
naCuni  ftlwhnwn  promirU,  quae  tiimplictm  qvandam  ti  ncn 
pineixinitam  otteudejuio  orcUionem  minus  nwt  swipeetott  iudki 
fiU'iiuUy  and  adds  that  Cicero  by  this  assumed  forgetfulneas 
avoided  the  api)earancc  of  )x:in^  a  connoiifiteur  in  matters  to 
which  he  reproaciietl  Verres  for  being  passionately  devoted. 

tempus :  Hc.  for  delivery.  On  the  time  allowed  for  pleas 
seen.  11.  14  u.  (Sel.  17). 

11.  adsunt,  etc.,  this  opinion  of  mint  it  mpixtrttfd  by  the 
Ulwh  ;  cf.  the  note  cited  above  on  §  10  tempus. 

angttstlssimls  oauslB,  cases  of  the  least  complexity, 

12.  usus,  magister  egregius :  cf.  vi.  29.  4  ti^/m  et  esse  ei 
haJtcn  optimum  direndi  mofjistrum ;  but  iv.  19.  4  (Sel.  34) 
afiiot-e  [doce7Ue]y  qui  magister  est  optimus^  though  here  of  music. 
The  proverb  occui-s  frecjuently  from  Cicero's  time  onwanl ; 
cf.  e.fj.  (Hc.  Rahir.  Post,  9  si  usus  magister  est  optimus, 

iudicaul,  hare  served  as  juror:  Augustus  hud  excused 
(or  excluded)  senators  from  ordinary  jury-dut>',  but  tliey 
continued  to  serve  on  certain  special  tribunals,  as  in  the 
centuniviral  court :  cf.  iv.  29;  vi.  2.  7  (Sel.  41). 

inconsilio  fUi,  /  hare  not  oa  aMfsAon  tlic  principle  was 
an  established  one  in  Roman  ])ractice  that  no  magistrate  t>r 
referee,  even  the  oin|)eror  himself,  should  deliver  ju<lgnient  iu 
ini(M)rtant  cases  without  hearing  the  advice  of  counsellors 
who  Silt  with  him  on  the  ease  :  ef.  Mommsen  Staatsr.  i.'  p|). 
307  if.  For  instances  of  Pliny's  8or\'ice  as  assessor  of  the 
emperor  cf.  iv.  22  (Sel.  35) ;  vi.  22  :  vi.  31.  See  also  i.  9.  2 
(Sel.  <))  n.  ill  ronsih'um, 

tranunt,  f*riiig  in  (heir  train. 


13,  17.  NOTES.  217 

13.  suae,  etc.,  every  man  has  a  xoeahiess  for  his  otcii 
dMcenvmentf  and  when  another  ha^  uttered  what  he  has  him- 
self hit  ujton  fie  adopts  it  as  the  xoeiglUiest  argument, 

14.  Regultts  :  cf.  I.  5.  1  (Sel.  4)  u.  M.  Regxdo. 

cum  sixnul  a4es8emu8,  when  we  tcere  joint  counsel, 

ingolum  :  the  mcttiplior  seeins  to  have  been  a  rhetorical 
commonplace ;  cf.  Quint,  viii.  6.  51  ceterum  allegoria  jxiruis 
quoque  ingeniis  et  cotidiano  «erm^oni  freqiventissime  sei^iit. 
nam  ilia  in  ageiidU  causif  tain  detrita  ^pedem  conferre'*  el 
*  iugxdum,  petere  *  et  'sanguinem  mittere*  inde  sunt,  nee  ojendtint 
tamen. 

15.  irAvra  XCOov  ki,v«:  cf.  Eurip.  Herac.  1002  ird^ra  Kivijaai, 
irirpov.  The  figure  is  perhaps  rather  from  the  game  of 
draughts  {}<Wm=^calcuhui)^  than  like  our  *  leave  no  stone 
unturned.  * 

16.  exerceo,  wnrL 

17.  imperspicua,  impenetrable  :  apparently  aira^  Xtyhticvov. 
iudicum  ingenia,  the  ways  ofajwy. 

Periden :  Cicero  in  a  number  of  places  praises  highly  the 
oratory  of  Pericles,  and  speaks  of  some  of  his  speeches  as 
extant  {Brut.  27 ;  De  Or,  ii.  93).  Quintilian  repeats  the 
traditional  praise,  but  questions  the  authenticity  of  extant 
works  attributed  to  him  (/ws/.  iii.  1.  12),  and  later  declares 
definitely  against  it  (xii.  2.  2*2 ;  xii.  10.  49).  The  famous 
speech  over  the  dead  at  Marathon  (Time.  ii.  34  ff.)  is  as 
much  the  work  of  Thucydides  as  of  Pericles. 

Eupolide:  the  contcni|iorary,  and«  with  Cratiuus,  tlie 
rival,  of  Aristophanes.  Only  fragments  of  his  comedies 
remain.  The  passaec  <|Uoted  by  Plhiy  (from  his  Arjfioi)  is 
preserved  in  the  scholia  on  Aristoph.  Achani.  o04,  and  u 
quoted  by  Cicero  {IJt  Or.  iii.  138  ;  JirtU.  38,  59)  and  bj 
Quintilian  (x.  1.  82). 

irctOw  ns :  cf.  Quint.  (I.e.)  quandam  ptrtiuadcndi  dinm\ 
Cicero,  however  {De  Or.  I.e.),  {Kiraplirascs  as  cuiun  in  lahris 
.  .  .  lefH)rem  hahita^^tt'  (but  /trtU.  59  irciOui .  .  .  quatn  dtam  in 
Peridi  /aJtriM  .scripsit  Kuftolis  stsMitttuisMc).  8o  Knnius  (up. 
Cic.  Jirn/.  58,  cf  al.)  allied  M.  (Cornelius  Cethegus  suuda».' 
nudidla. 

rh  Kivrpov  {TKaTcXciirf  :  the  idea  seems  to  Ije  that  Pericles 
produced  an  effect  that  endured  and  stimulated  to  action, 
while  other  orators  pro<lucc(l  only  a  temporary  titillation  of 
the  emotions :  cf.  Cic.  lira'.  .'iS  tantnm  ui  mtiiwriain  roitrin- 
nitatis  suae,  non,  qutm  ad  wodum  dc  Pfricle  scripsit  £upoli9, 


218  C.  PLINI  KPISTVLAE  SELBCTAB.      18.  17. 

ciuH  tUUcttUionc  naUew  eiiam  rdiuquerU  in  coiimU  eomm  a 
qHihiiH  esnet  audiluH.  The  meaning  in  not  to  be  oonfnaed  with 
tti.it  of  the  niuic  metaphor  from  tlie  bee  in  Phit.  Phaedo  40 
drrircti'f re,  owias  firj  iyu)  bwb  wpo$vfttat  dfta  ifxavrim  rt  Koi  bftat 

18.  sine  facultata  summa:  of.  Quintilian,  who  says  that 
such  ui'm  aiiil  ri'leritoH  constitute  of  themselves  the  true  OFatori- 
cal  ipowcr  :  In^.  xii.  10.  65  /uuic  vim  tt  ctleriiaUm  in  PerieU 
mitrUur  Eufxdift,  hanc  fulminibuit  Aristop/uxnu  comparai^  kaec 
eat  uere  cUcendi  facuUcu, 

qui  non  pungit,  sed  inflgit,  who  not  merely  prick»  but 
piercer. 

19.  comlcus  alter:  sc.  Aristophanes  (in  ilcAant.  031);  of. 
Cic.  Or,  29  Pericha  .  .  .  qui  si  tentu  tftntre  iUeretur^  Hunquam 
alp  Arinfophaiie  potta  fulnjert,  taimre,  ptmiiticert  Grueciam 
diclUH  (.HHet  ;  Quint.  /c.Vii.  16.  19;  xii.  10.  24. 

20.  *  optimus  tamen  modus  est ' :  a  common  saw  ascribed 
originally  to  ClcohuliiH,  and  fretjucntly  quoted :  of.  Auson. 
Se/tl.  Sap.  07  f.  WpiaTw  fidrpov  tmte  dixit  Litidius  \  CUobiUwf. 
hoc  e-ttf  opliimui  vnnctis  modtut. 

21.  alius,  etc.,  the  one  m  «aid to  hart  overreached  Am  theme, 
the  otfier  not  to  have  fulfilled  its  requirements. 

materiam :  cf.  i.  2.  3  (Sel.  2)  matt-ricL 

ille  ...  hie,  thf.  latter  ...  tlie  former,  with  a  reversal  of 
the  usual,  but  by  no  means  the  invariable,  order  of  reference 
in  the  case  of  tliesc  demonstratives.  In  this  instance  the 
more  immediate  object  of  Pliny's  thought  is  the  writer  qui 
nirilnui  jxircal,  and  hence  the  reference  by  hie ;  cf.  ii.  14.  2 
(Sei.  20)  hie  ...  illic ;  v.  8.  9,  10;  and  Ate  of  what  follows  in 
VII.  4.  3  (Sel.  47). 

limatioris :  cf.  i.  2.  5  (Sel.  2)  n.  limam. 

22.  a(UTpocirfj,  endless  babbler  :  sc.  Thersites ;  cf.  Hom.  //. 
II.  212. 

sed  hunc  :  w.  Oilysseus  ;  see  Hom.  II.  ill.  221  f  dW  ort  6r\ 
6ira  T€  fiiydXrjv  €k  crtiOioi  cti;  |  <:o«  ^vca,  k.t.X.  Cf.  Quint,  xil. 
10.  64  ( llomeriL-t]  .summam  exprvxtniruM  in  Uiixr.  fanimliam,  *l 
mafptlffulitttm  iUi  lunus  et  uitn  oratimnn  niuihns  hihcrut.s  copia 
mrfponim  atqite  impetu  jtarem  trihutf. 

et  ille:  ir.  Mcnclaus;  cf.  Horn.  //.  ni.  21:^11'.  Mc»'< Xaos 
(iriTpoxdSrjv  dynp€i<€t  \  Travpa  lUv,  aXXa  /xdXa  \iy€U)%,  iirti  ov 
woXvfivOos  I  Old'  d<f>afJMpTO€irri^  ;  Quint.  XII.  10.  64  Homer im 
hrennn  qiii'h  m  rum  iucnntlitate.  et  pi'opriani  {id  rnini  tst  non 
deerrart  uerht/t)  cl  carentem  sujtemacuis  eloqucufiam  Maulao 
dedif. 


14.   1.  NOTES.  219 

23.  quorum,  etc.,  whose  lazy  whims  U  is  absurd  to  treat  as 
a  sol)€r  jud'jinent. 

si  hos,  etc.,  i/you  take,  such  men  into  consideration. 

25.  accederes  :  the  use  of  accedere  in  the  sense  of  tlie  more, 
classical  asseiUiri  apparently  has  its  origin,  like  that  of  the 
eiirlier  word,  in  senatorial  usage,  being  derived  from  the 
custom,  in  a  division  of  the  house,  of  going  over  to  the  side 
of  the  proposer  of  the  action  favoured. 

14.     (I.  23.) 

Ought  a  tribune  to  plead  cases? — Q.  Pompeius  Falco,  to 
whom  Pliny  addresses  this  letter  and  three  others  on  less 
important  themes  (iv.  27  ;  vii.  22  ;  ix.  15),  was  the  son-in-law 
of  Q.  Sosius  Senecio  (cf.  introd.  n.  to  i.  13,— 8el.  9),  and 
attained  great  distinction  in  the  reigns  of  Trajan,  Hailrian, 
and  Antoninus  Pius,  being  pron»oted  to  several  of  the  most 
important  provincial  governorships  and  to  other  liigh  offices. 
Cf.  especially  an  inscription  from  Gabii,  C.l.L.  x.  6321 
( =  Henzen  5451,  =  Wilm.  1 170,  =  Dessau  1035). 

1.  an  :  on  this  particle  introducing  a  single  indirect  ques- 
tion cf.  I.  18.  5  (Sel.  12)  n.  an, 

causas  agere  debere :  the  tribunes  of  the  late  Republic 
seem  to  have  had  no  scruples  about  the  matter. 

Inanem  umbram:  as  a  matter  of  theory  the  Iribuntut 
plebis  under  the  empire  retained  substantially  the  same 
authority  that  he  had  exercised  under  the  republic.  But 
practically  he  was  much  overshadowed  by  the  trilninifiu 
j)otestas  of  the  jyrinceps,  and  the  suppression  of  the  popular 
cissemblies  had  deprived  him  of  the  most  fre<]uent  and  most 
important  opportunities  of  using  his  authority.  For  most 
I>ersons,  therefore,  the  tribunate  was  merely  a  ^rmal  step  in 
the  senatorial  curHim  hoiiormn.  Yet  a  tribune  aid  sometimes 
veto  senatorial  legislation  (cf.  Tac.  Hixt.  iv.  9 :  Spart.  I'tV.  Sen. 
.*>),  ami  on  one  wcll-remeinl)ered  occasion  Vitellius  ha<l  appealed 
for  the  protection  of  the  tribunes  against  an  a<lverse  speech 
of  Helvidius  Priscus  in  the  .senate  (Tac.  //.  II.  !)l  ;  I)i»i  0.'».  7). 
An  instiincc  of  similar  (but  «lisregarded)  appeal  is  mentioned 
by  Pliny  himself  in  i\.  13.  11»  (Sel.  (>4).  Cf.  also  vi.  8.  3. 
Andenus  Rusticus  also  (cf.  i.  5.  2  n..— Sel.  4)  had  offered  to 
interpose  his  tribunician  veto  to  save  Thrasca  Paetus  from  con- 
demnation by  the  senate  (Tac.  An.  xvi.  2(»).  With  the 
phrase  ef.  Luc.  ii.  302  tunm  nomtn,  fiftfrfuH,  tf  inavem  nmf>rnm. 

potestatem  sacrosanctam  :  the  epithet  is  defined  by 
Festus  318  M.  sacroxanctum  dicilur  quid  iure  iurando  inttr- 


»)  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAB  8ELBCTAEL        14^  L 


! 


ponio  t/d  iuntUiUHm^  d  qui»  id  miolanet,  vi  morte  fMmu  | 
pemderei  ;  cmM  gentrin  mtnl  irilnaU  pUbis  aed^taqm  enudem  f 
ordhiin.  The  institation  is  cleacribed  in  Liv.  iil  53  mm 
nnoqfie  tribuHit,  Mi  Mcromneii  midertmimr^  rekUia  qmibrnfimm 
ix  tHOffno  interwallo  caeriwtoniU  remtmanmi^  ei  cum  rdimomt 
iuHwlaia»  €04  turn  lyt  eiiamficenmt  «uneumlp  «I  qm  irwada 
pUbijt^  aedilffrnt,  iudicibwt  deeemmri»  Mocinftel,  ekbt  cmpmt 
loui  Mcrum  e^s^et^  /amilia  ad  o/edem  Cfannri»,  lAbai^  Libtnm- 
que  ueuum  tret. 

In  ordinem  oosl :  the  figure  is  tbat  of  reducing  fteentork» 
or  niiliUr^  tribune  to  the  ranks ;  and  hence  in  o,  eoger^  or 
rtdigere  signifies  to  treat  a  person  of  station  with  oontomnfc 
and  contumely:  of.  liv.  xxx.  ap.  Prise.  x\in.  2S.  188 
Krehl  '  trUmni  plebia  iu  ardinem  rtdaeli  *  pro  eontempiiimmi 
habUi;  Suet.  ^esp.  15  Hduidio  Priaco  .  .  .  [VeaptuiamuH 
non  ante  wccenwU  quam  aUercationiinu  inmtlentMmia  pamt 
in  ordinem  redactut. 

a.  errauerim  :  with  the  infrequent  reference  of  the  perfect 
tense  of  the  potential  subjunctive  to  actual  ]past  time.  On 
tlie  coustructiou  see  Hale  ui  Trans.  Amer,  Philol.  Am,  xxxi. 
(especially  pp.  156  ff. ),  whence  the  discussion  may  conveniently 
be  traced  Mckward  through  the  articles  therein  referred  to. 

qui  me  esse  aliqnid  pntani,  infcMtyiwj  my«el/ somfbodif : 
cf.  Cic.  Tudc.  V.  104  eoH  aiiquid  jmiare  ease ;  luu.  1.  74  si  nis 
esse  aliouid;  Vulg.  OcU,  2,  2  qui  utddtcuUur  aliquid  ease ;  Plat. 
A/tol.  33  ^dy  doKQal  n  ttpoi  fnfdiif  6mt ;  Fritsche  on  Theocr. 
11.79. 

col  adsnrgere,  etc. :  to  rise  from  one's  seat  on  the  entrance 
of  a  superior,  or  of  an  elder<  was  a  mark  of  respect  in  ancient 
as  in  modem  times  (cf.  Cic.  Sen,  (K)  /locc  vnim  ipsa  aunt 
honorabilia,  .  .  .  decedi,  adsunji) ;  and  lack  of  proper  resjsect 
for  a  tribune^  not  giving  him  phu^e  was  technically  punish- 
able ;  cf.  Plut.  6*.  Grae,  3  Valov  Uerovplou  ddwarw  Karfjfpuaai^, 
Sti  drifidpxv  Top€VOftipifi  di*  dyopas  o\>x  virt^iarri  fiovos, 

bunc  omnibus  sedentibus  stare  :  as  the  advocate  must  do. 
The  cniiwror  Claudius  apologizeil  for  the  circuinstaiicefi  that 
compelled  the  tribunes  to  stand  while  addi-essuig  Iiini  (Suet. 
Claud,  12). 

inbere  tacere  qnemcumque:  as  the  tribune,  Metellus 
Ncfios,  forlKide  even  the  consul,  Cicero,  to  address  the  people  : 
cf.  Die  Cass,  xxxvii.  38  ;  Plut.  Cic  23. 

clepsydra:  on  the  legal  limitation  of  pleas  cf.  ii.  11.  14. 
n.  (Scl.  17). 


16.  NOTES.  221 

connicia  andire  :  the  amount  of  disotder  and  of  personal 
abuse  allowed  in  the  sessions  of  senate  and  of  courts  was 
apparently  as  great  in  Pliny's  day  as  in  that  of  Cicero ;  cf. 
Cic.  Au.  I.  16  ;  Qu.  Fr,  ii.  3 ;  Plin.  Ep.  ii.  14.  5  ff.  (Sel.  20)  ; 
IX.  13.  19  (Sel.  64). 

3.  aestiis,  embarrassment :  cf.  ix.  34.  1  explica  aestivm  ntettm. 

appellasset :  the  technical  word  for  calling  upon  a  tribune 
for  his  interference  (cf.  intercederem)  and  protection  (cf. 
auzilium  ferrem). 

quern  contra :  with  the  anastrophe  cf.  viii.  8.  2  (Sel.  5*7) 
htmc  stihter, 

eiurato :  i.e.  surrendered  the  office,  taking  the  usual  oath 
that  it  had  been  legally  administered. 

piiuatum :  here,  as  regularly  in  the  time  of  the  Republic, 
and  usually  elsewhere  in  Pliny,  of  a  citizen  holding  no  public 
office  :  but  often  in  the  time  of  the  Empire,  and  occasionally 
elsewhere  in  Pliny,  of  any  subject,  as  distinct  from  the 
emperor  himself ;  cf.  ii.  1.  2  (SeL  15)  ;  v.  3.  5  Jin.  (Sel. 
36)  ;  H  al. 

5.  qnam  personam  tibi  imponas,  what  nVe  you  adopt-. 
persona  in  this  classical  sense  occurs  twice  more  in  Pliny 
(II.  20.  8,— Sel.  22;  viii.  7.  2).  In  the  three  remaining  in- 
stances he  uses  the  word  in  the  non-classical  sense  of  homo^ 
of  *thc  person  chiefly  involved'  (ii.  11.  I,— Sel.  17;  n.  14. 
1, — 8el.  20 ;  and  vi.  33.  2).  Trajan,  in  liis  rescripts,  uses 
the  word  once  in  this  latter  sense  (x.  84)  and  once  in  the 
technical  sense  of  *  legal  staibus  '  (x.  57). 


LIBER   TI. 


15.   (II.    1.) 

The  death  of  [L.]  Verginius  Rufus. — On  C.  Licinius 
V<»coiiins  ivoiiiainis.  to  whom  this  lottci*  is  Hd<lrc.s.scd,  sec 
iiitr.  nolo  to  f.  5  (Sel.   t). 

Veryiiiius  died  up|)arcntly  toward  the  end  of  the  year  97. 
This  «late  is  fixed  by  the  following  considerations.  The  death 
of  Veitjiiiius  look  pl.u'c  durinj;  the  consulship  of  'raeitus(§6), 
after  a  I«h»l'  an<l  |Kiiiiful  illness  (§4),  fonse«|Uciit  UfKin  an 
acci<lfnt  tliat  befj'l  liiiii  at  the  very  opening  of  the  year  97  or 


SB  C.  PUNI  EPI8TVLAE  SELBOTAB.        IS.  1. 

end  of  96  (§  5).  Nervm  was  y«t  alive  when  the  death  of 
Verginina  occarred  (§3) ;  aod  he  died  daring  his  oiwii  fourth 
oonwilihip  and  Trajan's  second,   on  the  27th  of  Jamuury. 

96  A.  D. 

1.  paUicnm  ftuins :  i.e.  one  conducted  not  as  nsnal  by  the 
family  of  the  deceased,  bat»  by  decree  of  the  senate,  at  the 
care  and  expense  of  the  state.  Ocao  ffives  the  formnla  of  a 
mmaitiM-wHSHltHm  of  this  sort  at  the  md  of  his  9th  Philippic. 
Cf.  farther  Marquardt  PrivaiUbeH,-  |qp.  350  ff. 

▼sqiai  Rnfi :  our  knowledge  of  his  life  oomes  from  this 
letter,  and  from  references  in  Tac  HuL  L,  U.,  in  Plut. 
OaUia,  and  in  Dio  Gass.  Lxm,  lxit,  £K¥in ;  of.-  notes  below 
pcMSMM ;  L.  Paal  in  Bkem.  Mmb,  uv.  ppu  602  It 

et  perinde  fidiols :  a  noteworthy  ftust,  since  doting  the 
preceding  reigns  few  great  men  nad  been  judickms  or 
unambitious  enough  to  avoid  trouble. 

triginta  annis:  ablative  of  'amount  of  difference.* 
Verginius  first  won  great  fame  in  69  a.d.  (twenty-eight  yean 
only  before  his  death),  when,  as  Itgalu»  pro  praetcrt  in  com- 
mand of  upper  Germanv,  he  cnuSied  in  a  single  hatUe  at 
Vesontio  (Beean9on)  Uie  formidable  revolt  of  loUos  Vindex, 
the  governor  of  Gallia  Logdunensis.  His  viotorioos  trocnps, 
who  had  fought  against  the  Gallic  usurper  through  no  loyalty 
to  Nero,  urged  him  clamorously  to  declare  himself  emperor, 
and  to  lead  them  into  Italy ;  but  lie,  with  greater  praoenoe, 
or  less  ambition,  than  Galba,  the  governor  of  nearer  Spain, 
refused  to  claim  the  dangerous  distinction.  Both  Plutar^ 
{Oaih.  6)  and  Dio  (LXiii.  25)  represent  the  soldiers  of 
Verginius  as  urging  the  principate  upon  him  repeatedly 
(ToXXdiccf),  but  perhaps  these  occasions  were  all  practically 
at  one  time.  A  few  months  later  he  supported  the  cause  of 
Otho  against  Vitcllius,  and  after  the  disastrous  liattle  of 
Retriacuni  succoeded  with  some  difficulty  in  making  his 
escape  from  the  tumultuous  soldiery,  who  insisted  that  he 
should  cither  Iks  their  emperor,  or  their  envoy  to  sue  for 
{icacc  (Tac.  //iV.  ii.  51).  This  offer  of  the  throne  by  the 
remnants  of  a  1)catcn  and  demoralize4l  army,  which  had  liccn 
unable  to  defend  the  throne  of  Otho,  can  hardly  be  seriously 
c«>uiited  ius  a  proffer  of  imperial  authority,  and  ap|Kirentlv 
wjus  not  so  counted  by  Verginius  himself  nor  by  Pliny  ;  cf. 
the  epitaph  of  Verginius  in  vi.  10.  4  (8el.  44). 

2.  carmina«  historias  :  it  is  idle  to  inquire  too  closely  what 
Nvritinj^s  tln'sc  m-imc,  for  it  was  common  to  make  co!iten»porar>' 
(!amp:n^ns  the  subjects  of  epic  (ef.  f.tf-  viii.  4, — Scl.  TAi)  and 
of  history.      Hut    some  now  vanishe<l   histories  wiiich  di^alt 


I 


15.  4.  NOTES.  228 

with  the  times  of  Verginiiis  can  be  cited, — t,g.  those  of 
Cluuius  Rufus  (cf.  IX.  19.  5,— Sel.  65;  Tac.  Ann.  xiii.  20 ; 

XIV.  2),  and  the  work  of  the  elder  Pliny  in  continuation  of 
Aufidius  Bassus  (cf.  in.  5.  6,— Sel.  24  ;  Tac.  Ann.  xiii.  20 ; 

XV.  53;  HUt.  in.  28;  Plin.  X.H,  ii.  199,  232).  Tacitus 
also  mentions  (I.e.)  Fabius  Rusticus  among  his  authorities  for 
this  period. 

posteritati  suae  interfuit:  the  vigorous  oxymoron  has 
proved  too  much  for  some  editors,  who  would  translate 
*  lived  to  hear  tlie  verdict  of,*  or  the  like. 

perftmctos  est:  he  therefore  lived  to  complete  his 
nundinum  as  consul  with  Nerva. 

tertio  consulatu  :  w.  with  NerNTi  himself,  during  the  fii-st 
nundinnta  of  97  a.  d.  His  two  previous  consulships  had  been 
in  63  A.D.,  with  C.  Memmius  Regains,  and  in  69  a.d.,  under 
Otho,  with  L.  Pompeius  Vopiscus. 

priuati  hominls,  of  a  subject ;  cf.  i.  23.  3  n.  (Sel.  14). 

3.  Caesares,  etc.:  Pliny  would  hardly  reckon  Vespasian 
and  Titus  among  the  natural  foes  to  virtue,  though  Vespasian 
had,  in  a  fit  of  passion  too  late  repented  of,  ordered  the  death 
of  Heluidius  Priscus.  (iall>a  had  perhaps,  but  not  certainly, 
been  suspicious  of  the  loyalty  of  Verginius  (Tac.  HuU,  i.  8 ; 
Plut.  Gafb.  10) ;  Otho  had  apparently  been  his  grateful 
friend ;  and  Vitellius  had  taken  pains  to  save  his  life  even 
when  his  ovra  former  soldiers  had  demanded  his  death  (Tac. 
Hutt,  II.  68).  Only  Nero  and  Domitian  remain  to  be  his 
enemies,  and  under  the  first  he  had  been  promote<l  to  honour, 
>vithoutan3'  indication  of  reserve,  while  even  under  Domitian 
there  is  no  sign  that  the  emperor  feared  or  disliked  him. 
Apparently  Pliny  is  speaking  rather  hysterically  than  his- 
torically. 

reliquit  incolumem,  etc.:  ar.  Nerva, — for  if  Trajan  had 
come  to  the  throne,  Pliny  could  surely  not  have  avoided 
mention  of  the  fact  that  Verginius  outlive<l  the  emperor  in 
connection  with  whose  distinixuishing  mark  of  fjivour  he 
suHered  his  finally  fatal  accident.  And  furthermore,  the 
torn*  of  the  piissjige  indicates  that  the  emperor  then  living  was 
the  first  l«»  rule  lieneficontly  after  the  reign  of  terror. 

4.  annum  tert.  et  octog.  excessit,  hr  hid  nnni^hted  hin 
eiifhtyihird  ytat".  antl  must  have  lieen  born,  tliert-fore,  in  the 
year  14  a.d. 

manus  tremere  :  .vr.  with  the  \w\»y  of  aji;e. 
citra  dolorem  tamen.  ytt  ffiiu/rss/y :  the  pre)>ositir»n  in 
this  Ki'nse  (*  falling  short  «»f  *)  occur»  in  Ovid  and  in  sni'cocding 


SM  a  PUNI  BPISnrVLAB  8KLBCTAB.        IS,  4 

writen,  (in  Tmc  Agr,  aod  QtrwL^  \m^  not  in  HiaL  and  ilMi.V 
\m%  qbIj  h«re  in  Pliny. 

•.  Qoetm  ]irm«pnnurtl:  i.e.  gettii^  his  Toioe  into  thnpa, 
doobUos  by  rehearring  the  speech  he  was  shortly  to  deiiTor 
(at  the  meeting  of  the  senate  on  the  first  day  of  Jaaiuury). 

actorns  pEindpl  gxmllas :  jc  for  the  imperial  favour  hf 
which  he  had  been  nominated.  Sodi  speeches  of  oos^pliment 
and  thanks  were  the  costomary  fonnali^  Irani  newly 
inaugurated  consuls;  cf.  Pliny's  so-called  Bsn^gyrio  on 
Trajan,  which  is  an  elaborated  form  of  his  own  apeooi  wImk 
entering  upon  the  consulship. 

liber:  i.e.  the  MS.  of  the  tqpoed^  in  the  fenn  of  the 
usual  papyms-rolL 

qusm  ftate  aoeeperat  gnndUmni,  idUcft  kof^ptmad  tote 
awtwartUjf  iarge/cr  him  to  hold. 

grandiorsm  :  such  orations  appear  to  have  been  regolarlT 
of  considerable  length,  especially  for  an  age  which  indfaiea 
toward  oratorical  l^vi^  ;  but  the  position  of  the  adjoetivo 
in  the  dependent  clause  indicates  that  the  speairar's  oonditiott 
rather  than  the  absolute  siae  of  the  roll  uMde  it  elumqr  te 
him  to  hold. 

hune  dum  seqiiifr  eidllgtUiiM,  In  reaekimg  t^er  ii  omd 
gcUhering  Uup:  for  the  book  had  doubtless  unrolled  at  kngth 
as  it  fell. 

per,  on :  as  designating  a  genersl  locality  rather  than  a 
precise  position. 

paulmentnm :  floors  in  the  better  class  of  houses  were 
usually  of  polished  mosaic  or  of  marble  slabs. 

ooxam  fregtt :  probably  a  fracture  of  the  nook  of  the 
femur,  a  common  fracture  in  tlie  case  of  falls  of  the  aged,  and 
one  from  which  they^  rarely  make  good  recovery,  on  account 
of  the  impaired  nutrition  that  accompanies  senility. 

quae,  etc.,  which  weu  not  properly  net,  amd  knit  but  poori^^ 
the  jtafinU'tt  age  being  agaiwst  him. 

9.  magnum  omamentnm  prlndpi :  in  that  Nerva  honoured 
himself  in  thus  honouring  the  memory  of  Verginius. 

saeculo,  the  cuje  :  cf.  i.  5.  11  (Scl.  4)  n.  saecnli. 

laudatus  est  a  console :  the  laudcUio  /'imehriM  was  usually 
prononncc<l  hy  a  near  relative  of  the  dcccaRed  :  on  the  occasion 
of  a  runuM  pufi/iruni,  however,  that  duty  wjia  porformc*!  by  some 
hiuh  pnhlic  official  dc8i;;nato<l  for  the  purp<«e  :  cf.  Quint,  ill. 
7.  -  funelircM  inndafionfjt  jtemlijil  frrqiu.nttr  ex  aJiqno  fttUt/iro 
officio,  nfqun  ex  MmntMnronMn/fomtujiittratihns  /mejy  numditft/ttr. 


15.  8.  NOTES.  225 

Ck>melio  Tadlto  :  there  is  no  other  due  to  the  date  of  the 
consulship  of  Tacitus,  but  the  considerations  mentioned  above 
indicate  that  it  must  have  been  in  the  year  97  a.d.,  and 
toward  the  end  of  the  year,  perhaps  with  Domitius  Apolli- 
naris  as  his  colletigue  (see  ix.  13.  5, — Sel.  64, — n.  a6  exsUio 
redierant).  There  is,  of  course,  no  possibility  that  Tacitus 
was  the  successor  of  Verginius  as  the  colleague  of  Nerva,  as 
Furneaux  and  others  have  declared  (cf.  inter  alia  §2  n. 
perfmvciVA  est). 

7.  nobis,  etc.,  yet  we  cannot  but  miss  and  lament  him. 

non  solum  publico  :  sc.  sed  etiam  ftrivnliniy  as,  indeed, 
some  of  the  later  and  interpolated  mss.  falsely  read  :  cf .  ii.  7.  6 
publice  Uietor  nee  pHiuatim  minus ;  v.  14.  6  (Sel.  38)  mihi 
gratulcr  nee  prinaiim  magis  guam  pvblice  ;  x.  1.2  (Sel.  73)  et 
priuatim  et  publice  opto. 

8.  eadem  regio  :  i.e.  Transpadana. 

mnnicipia  flnitiina:  Pliny's  native  place  was  Comum 
(Como) ;  that  of  Verginius  is  unknown  ;  it  may  have  been 
Leucerae  (Lecco),  Bergomum  (Bergamo),  or  Mediolanium 
(Milan). 

tator  relictus:  «c.  by  the  will  of  Pliny's  father.  The 
guardian  thus  designated  would  ordinarily  be  recognized  by 
the  magistrate,  and  would  continue  to  exercise  his  functions 
as  the  legal  representative  of  the  ward  until  the  especial  con- 
dition of  the  testamentary  appointment  was  fulfilled,  or, 
more  commonly,  until  the  ward  reached  the  age  of  puberty  : 
cf.  Gains  i.  144  ff.  ;  Ulp.  xi.  14  ff. 

a4fectuiii;  post- Augustan  in  this  sense  of  *  affection.' 

snfitagio,  loith  his  support :  the  suffrafjaiores  lent  the 
candidate  the  influence  of  their  recognized  high  position,  and 
in  the  early  imperial  )>eriod  spoke  in  his  behalf  lief  ore  the 
senate  at  the  time  of  the  elections.  Pliny  descrilies  the 
proceedings  in  iii.  20.  5  ;  and  a  number  of  his  letters  of 
recommendation  arc  written  as  a  wjfrofjator  to  gaii»  other 
fttiffra/jatores  for  some  friend  {e.cf.  iv.  15  ;  vi.  6). 

ad  onmes  honores,  etc.  :  i.e.  to  escort  the  new  magistrate 
when  he  went  to  take  formal  possession  of  his  office ;  cf.  i.  fi. 
II  n.  (Sel.  4)  in  prneforiM  offirio. 

ex  secessibuB  :  perhaps  from  his  country-seat  at  Alsium  : 
cf.  VI.  10.  1  (Sel.  44).  Tlie  plural  has  reference  to  diflerent 
occasions,  not  necessarily  to  «lifferent  places. 

sacerdotes  :  i.e.  memlwrs  of  one  of  the  four  great  priestly 
colleges,  jtontifireR^  aurpire»*^  quindecimuiri  tmrrin  /nrinvdi.H, 
(i\u\  Mf'pfcnniiri ejniJonum  :  cf.  PioCass.  Mil.  I.  i>  rai?  Hrafurt» 


226  C.  PUNI  EPiarVLAE  SELBCTAE.        IS.  fc       f 

Todt  re  itrra  leai  rodt  «"errvircUdeca  S^dpat  Kakwftiiwmn.  | 

BOlent  nominare,  etc.  :  all  four  colleges  were  theoretioalhr 
perpetuated  from  earliest  tiines  by  cooptatiou.  The  ffradml 
uioaifioations  of  this  theory  are  too  complex  to  be  set  forth  in 
a  brief  note.  B^  Pliny's  time  the  actual  promotion  to  thaae 
most  coveted  distinctions  was  in  the  hands  of  the  emperor, 
though  apparently  on  a  fixed  day  in  each  year  the  separate 
colleges  met,  and,  though  there  might  be  no  %'acancy,  each 
member  nametl  a  single  candidate  for  appointment.  These 
IMrsons  perhaps  formed  a  'waiting-list,  from  whidi  the 
emperor  chose  a  candidate  to  fill  any  actual  vacancy  that 
might  occur,  and  tlie  college  elected  him  perforoe, — aa  the 
Dean  and  chapter  of  an  Enslish  cathedral  elect  perforoe  aa 
bishop  the  person  recommen(&d  to  them  by  the  Crown.  CSL 
Mommsen  StcuUsr*  ii.  pp.  29  ff.,  1109  £ 

me  semper  nominahat:  so  also  Inlius  Frontinns  alwajfi' 
named  Pliny,  and  to  his  place  in  the  college  of  augurs  Pliny 
finally  succeeded  (about  103  a.d.)  ;  cf.  iv.  8.  3. 

9.  qiii...con8tLtaebantar:  the  retrenchments  made  neoea- 
sary  for  a  time  in  the  public  finances  under  Nerva  by  reaaon 
of  the  wanton  extravagance  of  Domitian  are  mentioned  by 
Dio  Cassius  (Lxvin.  2) ;  and  to  the  senatorial  oommission 
Pliny  refers  in  Pan.  6^  hi  sunt  quM  aenatua,  cum  pMieia 
mimplibus  minuendis  optimum  quemque  pra^ceretf  aegil,  el 
quidem  primos, 

buius  aetatis :  the  possibility  of  this  appointment  mnat 
have  come  up  in  the  first  rather  than  the  last  part  of  the  year 
97  A.D.,  and  Pliny  would  therefore  have  been  at  that  time 
nearly  or  quite  35  years  of  age :  cf.  Intr.  p.  xv.  With  this 
use  of  the  genitive  of  quality  cf.  iii.  1.  5  (Sel.  23)  nxarem 
fdngxUaris  exempli  {  =  vni.  5.  1) ;  5.  8  (Sel.  24)  ttomni  paraiie- 
Jtimi;  ii.  17.  16  (Sel.  21)  cryptoftorticus  projye  pMid  operin; 
VII.  30.  1  discipulum  optimae  sfm  ;  vi.  15.  3  est  Priscw  dnhiae 
naintaiis ;  and  other  writers,  especially  from  Nepos  and  Livy. 
Pliny  also  uses  the  ablative  of  quality  (cf.  e.fj.  iii.  IC. .%— Sel. 
28). 

per  quern  exeasaretar,  to  firtHent  hi<  excufe» :  not,  as  has 
often  been  claimed,  *  to  serve  in  his  place,'  an  interpretation 
rendered  impossible  by  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  if  by 
nothing  else. 

tiU  mandarem :  sc.  hoc  officium. 

10.  quibus  ex  cansla  :  cf.  i.  2.  (>  (Sel.  2)  w.  tx  cawtis. 

si  tamen  fas  est  Here :  cf.  the  epitaph  of  Naevius  np. 
Oell.  I.  24.  '2  iuunor/eUeM  mort4tlejt  ni  /hrfj  /oa  jft-rr. 


le.  1.  NOTEa  227 

11.  uinit  uiuetqae  semper :  with  the  sentiment  cf.  the 
epitaph  of  Ennius  ap.  Oic.  Tvsc.  i.  34  nemo  nit  lacninifi  liecoirt 
Her/uuera/efu  |  /furif.  nir  ?  vofito  utMis  per  ofo  uiruni  :  with 
the  phrase  cf.  Cic  Amir.  Ur2  mihi  giiidem  ScipiOy  qvamqittnn 
ent  mtbilo  erejttuHy  n'nUl  tamen  semptrque  uiuet :  Veil.  ii.  6(i.  5 
(of  the  murdered  Cicero)  ninit  uhietqtte  pt^'  onvnem  natcitfomm 
memoriam ;  and  similar  collocations  of  present  and  future 
tenses  of  other  verbs  are  not  infrequent  in  I^tin  literatui-e 
(cf.  e.g.  the  conclusion  of  Tac.  Agr.). 

la.^uolni  tlbi  multa  alia  scribere,  etc.  :  cf.  the  close  of  the 
letter  on  the  death  of  lunius  Auitus,  viii.  *23.    8  in  tantiA 
tormenfift  eram,   cum  scriherem  haec^  srribertm  sola  ;  ncffur 
etiim  nunc  aliwl  ant  cogitare  aut  loqui  posfium. 
teneo,  embrace. 

neminem :  so  of  Fannia,  in  vn.  19.  4  (Sel.  50),  whose  like 
(Pliny  says)  will  hardly  be  seen  by  the  state  again.  Cf.  also 
Horace  in  Cnrm.  i.  24.  6-8  on  the  virtues  of  the  lost  Quintilius. 

16.     (n.  6.) 

On  a  false  hospitality. — The  Auitusto  whom  the  letter  was 
addressed  was  apparently  either  lulius  Auitus,  whose  death 
is  mentioned  in  v.  21.  3  as  taking  place  while  he  was  retuniing 
home  from  a  province  where  he  had  been  serving  as  quaestor, 
or  more  likely  lunius  Auitus,  who  died  while  aedile  designate, 
to  the  overwhelming  grief  of  Pliny,  who  commemorates  him 
in  VIII.  23.  Inlius  Auitus  was  apparently  the  brother  of 
lulius  Naso  (vi.  6.  6),  another  of  Pliny's  friends,  and  Junius 
Auitus  was  one  of  the  legatees  mentioned  in  the  will  of 
Dasumius  (lOS  or  109  a.d.)  ;  but  they  appear  nowhere  else  in 
history  or  literature. 

1.  altius  repetere,  to  go  into  the  matter  too  (lce)tly  :  the  verb 
is  apparently  used  strictly  of  searching  the  memory  for 
details,  especially  in  connection  with  altins;  cf.  ii.  3.  3  (of 
the  memory  of  Isaeus)  ref)efit  aftiux  qitae  dixit  fx  tt  mpore^  w 
nerfto  qnidem  lahitur  ;  iv.  11.  15  (Sel.  32)  ;  iv.  13.  10  (Sel.  33) : 
VII.  4.  2  (Sel.  47) :  and  even  i.  22.  3  [rationem]  aft  originc 
can^isqiie  primitt  repetit ;  and  I.  8.  8  nc  iongiun  extW}Un 
rep'famus.  In  the  simple  sense  of  *  to  recollect'  the  verb  is 
said  to  be  rare  without  memoria  ;  but  hi  Pliny  cf.  if.  3.  3 
(cited  aliove) ;  III.  5.  16  (Sel.  24) ;  vii.  6.  7,  13. 

lautam  et  dilig^entem.  elfgant  and  yH  frutjal :  pf  =  rf 
tamt>.n  ;  cf.  ill.  1.9  (Sel.  23)  n.  et  antiqiio. 

sordidum  simal  et  sumptnotum,  niggnnlly  in  fhf  midnt  of 
hi»  /at^nhvrM». 


228  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAR         10,  «. 

a.  oilia  at  mlnuta,  cheoft  caul  poor :  both  luliua  Caenr 
and  Hadrian  forbade  such  distinctions  at  tiieir  own  taUes 
(8uot.  Int.  48  ;  Spart.  Iladr,  17.  4),  but  Martial,  for  example, 
indicates  that  they  were  common  enough  in  his  day  (of.  e.». 
Mart.  III.  60 ;  luu.  5.  146  flEl) ;  Plin.  iV^.//.  xiv.  91). 

gradatim,  in  dasffes  :  (as  in  viii.  2.  8)  instead  of  with  the 
more  usual  meaning  of  'step  by  step/  'gradually,*  as  in  n. 
14  14  (Sol.  20).  llie  development  of  the  clienUla  under  the 
empire,  and  especiallv  of  the  «altUatio  nuUutiva  (of.  lu^  7.  4, 
— Scl.  25,— n.  MofiUafKUw),  had  led  to  these  formal  nistinc- 
tions  l)ctwocn  'friends*  of  different  degrees  {primcLe,  mmndae^ 
l^.rliae  ruimiMionU),  Gains  Gracchus  and  livins  Dmsiis 
were  the  first  to  divide  their  followers  into  three  ch 


I 


of  Ki'adcil  intimacy,  according  to  Seneca,  who  shares  Pliny's 
dislike  of  the  custom  as  a  snobbish  one ;  cf.  Sen.  Bem^.  vi. 
X^^  .34  cmvmtiudo  inta  uetua  est  regibus,  regesque  nmuiant^ms^ 
ftopiUum  amieorum  diMcribere.  est  proprium  superbkie  .  .  . 
fialmcruvt  ifaqiie  isti  amicos  jrrimoH^  habueruiU  secmidos^  mm- 
qtiam  ueros, 

8.  proximus  :  cf.  the  same  meaning  expressed  by  9ii«*ctcm  in 
IX.  23.  2,  4  (SeL  67). 

recumbebat:  of  the  pasture  at  meals,  for  the  more 
common  acc.umhere^  which  Pliny  docs  not  use,  or  (ucnlHiatt 
which  Pliny  uses  twice  (ill.  1.  8,— Sel.  23 ;  vi.  16.  12,— .Sol. 
45).  RecHmbere,  however,  occurs  even  in  Cicero,  and  else- 
where in  Pliny  twice  (iv.  22.  4,— Sel.  35  ;  ix.  2.3.  4,— Sel.  67). 
Pliny  al^o  uses  the  poetical  rervlmre  once  in  this  sense  (ix. 
17.  3). 

ad  cenam,  non  ad  notam,  to  dinner,  not  to  degroitation : 
the  figure  is  of  course  that  of  the  nota  reiisoria. 

4.  etiam  :  here  not  the  simple  adverb  of  affirmation  ,  'yes,* 
but  an  answer  by  repeating  the  interrogative  word, — *even 
frccdmen  ? '  *  even  [them].' 

5.  hercule :  cf.  i.  13.  3  (Sel.  9)  n.  hncv/e. 

in  ordinem  redlgenda :  cf.  i.  23.  1  (Sol.  14)  n.  in  onlinem 
coffi. 

6.  luxurla,  sel/-indnl(jenee. 

7.  turpisslma  . . .  tnrpius  :  with  this  exnggcratinn  by  union 
of  a  comiKinitive  with  a  superlative  cf.  Pa».  Hf^  opfimwf  ifMf 
ron  tiuitiiMfi  fliiftn:  me/iort^i:  {t2  «lulil  optimum,  tnr/iorrtn 
Optimo  tjenuit. 


17.  2.  NOTES.  229 

17.    (U.  11.) 

The  trial  of  Marius  Priscus.— On  Maturus  Arrianus,  to 
whom  this  letter  is  addressed,  see  introductory  note  to  i.  2 
(Sel.  2). — The  letter  was  evidently  written  immediately  after 
the  trial  described  in  it  (of.  §  1  per  Jios  rfte«),  which  was  held 
in  the  month  of  January,  100  a.d.  (cf.  notes  on  §  lOc<yii9tUi\'., 
and  §  19  coiistU  desitjHatics).  It  is  refo4red  to  by  Pliny  in  vi. 
29.  0  in  the  list  of  important  cases  pleaded  b\'  him,  and  again 
in  III.  4.  4  and  9.  2  ff.,  an  account  of  the  process  against 
Caccilius  Classicus.  In  x.  3a  (Sel.  75)  is  preserved  the 
letter  in  which  Pliny,  who  was  then  serving  (with  Cormitus 
TertuUus)  as  prefect  of  the  treasury  of  Saturn,  asks  the 
emperor's  approval  of  his  appearance  in  the  case  at  the 
request  of  the  senate.  The  oti'ences  of  Priscus  were  so  rank 
as  to  make  the  penalty  inflicted  (§§  19,  22)  seem  inadequate 
to  public  opinion  as  represented  by  the  satirist  Juvenal ;  cf. 
luu.  1.  47  if.  damiuitus  xiiani  j  iudicio  {quid  enim  satuix 
infamia  ninnmis  '/)  \  exul  ah  oclaua  Afarius  Libit  tlfrtiiturditt  \ 
ircUiH :  cU  in,  aictrix  prouiiicia^  ptoraa  / ;  8.  1 19  f.  quanta 
aulem  indc  feres  tarn  dirae  praemia  culpae  |  cum  ttnum  nujter 
Mariua  dischixerit  Afros  ? 

1.  secesseris  :  cf.  i.  9.  8  (Sel.  6)  n.  secenseris, 
personae  ;  the  party  involved  :  cf.  i.  23.  5  (Sel.  14)  n. 

2.  Marius  Priscus  :  nothing  more  is  known  about  him  than 
is  contained  in  this  letter  and  in  the  passages  cited  in  the 
intrwluctory  note  above.  In  in.  9.  3  Pliny  remaiks  that 
Priscus  was  a  native  of  Ikietica,  while  Chissicus,  the  simul- 
taneous oppressor  of  IJaetica,  was  a  native  of  Africa  ;  whence 
tiie  K'letics  remarked  with  grim  humour,  *  dcdi  malum  el 
a^cepl. ' 

Afris:  but  from  iii.  9.  4  we  learn  that  the  charges 
against  Priscus  were  brougiit  not,  as  in  the  cases  of  Classicus 
and  others,  by  the  province  as  a  whole,  through  its  coucilium, 
but  by  a  single  city  and  a  number  of  private  individuals. 

pro  consule  :  the  year  of  his  governorship  (and  of  that  of 
Classicus  in  Hactica)  is  unknown.  I>ut  it  could  not  have 
Ik-'cm  very  hnig  before  the  charges  were  brought,  while  it 
wouhl  naturally  have  fallen,  at  this  iKTifnl,  several  years 
;ift«T  his  cttHisnlsliip  (<!f.  §  12).  which  Hon/.<rn  conje<^tured  him 
to  have  Immmi  lillini:  i"  Sept.  87  A. I»,  («f.  Ilenz.  Arfu  Frtitr 
Arua/.  pp.  (WX..  I9r>). 

omissa  defensionc  :  he  pU*adi*d  «guilty.  <>r  .ii  least  no/n 
confi  mh  n ,  \n  the  ci»ai«ri's  of  extortion,  hoping  that  thcuby 
the  nunc  s>cri*»us  accutnit ions  would  lie  jwsac»!  over. 


230  C.  PLINI  EPISTVXAE  SELECTAE.        17.  2. 

iudlces  petlit :  t.e.  asked  to  have  the  oa;ie  referi-ed 
directly  to  special  commissioners  authorized  to  determine  the 
amount  of  money  to  be  refunded.  Such  boards  of  reciperoUores 
ordinarily  consisted  of  either  three  or  five  members,  and 
their  d'jcisions  were  final. 

adesse  pronincialibus  iussi :  sc.  a  seiiatu :  cf .  x.  3a  2  (Sel. 
75)  n.  The  date  of  this  assignment  of  counsel  may  well  have 
been  a  considei-able  time  before  the  matter  of  the  serious  crimes 
of  Marius  was  brought  before  the  senate.  The  consideration 
of  X.  3a  (Sel.  75)  in  its  connection  would  seem  to  fix  it  in  the 
year  98,  and  toward  the  latter  part  of  the  year,  when  Pliny 
had  entered  upon  service  as  prefect  of  the  treasury  of  Saturn, 
and  the  consuls  for  the  last  nundinum  had  not  yet  entered 
upon  office. 

Ob  innooentes  condenmandos :  the  mere  charge  of  accept- 
ing bribes  as  a  judge  was  satisfied  by  the  plea  of  guilty  to 
rcpetumkw ;  cf.  Dig.  XLViii.  11.  3  leije  lulia  rejjetundanim 
lenttur  quiy  cum  aliquam  potestcUem  haherel^  pecuniani  oh 
ixulicaiidtim  ud  iion  ixulicaiulum  decemendumue  accei)erit. 
But  in  the  putting  to  death  of  innocent  men  lay  the  moral 
gravamen  of  the  charge,  which  seemed  to  Pliny  and  Tacitus  to 
remove  it  from  the  ordinary  category  of  such  offences. 

8.  Pronto  CatiUB:  Ti.  Catius  Caesius  Fronto  had  been 
consul  in  Oct.  96  A.D.,  doubtless  upon  Domitian's  earlier 
nomination.  He  was  niade  a. /rater  Aruodis  in  105  a.d.  He 
appears  elsewhere  in  Pliny's  letters  as  the  counsel  for  Julius 
Bassus  (IV.  9.  15),  and  a  sui)porter  of  Varenus  Rufus  (vi.  13. 
2).  He  may  have  been  related  to  the  poet  T.  Catius  Silius 
Itiilicus  (on  whom  see  iii.  7,— Sel.  25).  Nerva  is  said  by  Dio 
(Lxviii.  1.  3)  to  have  put  a  stop  to  prosecutions  of  the 
(le/aforcft  of  Domitian's  reign  in  consequence  of  the  i-eniark 
of  Catius  that  it  was  bad  enoui;h  to  have  an  emperor  under 
whom  no  man  could  do  anything,  but  worse  to  have  one 
under  whom  any  man  could  do  anything. 

repetundarom  :  sc.  rtrum,  as  usual  in  the  designation  of 
tiiis  process  at  law. 

omnia  actionis,  etc.:  i.r.  having  no  legal  or  logical  ground 
tosUiiid  on,  he  directed  all  his  efforts  toward  the  arousing  of 
the  syni|Kitliie8  of  the  senate.  Tlic  nietii])hor  is  a  conmioii 
one  in  I^atin,  but  is  somewhat  clumsily  clalM>rate4l  here. 

uir  . . .  peritissimus  :  Pliny  si)caks  favourably  elsewhero 
of  his  oratorical  effect iv<'iies8  :  iv  9.  15  [tj/iVj  mirijict -,  Vi. 
13.  2  ri'^jiomlU  .   .   .  ijrauUtr  ttjfmie. 


f 


17.  8.  NOTES.  231 

4.  cognitionem  senatus  lege  conclusam,  thcU  the  senate  loaa 
legally  barred  from  further  proceedings  :  apparently  in  that  • 
Marius  had  pleaded  guilty  to  the  charge  of  extortion,  and 
the  amount  of  judgment  had  been  referred  to  the  usual 
commissioners,  without  action  being  taken  at  the  time  on  the 
other  charges,  which  ought,  therefore,  to  be  considered  as 
formally  disniissed.  The  defendant  accordingly  should  not 
be  put  twice  m  jeopardy  for  the  same  oflfence  (cf.  Dig.  XLViii. 
2.  7.  2). 

qoantnmque,  etc. ,  and  tfuu  the  penalty  inflicted  upon  tfie 
defendant  should  correspand  to  the  full  extent  of  his  crimes. 

admisisset  (sc.  in  se):  of  the  incurring  of  guilt,  not  of 
the  confession. 

5.  [Ti.]  lulius  Feroz  was  evidently  consul  in  this  same 
year  (99  a.d.).  Two  years  later  he  was  promoted  to  be 
curator  aluei  Tiberis  (G.I.L.  i.  p.  181),  and  before  the 
service  of  Pliny  in  Bithynia  he  had  been  in  command  of  an 
army  (x.  87.  3).  He  appears  to  have  been  proconsul  of  Asia  in 
116  or  117  A.D.  (see  the  coin  cited  in  Mommsen's  Index  to 
Keil's  ed.  mai.  p.  414).  He  may  be  the  Ferox  to  whom  Pliny 
addresses  a  single  brief  and  unimportant  letter  (vii.  13). 

rectos  et  sanctus,  upright  and  conscientious. 
euocandos,  should  be  summoned:   sc.  from   the  African 
province. 

6.  firequens,  supported  by  numbers. 

8.  Vitellius,  etc. :  of  the  two  culprits  nothing  more  is  known 
than  is  contained  in  this  letter. 

trecentis  xnilibus  (sc.  sestertium) :  about  £3,260,  or 
$16,0(X), — though  in  estimating  the  practical  value  of  the 
bribe  the  greatly  decreased  purchasing  power  of  money  in 
mcKlcru  times  must  be  taken  into  account. 

exsilium  eqoitis  Romani :  the  provincial  governor  bad 
authority  to  punish  certain  crimes  by  exile,  or  even  by  death 
[Dig.  XLVIII.  19,  22),  and  this  whether  the  defendant  were  a 
Roman  citizen  or  not :  but  to  put  a  Roman  citizen  to  death, 
or  to  inflict  upon  him  corporal  punislmient,  without  allowing 
him  appeal  to  the  emperor  (as  under  the  Republic  to  the 
people),  unless  in  a  time  of  riot,  exposed  tlve  governor  himself 
to  the  penalties  of  the  /r.r  /ufia  dr.  ui  puhlicti  ;  of.  /Hg.  Xl.viii 
0.  7  Itge  hdia  dr.  ui  publicn  tnif.tur  gvi,  mm  imperium  poff- 
sfafrmue  hahnrrJ^  rhirm  Uomnnum  adnrrstK  pronnrnlionnv 
n»cnueril^  uerlnrnufvit,  ivsmrihw  guid  fi<ri.  Pliny  dwells 
especially  u|Km  the  iinioccnce  of  the  Rui}'4*i4*rs  uiidt  r  Marius, 
and  not  upon  his  act  as  exceeding  his  eompetenee  :  untl  this 


232  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.        17.  8. 

leads  Mommsen  to  think  {StacUsr.  iiJ*  p.  269  n.  5)  that  there 
must  have  been  exceptions  to  the  limitation  of  the  governor's 
authority  ;  yet  Marina  may  have  pleaded  simply  the  one  ex- 
ception mentioned  above.  But  it  must  also  be  conceded  that 
he  may  have  had  by  special  imperial  grant  the  ius  gladii  (see 
Mommsen  StrafrectU  p.  243),  by  which  he  was  relieved  of  the 
necessity  of  allowing  appeals  to  the  emperor,  and  the  cmly 
challenge  of  his  procedure  could  be  on  the  ground  of  disregard 
of  evidence  of  innocence. 

ultimam  poenam :  a  legal  phrase  for  capital  punishment ; 
cf.  e.g.  Dig.  XLViii.  19.  21  tdtimvm  sup^dtcium  esse  morteni 
8olam  itUer/n-etamur ;  but  it  is  not  unusual  in  Livy^  and 
the  post- Augustan  writers ;  cf.  also  viii.  14.  24  vltimwn 
supplicium, 

septingentis  milibus :  about  £7600,  or  $38,000. 

plura  sapplioia :  flogging,  in  a  manner  and  to  an  amount 
dictated  by  the  presiding  magistrate,  liad  been,  even  since 
republican  times,  a  regular  preliminary  to  the  carrying  out  of 
a  capital  sentence  in  the  case  of  men,  though  not  of  women 
(Mommsen  Strt^frecht  p.  938  f.  ;  and  the  case  of  Our  Lord). 
It  was,  however,  excluded  in  case  of  military  sentences  to  death, 
and  under  the  principate  culprits  of  recognized  social  position 
(/loneMtioreM)  were  exempted  from  it  {Dig.  xlviii.  19.  &.  2;  et 
cU.)  Flogging  was  also  a  precedent  to  the  carrying  out  of  a 
sentence  to  hard  labour  in  public  mines  or  quarries  {damncttio 
in  metal/um,  or  in  opus  metcUii),  a  penalty  unknown  in 
republican  times,  but  common  under  the  empire.  From 
this  latter  penalty  also  hoiwitiores  were  ordinarily  exempt 
(Monunsen  ibid.  p.  951),  but  it  might  sometimes  be 
inflicted  for  a  limited  term  (only  upon  lenuiores?)  as  a 
precedent  to  the  death-penalty ;  see  e.g.  Afos.  et  Rom. 
Leg.  Coll.  xi.  7.  2  ^U  ad  gladium  vdngei  dentur ;  atit  tti 
quis  tarn  notus  et  tarn  grants  in  af)igendo  fuit  iU  jrriuH  ex 
lntc  crinUtie  cUiqua  jtoena  affeclus  sit,  huiic  in  meUUlum  dari 
o/torlere.  Execution  in  prison  by  strangling  was  not  a  com- 
mon form  of  infliction  of  the  death-penalty  among  the 
Uoinans,  though  several  well-known  historical  instances 
can  be  cited.  It  seems  t-o  have  l»eon  reserved  for  honestiorea, 
and  the  present  is  apparently  the  only  known  instance  of  this 
form  of  execution  iii  a  province.  It  was  later  forbid<len  every- 
where (see  Ulpiiin  in  Dig.  xi.viii.  10.  S).  Whether  Marius 
l*riscu8  went  Insyond  his  Ic^al  authority  in  inflictin*;  the 
|Mmaity  of  Hogging  and  the  mines  n|K»n  an  r.qtifx  is  doubtful, 
sint'c  IMiiiy  l.iys  stress  only  on  llu*  innctcenco  of  tlie  victim. 
Tos-sibly  the  later  distinction  between /fOWf.s/iV>/».v and  teuuiorta 
was  not  at  that  time  strictly  recognized  in  all  eases. 


p 


17.  12.  NOTES.  233 

9.  inductus  est :  sc.  in  curiam ;  but  some  months  must 
have  passed  since  the  meeting  of  the  senate  mentioned  in  the 
precetling  sections  of  the  letter. 

Taccius  Cerealis  :  nothing  more  is  known  of  him. 

lure  senatorlo :  just  wliat  this  was  is  uncertain,  but  the 
implication  in  the  connection  is  that  it  was  a  question  of 
personal  privilege  raised  by  a  member  of  the  senate  sitting  as 
a  court.  He  apparently,  according  to  senatorial  procedui*e, 
had  a  right  to  demand  that  the  chief  defendant  be  reouired 
to  present  himself  for  interrogation  along  with  his  alleged 
accomplice,     (l^ell.  iv.  10,  often  cited,  is  not  in  point.) 

10.  senatum,  session  oj  the  senate  :  cf.  v.  4.  2  alio  senatu ; 
IX.  13.  G  (Sel.  64)  iieruiUus  intra  diem  tertium. 

princeps :  sc.  Trajan,  as  is  evident  from  x.  3a  (iSel.  75), 
and  by  a  comparison  of  Pan.  76  with  §  18  iam  hoc  ipaum,  etc., 
on  which  see  note. 

erat  enim  consul :  probably  not  written  for  the  sake  of 
later  readers  of  the  letter,  bu'  simply  because  Arrianus,  who 
apparently  was  living  far  out  of  reach  of  ordinary  news,  might 
not  have  been  previously  informed  of  the  fact.  The  year  is 
fixed  as  100  a.d.,  that  of  the  thinl  consulship  of  Ti-ajan,  by 
comparison  of  the  reference  to  Cornutus  TertuUus  (§  19  n.) 
with  Pan.  58,  60,  92,  95. 

cum  cetera,  etc. ,  noteioorthy  in  other  ways  aiul  particularly 
for  thf  numl*er  of  nenatorn  it  brimjs  totjethfr :  for  then  took 
place  the  inauguration  of  the  new  curulc  officers,  which  was  a 
great  society  occasion  (see  i.  5.  II,— Scl.  4,— ii.  t?i  jnwtoriH 
ffficio)^  and  other  important  meetings,  as  for  the  deniipiaiio 
and  renunliatio  of  the  sufTcct-consuls  for  the  year.  Moreover 
the  month  ha<l  an  unusually  large  numl«er  of  days  ritually 
free  for  sessions  of  the  senate. 

11.  super  tanta  re:  apparently  a  collo<|uial  idiom  for  dt 
tafi/n  re.  It  occurs  a  few  tinics  in  Cicero's  letters,  in 
Siillust,  and  in  Nc|k>8,  and  is  toleralily  coiiunon  from  Livy 
downward ;  cf  on  the  word  in  another  meaining  v.  5.  2 
(Scl   37)  n.  itnfter. 

non  semel,  »7mv  thai/  oiirc  (/.<y.  *  rcfwatodly  *)  :  but  ef. 
v.  H).  5  (Scl.  4(»)  where  mtn  stvirf  is  used  of  a  tliin;^  that 
occurrc<l  jn.st  twice;  ef.  als*»  vi.  I(».  IS  (S«'l.  45)  n.  sttn*/  n/qm 
itcnim. 

12.  staliat:  apiKircntly  with  s<»hu- appriKirii  tn  thr  weakfh 
in;:;  of  UMsining  wliirh  has  resulted  in  llie  us>e  of  the  verb  in 
Italian  as  u  mere  auxiliary. 


284  C.  PLINI  BPI8TVLAK  SELBSCTAB.      17.  11 

modo  .  modo ...  lam :  tho  bracliylogioal  wMr  of  tlw 
adverb  of  time  as  if  modifying  the  sttbstantivci  cRTMflJf  ii 
sufficieiitly  strikiiis,  though  oouvenient  in  the  hiok  of  tnch 
constructions  as  the  Greek  definite  article  afewtod  wMi 
participles  like  ytpbtxMPOi  and  ^. 

■optemuir  epulonum :  cf.  il  1.  8  (SeL  15)  n.  Moenlofet. 
The  college  of  the  tptdone»  was  established  in  106  B.a  to 
relieve  the  pontijices  of  a  part  of  their  bardeiMOiiie  duties. 
The  number  of  members  was  originally  threo,  bat  was 
increased  at  some  unknown  time  to  seven,  and  imdflr  Oaesar 
to  ten,  though  the  appellation  aepiemuiri  was  still  Jwtainod, 
and  can  be  traced  to  the  end  of  the  4th  oenttuy  A.n.  (eL 
C.  I.  L.  VI.  501 ).  The  especial  function  of  the  ejmloneti  was  to 
preside  over  all  efmiae  piibliccte,  and  especially  over  the 
epxUum  Ioux8  in  Capitolio ;  see  Marquardt  Stooimrw.  m.' 
pp.  347  ff. 

lam  nentnun :  for,  being  already  adjudged  guilty  of 
i'epetundae,  he  had  forfeited  all  senatorial  distinctions. 
18.  quasi  :  modifying  peracttu  alone. 
14.  utoomqae,  in  what  [i.e.  some]  tcay  orother^wbeul  lamid: 
and  not  (as  Kraut  and  some  editors  have  it)  'as  soon  as':  cf. 
VI.  20.  19  (Sel.  46)  cnratis  utcummie  eorporibua ;  and  i.  12.  2  n. 
(Sel.  8).  Vtcumque  here  introduces  the  verb  of  its  clause, 
eoliegi,  coepi  (however  translated)  not  being  asyndetic 

horis :  Pliny  uses  the  ablative  to  denote  extent  of  time 
in  more  than  a  aozen  instances  ;  cp.  Kraut,  p.  18. 

depsydris :  this  machine  for  measuring  fixed  intervals  of 
time,  after  tho  principle  of  the  siuid-glass,  consisted  essentially 
of  an  amphora,  or  other  vessel,  8uspende<l,  and  filled  to  a  given 
level  witli  water,  which  was  allowed  to  flow  out  throu^  an 
o^KMiing  of  fixctl  size  in  the  bottom  of  the  containing  vessel 
into  a  vessel  1>cneuth.  For  domestic  use  certain  adjustments 
were  made  which  enabled  it  to  measure  aliquot  parts  of  a  day. 
For  use  in  the  law-courts  four  clepsydrae  measured  au  hour ; 
but  whether  thei*e  was  an  adjustment  according  to  the  \'ary- 
ing  length  of  the  Roman  hours  in  the  different  seasons  is  not 
known.  The  stAtcmcnt  of  Pliny  that  the  rfejwydrae  allowed 
him  were  /t/irt/iWWw»n^,  so  that  16  of  them  amounted  to 
noarly  five  hours,  in.stcnd  nf  to  four,  as  would  regularly  lie 
the  case,  indicitos  tho  |Kissibility  of  such  an  arrangement 
by  varyini;  the  amount  of  water  in  the  ctuitaining  vos.scl,  or 
tin?  size  of  the  a|K'rture.  As  early  .is  (Mcfn»'s  first  legjil 
cx|)eriem*e  the  cu.sloni  of  allotting;  a  definite  time  t«»  the  pleas 
<«f  the  prosecution  and  of  the  <1cfenoe  was  in  vogue,  aiul 
Poni|iey,   in  hiit  third  consulsliip,  is  said  to  have  fixed  the 


'  "■•.:or  I^Huitxim  :ii 
,"•,  ciiii  |*^»|»1»''hi.:j 
=  r.  III.  ».  » 

SUtoillM.  rtt:..  ^ 

qu.iliii«'i4ll«mi4 


236  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAK       17.  IS. 

18.  locos  Ule:  Le.  the  conclusion  of  the  defence;  cf. 
Quint.  VII.  4.  3  cum  A*,  poena  itteUcittm  eat,  o  peurie  dw  qui 
caHMtm  (licit  aiU  de/etutio  tut  crinUnitt  aut  tmrniUHtio  atU 
fxcMMiiio  aut,  tU  quidam  putafU,  depreetUio  («nd  Quint,  vii. 
4.  17). 

indusit,  etc,  intenmpUd,  loUho/vt  forcing  it  to  a  dose;  so 
hii  probationes  extended  into  tite  third  day. 

probationes :  (Ok.  nVrets)  a  technical  rhetorical  term, 
dt-noting  the  third  division  of  a  legal  plea,  which  was  devoted 
to  producing  conviction  in  the  minds  of  the  jui^ ;  cf.  Quint. 
III.  9.  1  cuius  partes  .  .  .  quinque  sunt :  prooenuum,  narratio, 
prdtcUio,  re/uicUio,  peroratio.  QUintiUan's  fifth  book  is  de- 
voted to  a  discussion  of  the  subject  of  probalione». 

iam  hoc  ipsnm,  etc. :  so  Pliny  characterizes  the  same 
occasion  in  Pan.  76  iam  qunm  antiquum,  quam  consularf, 
quod  triduum  totwn  senatus  sid}  exemplo  tui  seoUt,  etc. 

19.  [C.  Julius]  Comutus  Tertullus :  the  main  source  of 
information  concerning  him  outside  of  Pliny's  letters  is  an 
inscriptiou  {C.I.L.  xiv.  2925;  =  Dessau  1024),  which  sliows 
him  to  have  been  in  his  earlier  career  city -quaestor  and 
aedile  of  Ceres.  Vespasian  and  Titus  in  their  censorsliip 
(71-74  A.U.)  gave  him  the  rank  of  an  ox-praetor,  and  he  was 
sent  out  as  governor  of  Crete  and  Cyrcne.  Pliny's  practorship 
was  in  93  A.  D.,  at  the  age  of  31  and  32,  the  minimum  age  for 
that  office  being  30.  Comutus  must  therefore  have  been 
some  18  or  20  years  older  than  Pliny,  his  colleague  in  the 
prcfectuixi  of  the  treasury  and  the  consulship.  Somewhat 
later  he  was  made  curator  of  the  Aemilian  roaa,  and  later  3'ct 
he  guvenicd  the  province  of  Aquitania,  then  tliat  of  Pontus 
and  Bithynia  (apparently  succeeding  Pliny  therein),  then  of 
Narbonensis,  ana  finally  of  Asia,  surviving  lx>th  Pliny  and 
Trajan.  Pliny  and  Cornutus  Mere  warm  personal  friends. 
To  Cornutu.s  Pliny  addresses  two  letters  (vii.  21,  31),  the 
former  speaking  of  an  attack  of  ophthalmia  and  thanking  him 
for  the  present  of  a  fowl,  tlie  latter  a  letter  of  iiitro<luction. 
See  also  on  Comutus  iv.  17.  9 ;  v.  14  (Sel.  38) ;  ix.  13.  15,  16 
(Sel.  64) ;  Pan.  90. 

consul  deslgnatus:  /tr.  with  Pliny  himself  They  camt- 
into  ollicc  in  Sc|iU»nilHT  of  the  y<Mr  KM)  a.i>.  {Pati.  92,  61): 
and  as  they  were  designated  Roniowhat  early  in  the  month  <»f 
January  (scm*  Ptni.  7«'>-77),  vwu  if  not,  aa  M<»iMnis(Mi  thinks, 
nt'Ofssjirily  on  tin»  uintii  «lay  <»f  that  month  (rltiidv,  pp.  6r>  tV.  : 
SttiafHrfrfif  I.-'  p.  r»S!)).  thr  trial  <»f  Mariu8  I'riscuu  must  havi- 
occurred  not  in  the  very  lirst  i^ut  of  the  month. 


17.  22.  NOTES.  237 

censnit :  «c.  after  the  conclusion  of  the  defence.  On  the 
perritgcUio  tioUentiarum  see  ix.  13.  7,  9,  13  nn.  (Sel.  64). 

septingrenta  milia :  apparently  the  matter  of  the  300,000 
(§  8)  had  to  be  dropped  on  account  of  the  death  of  Honoi*atus 
and  the  consequent  impossibility  of  proving  the  charge. 

urbe :  cf.  i.  10.  1  (Sel.  7)  n.  urhs  nostra. 

interdicendnin,  etc.  :  a  sentence  of  perpetual  rdegatio ; 
see  I.  5.  5  (Sel.  4)  n.  rder/atuji. 

hoc  amplins  Aftica :  not  that  Marcianus  was  more  guilty 
than  Prisons,  but  that  Africa  was  his  home ;  cf.  the  case 
cited  in  Dig.  XLVii.  18.  1.2  diwts  Marcus  effractorem  eqnitem 
Romanum  .  .  .  quinqnewiio  abstinere  iussif.  prouincia  Africa^ 
inide  eraff  et  urbe  et  Italia.  The  sentence  proposed  for 
Marcianus  was  the  same  as  if  he  had  been  convicted  in  his 
own  province ;  see  Suet.  Claud.  23  sanxit  itt  .  .  .  quihtu  a 
mayistratihwi  prouinciae  interdicere7itnr,  urbe  quoque  et  Italia 
summouerentur ;  Dig.  XL^^II.  22.  7,  etc. 

SO.  adsensenmt:  the  speaker  was  at  liberty  either  to 
make  a  new  proposition  of  his  own,  or  to  express  an  entire,  or 
a  modified,  agreement  {adsentiri)  with  a  motion  {senteiUia) 
made  by  a  previous  speaker. 

[Cn.]  Fompeiuin  Collegam :  he  had  been  consul  in  f)3  a.d. 

in  qalnqueiiniiini :  instead  of  perpetually,  as  moved  l>y 
Comutus. 

relegandmn :  not  differing  in  meaning  from  interdtrendwn 
above. 

21.  uel  solutiore  uel  moUiore,  whether  [they  thought  it]  mor^ 
lax  or  more  lenient. 

sequebantur :  apparently  by  changing  their  seats,  as  was 
sometimes  the  custom  even  l^eforc  a  division,  for  others  near 
the  proposer  of  the  decision  they  favoured. 

22.  discessio,  tfie  diviMon :  before  the  expression  of  the 
ftententiae  the  house  had  Ixsen  cleared  of  all  but  persons  quali- 
fied to  vote.  On  ordering  the  final  division  the  presiding 
consul  stated  one  of  the  proposals,  in  its  original  or  in  its 
modified  form,  at  his  discretion,  and  bade  those  who  favoured 
it  to  seat  themselves  on  a  8]>orified  side  of  the  house,  and  all 
those  who  favoured  any  ditferent  proposition,  on  the  other 
side.  Then,  determining  on  which  side  the  plurality  sat,  he 
announced  his  decision  by  the  words  (with  accompanying 
lijesture)  haec  pars  maior  uidft^ir^  or  the  like,  and  if  the  jiro- 
(»o8ition  did  not  carry.  procrcdcMl  t^  put  some  other  on  the 
sanu»  subject.        Pliny   (viii.    14.    19)   gives   the   formula   of 


8S8  C.  PUNI  EPISTVLAB  SELBCTAB.      17. 


r 


division  as  qui  haec  censetk  [al.  aentttM]  m  home  pturUm^  gm        | 
alia  omnia  tn  iUam  parUm  iu  qwi  mniUia ;  Fettat  (261)  givw        | 
it  in  slightly  different  form.     On  the  whole  sobjoot   see 
Moininacu  StcuUnr.  iii.  pp.  978  ff. 

qnl  stUis  consiilam  adstlteraitt :  probably  not  the 
senatoi-s  of  higher  rank,  but  simply  those  who  liad  risen  and 
were  standing  in  the  open  space  In  front  of  the  chairs  of  the 
consuls,  awaiting  the  immediate  anooanoement  of  the  divisioii. 

in  Oornuti  sententlam  ire :  t.e.  to  pass  to  the  side  where 
he  sat.  The  phrase  had  come  to  be  a  technical  one  also  for 
*  to  support  the  proposal  of  Comutus.' 

Regolo:  see  I.  5.  1  (Sel.  4)  n.  A£.  JRegvh. 

alioqnl,  tn  general,  and  not  merely  on  this  one  occasion. 

at  laorimom  audeat  plnrimum  ttmeat»  as  to  diffilap  the 
extreme  o/  hardihood  avd  the  extreme  of/ecbrjnlneas :  cf.  e,g,  I. 
5  (8ol.  4)  pansim. 

S8.  XiTovpYiov,  an  appendix :  the  word  evidently  moans  a 
small  {Xlrdi)  piece  of  business  growing  out  of  a  larger  cue 
(the  marginal  gloss  in  F  gives  as  the  translation  negrttium). 
It  is  probably  not  to  be  confused  with  the  classical  XeirovpyUu 

non  leue :  i.e,  not  easy  to  settle,  though  small  in  import- 
ance as  compared  with  the  case  of  his  principal. 

Hostiliua  Firminua :  nothing  more  is  known  of  him. 

qnl  permixtns,  etc.,  who  wcu  inrolved  in  the  cage  and  haa 
been  handled  with  great  vigour  and  roughnesn, 

raUonibus  Blarciani,  the  account-hooks  of  Marcianns : 
which  were  doubtless  pro<hiccd  in  open  court.  The  evidence 
of  the  demands  of  Firminus  upon  the  Leptitani  may  have 
been  given  by  the  submission  of  the  records  of  their  senate, 
or  by  oral  testimony. 

ordine :  so  the  council  of  a  municipality  was  called  that 
corresponded  to  the  senate  at  Rome. 

LepUtanonun :  probably  of  the  greater  Txsptis,  in  Tri- 
polis,  a  town  of  considerable  importance  from  the  time  of  its 
fountlin;^  by  the  Phoenicians.  It  playc<l  an  important  |mrt 
in  the  civil  wars  of  Rome,  rcceivc<l  a  Roman  colony  undcT 
Trajan,  and  was  the  birthplace  of  the  emperor  Septimius 
Severus. 

ad  turpissimum  ministerium :  prol»ably  in  browlxsating 
the  municipal  council  into  yielding  to  extortion. 

stipulatns  de.  to  hai^.  fntrgahifd  /or  ..from:  mc.  acting 
as  agent  for  his  master.  The  sum  prolwibly  ftirnied  part 
of  the  HS.  700,000  mentioned  in  §  8. 


17.  25.  NOTES.  239 

denariorutn :  the  denarius  was  the  commonest  silver 
cp"*»  *»d  ^^  the  value  of  four  mstertii,  but  is  seldom  men- 
tioned, as  here,  in  the  expression  of  large  sums  of  money. 
^*^f  f^"*  ^^  ^'^^  rfcwaWi  amounted  to  something  like  £2-200, 
or  »10,500.  ^ 

ipse,  for  himself,  praeterea,  m  addition :  «c.  to  the  larger 
sum  paid  him  in  behalf  of  his  master. 

sestertia  decern  milia  :  the  connection  indicates  that  the 
servant-go-between  received  a  Trinhjeld  for  himself,  which 
must  have  been  a  reasonably  modest  sum,  and  not  an  immense 
one  like  ten  thousand  sestertia  (  =  ten  million  sestertii  -more 
than  £109,000  or  about  ?525,000).  Mommsen  would  read 
seatertium  for  sestertia.  But  the  emendation  is  unnecessary, 
for  sufficient  instances  can  he  cited  where  sestertia  is  used  ad- 
jectively  with  mUia  to  make  it  certain  that  sertertia  decern 
milia  itself  means  *teu  thousand  sestertii^  (about  £108  or 
$530) :  cf.  Hultsch  Oriech.  n.  rdni.  Metrologies  pp.  293  ff. 

foedissimo  quidem  titnlo,  nomine  nngnientarii,  and  thaf 
uncUr  a  shavieftd  item,  *  on  account  of  ointment-monty ' :  the 
last  two  words  are  perhaps  quoted  directly  from  the  account- 
lK>ok  of  Marcianus.  unguentariuxn  {sc.  argentum)  is  but  a 
euphemistic  term  for  a  gratuity  {Trinkgeld,  pour  boire^ 
btuma  manOy  pin-money),  as  certain  gratuities  given  soldiers 
were  called  clauarium  or  calcearium  ( fac.  /list.  iii.  50  ;  Suet. 
Vesp.  8).     Cf.  also  uiatico  in  in.  21.  2  (Sel.  29). 

oompti  at  pnmicati,  airled  and  sleek-skinned  (i.q.  glahri) : 
epithets  descriptive  of  an  effeminate  fop,  or  worse  ;  cf.  Plin. 
N.H.  xxxvi.  154  pumices  qui  sunt  in  usu  corjtorum 
leuandttrum  feminis,  iam  quidem  et  uiris ;  Cic.  frag.  orat.  in 
Clod,  et  Cur.  v.  1  b  et  k.  quern  decet  muliebris  ornatus, 
quern  inccssits  psaJtria^,  qui  fffeminare  uottum^  attenuare 
uocfm,  leuare  corpus  potes ;  Ov.  Art.  Am.  i.  506  nee  tua 
mordaci  pumice  crura  teras. 

54.  senatu:  cf.  §  10  n.  sencUum. 

55.  delicatissimae,  rhoice  or  pet :  probably  so,  rather  than 
with  reference  to  their  physical  nee<l  of  especial  care 
(*ten«ler'  ;  cf.  the  traditional  description  molle  perns). 

in  Buxnma :  cf.  i.  12.  12  n.  (8el.  S). 

aequo  longaxn  epistolam  reddiB :  cf.  the  similar  endings 
of  letters,  r.v.  I.  20.  25  (Sel.  13);  iv.  11.  10  (Scl.  .•?2) ;  ix.  2. 
5:  IX.  28.  5:  ix.  .•«. 


240  C.  PLINI  EPI8TVLAE  SELBCTAE.        lift 

18.    (a  U.)  \    *• 

Tlie  sentence  of  Hostilins  Firminns  (tee  fireeediiig  leiier, 
§23f.). 

1.  AiToVf^»*' :  cf.  §  23  of  the  preceding  letter,  n.  X/ru^giytm, 

neecio  an  satit :  t.e.  after  a  faehioo,  though  not  fai  a  a^fle 
to  suit  Pliny's  judgment :  cf.  L  15. 3  (8eL  10)  n.  neecio  a». 

drcumdinm  et  adranim,  tirimmed  offcmi  poU^ktd  dbm»: 
the  figure  is  apparently  from  the  oeulptor'e  studio;  wImpb 
some  piece  of  work  is  finally  oomfdeted  oy  ohieeUing  off  Hie 
last  superfluous  bit  of  matetial,  and  filing  down  the  femwbi- 
ing  rougliness  to  a  finish, 
a.  erlmlni  noto :  cf.  §23  of  the  preceding  letter. 

Oomatna  TertuUna  :  see  §  19  of  the  preceding  letter. 

ordine  mouendum:  the  penalty  of  expoUion  Irom  the 
senate,  which  might  be  inflicted  in  the  earlier  repabUean  day» 
by  the  consuls,  and  after  the  Ovinian  law  (312  B.C.)  by  the 
censors,  might  under  the  empire  be  inflicted  by  special  act  of 
the  senate,  or,  since  Domitian  set  the  example,  by  the  arbi- 
trary action  of  the  emperor ;  cf .  Mommsen  StaaUt,  m.  pp. 
879  ff. 

Acattns  Nema  appears  to  have  served  as  consul  (with  an 
unknown  colleague)  m  the  nundinum  preceding  that  of  Pliny 
and  Comntus  TertuUus.  Inscriptions  of  a  Q.  Acntius  who 
was  at  one  time  legcUua  pro  prctetore  in  Lower  Oermaay 
(Brambach.  Inacr.  EhetL  660,  6^  680)  may  refer  to  him,  hot 
there  our  knowledge  ends. 

in  sortltione  proninciae:  the  government  of  the  sena- 
torial provinces  was  assigned  each  year  by  lot  to  the 
properly  qualified  eonaiUarea  and  prc^Uorii,  with  the  corre- 
sponding cuUecti:  cf.  Marquardt  Staalwerw.  I.^  pp.  544  ff. 

rationem  elna,  etc.,  hU  fiame  should  he  dunregarded: 
as  a  provincial  governorship  was  not  only  a  high  honour, 
but  evidently  afforded  other  great  emoluments,  to  be  debarred 
from  candidacy  was  a  very  practical  loss  to  pocket  as  well  as 
to  pride. 

alioqui,  in  other  respects  than  in  its  appearance  of 
clemency,  and  therefore  *  in  fact.' 

a.  quid  enim,  etc.  :  in  consiilcration  of  the  fact  that  actual 
attendance  upon  the  meetings  of  the  senate  was  not  oblitra- 
tory,  IMiny's  attempt  to  prove  that  formal  expulsion  would 
have  Ixjcn  an  act  of  clcincncy  npjicars  rather  fantastic,  as  \i'w 
areunuMita  not  infrcMjuently  appear,  whon  lie  w  on  the  losing 
sitle. 


T 


19.  2.  NOTES.  241 

4.  publico,  fr(ym  iht  stundpohu  of  the  convmunity. 

a  proconsulata :  i.e.  from  hope  of  a  proconsulship. 

danmatum  sordiuxn,  etc. :  cf .  Cicero's  sarcasm  in  Phil.  i. 
20  ut  enim  quisqite  sordidvmimus  uidebitur,  ita  liberUissime 
setveritcUe  iudicattdi  sordes  suas  eluet. 

6.  numerantur,  etc. :  cf  Liv.  xxi.  -^.  i  ut  plenimque  fit^ 
maicnr  para  meliorem  uicit;  and  the  Greek  saying  tCjv  Tr\€t6y<ay 
yj/^ipos  viKq..  Cicero  indicates  in  similar  terms  the  right  mode 
of  judgment  in  Off.  ii.  79  non  enim  numero  haec  ivdicaiUur  sed 
poiulere ;  id.  Opt.  Oen.  Or.  14  non  enim  ea  me  adnumerare 
lectori  putam  ojwrtere  sed  fanqnam  appeiidere.  . 

nihil  est  tarn  inaequale,  etc.:  cf.  ix.  5.  3  nihil  pM  ipsa 
aefpialitoM  inaeqtuilins, 

6.  tabellario,  m^iil-carrier :  as  in  Cicero's  day,  rich  persons 
in  private  station  had  such  private  messengers  of  their  own. 
A  public  service  for  the  sake  of  quick  communication  between 
the  home  government  and  the  provinces  had  l)een  instituted 
by  Augustus  ;  see  x.  120.  1  (Sel.  108)  n.  dtpfoviata. 

7.  litteris  quales,  etc.:  with  a  very  full  letter-,  such  as  can 
readily  he  returned  from  your  ahode. 

10.     (IL  13.) 

A  military  appointment  is  asked  for  a  promising  friend.— 
The  Priscus  to  whom  this  letter  is  addressed  maj^  very  well 
be  the  L.  Neratius  Priscus  who  had  been  suffcct  consul  with 
M.  Annius  Verus  (in  83  a.d.  ?),  and  in  98  or  99, — to  which 
date,  therefore,  this  letter  might,  though  doubtfully,  be 
ascribed  (cf.  §2  n.), — was  pi-aetorian  legate  of  Pannonia  (cf. 
Henzen  Inscr.  5446,  Dessau  1033.  1034,  and  notes).  Neratius 
is  well  known  as  a  jurist,  and  an  intimate  friend  of  Trajan,  who 
is  said  to  have  thought  of  him  as  his  successor.  Though 
supplanted  by  Hadrian,  he  kept  in  the  good  graces  of  the 
latter  emperor,  having  therein  a  happier  fate  than  that  of 
his  almost  equally  distinguished  brc»thcr,  Neratius  Murcclhis: 
cf.  Spart.  Hadr.  4.  8 ;  18.  1  ;  15.  4.  Whether  the  l*riscu8 
who  meets  us  in  vi.  8:  vii.  7,  8,  15,  19  (Sel.  50)  is  this 
Priscus  cannot  be  determined. 

a.  de  causis :  cf.  i.  2.  6  (Sel.  2)  n.  ex  coMsift. 
reg^is  ezercitum  ampllssimum  :   perhaps   as  praetorian 
legate  of  Pannonia  ;  cf.  introd.  note  above. 

longum  tempus  :  the  governors  of  imperial  provinces 
held  office  at  the  pleasure  of  th«  enqKiror,  but  terms  of  two 
or  three  years  appe^ir  to  have  l»ecn  connnon  enough  ;  while 
governors  of  senatorial  provinces  held  otlice  for  one  year  only. 


M2  C.  PLINI  EPI8TVLAE  8ELECTAE.        la  & 

S.  conuertere :  middle  voice 

nnus  ant  alter,  one  or  two, 

ao  potius :  aut  potiua  (the  readin£[  of  F),  or  «el  potfnii 
appear  to  be  the  more  common  varieties  of  this  correetiTe 
phrase,  but  oc  jwlius  is  thoroughly  classical,  and  oocnra 
several  times  elsewhere  in  Pliny ;  cf.  n.  14.  13  (SeL  20) ; 
II.  17.  25  (Sel.  21) ;  vi.  10.  3  (Sel.  44);  vi.  18.  8. 

4.  Voconius  Bomanus :  cf.  introd.  note  to  i.  5  (SeL  4). 

in  eqnestrl  gradu  daras,  a  man  of  promimm»  m  ikt 
equestrian  I'avk :  to  which  at  this  time  apparen^  any  man 
of  free  birth,  good  character,  and  a  census  of  400,000  >eatef<jca 
(alMiit  £4375  or  921,000)  might  be  admitted  by  grsca  of  the 
emperor,  marked  by  the  gift  of  a  gold  ring  (which  none  below 
that  order  were  allowed  to  wear)  or  of  a  '  public  horse '  (tbe 
act  dating  from  the  time  when  the  equUea  served  as  cavalry) 
or  perhaps  of  both. 

e  primls,  of  one  of  the  first  families. 

citeriorls  Hispaniae  :  the  earlier  division  of  Spain  into 
two  provinces  (citerior  and  uUerior)  had  been  alterad  nnder 
Augustus  ))y  the  setting-off  from  the  further  province  of  a 
separate  province  of  Lusitania,  after  which  the  remainder  of 
the  further  province  was  also  called  Baetica.  The  nearer 
province  consisted  of  three  'dioceses,' A sturia and Oallaecia, 
Tarraconensis,  and  a  third  in  the  centre  of  the  country» 
perhaps  called  CSarthaginiensia 

grauitas,  propriety  of  action. 

flamen  :  Tarraco  had  been  one  of  the  earliest  seats  of  the 
formal  worship  of  Roma  et  Auguatus,  and  Tiberius  had  granted 
the  inhabitants  of  Hispania  citerior  first  the  privilege  of 
erecting  a  temple  to  these  deities.  The  charge  of  the  cere- 
monies of  this  central  temple  of  the  province  was  entrusted 
to  a  special  >{amcn,  who  was  elected  annually  by  the  delegated 
asRcinDly  {conri/inm  proninriof)  of  the  free  cities  of  the  pro- 
vince from  among  their  citizens.  For  the  varying  titles  of 
this  finvten  sec  <.\LL.  ii.  jxinsim, 

5.  seria  ..  locos :  apparently  a  provcrbiiil  collocation, 
oocurriiig  fre<|ncntly,  and  implying  perfect  familiarity  ;  cf. 
(Jic.  Fill.  II.  iS.'»  nl  fjitirnni  iora  Mcnn,  nt  fiirihir,  qiiinnn  arcana^ 
qitirnm  orculla  omnia ;  Liv.  i.  4.  9  nnn  hU  neria  or  ioros  cele- 
hrare.  ;  Auson.  Parr.nt.  7.  1 1  ioca  xr.ria  mirii ;  Profew.  15.  5 
tarn  sn'ioi'uiu  tpiaiii  iororuni  jtarticcpit:  cf.  alsc»  iv.  17.  6. 

7.  Musas  Latins  loqui :  an  cxap:geratton  of  the  praine  of 
PlautiM  ill  <^uiiil.  X.  I.  91»  /iW/    I'arro  .t/w/iaw,   .•!«//•  Stilonis 


I 


20.  1.  NOTES.  243 

fienterUia,  Plautino  dicat  sermone  lociifurafi  /?tw»e,  si  Lafine 
loqui  ueUeiU. 

8.  nee  tamen  uincitur:  i.i',  the  affection  is  mutual,  and 
ecjual  in  degree  ;  cf.  iv.  1.5  nam  \iiiic%  in  amove  fttrpissimum 
est. 

principe :  sc.  Trajan. 

trium  liberorum  ius  :  since  the  time  of  Augustus  and 
his  legislation  in  the  interests  of  morality,  fathers  of  three 
legitimate  children  had  l>een  freed  from  certain  civic  burdens, 
and  had  been  given  preference  in  the  cftrstis  honontm  and 
otherwise  in  various  wa3's.  But  by  grace,  first  of  the  senate 
and  later  of  the  emperor,  a  man  without  this  qualification  as 
parent  might  be  given  all  political  privileges  that  followed  in 
its  train.  Pliny  himself  had  the  /?w  tHum  liheronim^  given 
him  by  Trajan  early  in  his  reign  (cf.  x.  2, — Sel.  74),  and  in 
X.  94  is  preserved  the  application  for  the  same  privilege  made 
by  Pliny  to  the  emperor  in  behalf  of  Suetonius  Tranquillus. 

parce  et  cum  delectu :  cf.  Trajan's  own  words  about  the 
%U8  trium  Wterorum  in  x.  95  quam  parce  ha^c  heneficia 
tribuam<,  etc. 

9.  tarn  grate  interpretetur  :  Mr.  Cowan  well  quotes  Milton 
Par,  LoHt  IV.  54.  ff.  A  grateful  mind  I  By  owiiuj  owes  not,  hut 
still  paysy  at  once  \  Indebted  and  diHcharged. 

10.  quantum  amplissimum  potes  :  for  similar  superlatives 
cf.  III.  21.  6  (Scl.  29)  quantum  mojcimmn  potuit ;  vi.  12.  2 
quantum  plurimnm  potuero. 

capacem  :  cf.  i.  12.  7  (Sel.  8)  n.  secreti  cafxicissima. 

20.    (n.  14.) 

On  the  decay  of  dignity  in  the  centnmviral  court.— Con- 
cerning the  personality  of  the  Maximus  w]i08erof7?«07/«eM  ahme 
stands  at  the  head  of  this  letter  nothing  can  be  definitely 
determined.  Nine  letters  are  a<hlressed  by  Pliny  to  Maxi- 
mus,  and  the  num1>cr  is  so  unusual  to  be  addressed  by  him  to 
a  single  person  as  to  arouse  the  suspicion  that  more  tlian  one 
person  is  made  by  defect  of  the  mss.  to  go  under  the  Siime 
designation.  Five  different  men  of  this  ro*inmmn  are  men- 
tioned in  the  corrc.«])ondcnce  with  Trajan,  but  none  of  then» 
seems  likely  to  have  l)een  a  correspondent  of  IMiny.  To  two 
others,  Messins  Maximus  (iii.  20;  iv.  25)  and  Nonius  Maxi- 
mus  (rv.  20;  v.  5,— Sel.  37)  two  lettei*s  ench  are  addrcs.«<ed, 
but  otherwise  tlicy  are  unknown. 

1.  centumuiralibus  causis :  cf.  i.  5.  4  (Sel.  4)  n.  re^i/wm.- 
uiros. 


244  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  8ELECTAB. 

penonamm :  cf.  i.  23.  6  (8eL  14)  n.  permmam, 

a.  cum  quilms  inoat  dioere,  with  whom  I  core  to  i 
9C.  ou  the  opposing  side :  cf.  vi.  2.  3  (SeL  41)  «end  <  " 

adulescentoli :  Pliny  himself  was,  indeed,  probably  oiilj 
nineteen  or  twenty  vears  old  when  he  was  adUfcted  to  the 
centumviral  bar  (cL  i.  18.  3, — SeL  12, — n.  adidetoaanim» 
adliiu:),  but  his  plaint  here  is  not  so  much  of  the  yoath  aa  of 
the  forwardness  and  lack  of  social  position  of  the  pleadort. 

ad  dedamandum :  t.e.  to  practise  their  schooi-egarciian ; 
for  the  composition  and  delivery  of  moot  argumenta,  cktmmd 
as  controueraUu  or  8u<MorUu,  formed  an  important  part  of  the 
training  under  the  rhetor;  of.  Tao.  Dtal,  35  amo  gemera 
matfiriarum  apud  rhetoras  tradantur^  suasoritte  tt  cotUmmnrwiae  ; 
and  Tacitus  represents  Messalla  as  going  on  with  a  aoathing 
arraignment  of  the  character  of  these  schools  as  tratning-plaofla 
for  impudence.  Petronius  also  {S<U.  init,)  oriticises  uiem  aa 
unpractical  in  method.  The  vice  of  M-hich  Pliny  oomj^laina 
was  as  old  as  Cicero's  time  ;  cf.  Cic.  BnU.  311  tumpnmum 
no8  ad  cauaas  et  prittafas  et  publicas  adire  co€pimtt$,  nam  irt  in 
foro  dUcerenws,  qtiod  plerique  /ecerunt^  sed  ut^  qtumium  no* 
tfficere  potuisgemtu,  docti  injbi'um  uenireniua. 

buc  transienmt,  haw  migrcUed  hither:  se.  inataad  of 
remaining  in  their  schools,  whore  declamations  used  to  be 
practised. 

AtUins :  cf.  I.  9.  8  (SeL  6)  n.  Atiliwi. 

auspieari  :  apparently  not  quite  equivalent  to  inciperet 
though  this  colourless  meaning  is  not  uncommon  in  Silver 
Age  Latinity,  but  with  the  idea  of  'to  try  to  make  a 
lucky  start  * :  cf.  iii.  5.  8  (Sel.  24)  n.  auspicandi  catMO. 

ab  Homero  in  scbolls :  cf.  Quintilian*s  defence  of  the 
practice  in  Itiat.  Orat.  i.  8,  concluding,  ideo^e  opiime 
tHHiitutum  f9i  Ml  ah  Homero  attpue  I'ergilto  lectio  indperfi^ 
quanqnam  ad  intcffeffendas  eonim  virhtfen  frmiort  indicia 
opus  eat ;  and  also  Quint,  x.  1.  4G  non  rite  coepturi  ab  Homero 
vtdfmnr. 

hie  ...  Ullc  :  cf.  I.  20.  21  (Sel.  13)  n.  i7/«  ...  hie. 
3.  hercule,   etc. :   cf.  i.  13.   3  (Sel.  9)  n.  hercvle  memoria 
parentum. 

ne  nobilissimis  quidem :  in  contrast  to  obAcnri  above. 

producente  :  sf.  aillowintr  the  biiddini^  lawyer  to  make  hi» 
fif^hitt  befon?  tin?  cowi  l)y  appcarini;  a.s  jiiiiior  counpcl  with 
himself.  So  Pliny  apparuntly  a-sks  liis  friend  Triariu»  in  vi. 
23  tAj  intrcMluct;  C'remutius  Hum»  to  the  Itar. 


[ 


20.  6.  NOTES.  245 

pulchexiimum  opus  colet>atur,  was  the  noble  profession 
revered. 

4.  auditores :  cf.  Pliny's  remark  in  vi.  2.  3  (Sel.  41)  on  the 
habit  of  Kegulus  in  inviting  his  friends  to  come  and  hear  his 
pleas  in  court. 

manceps  conuenitur,  they  meet  the  contractory  who 
apparently  pays  them  in  advance,  conducts  them  to  their 
proper  place,  and  leads  the  claque  :  cf .  §  6  mesochonia. 

in  media  basilica  :  i.e.  in  a  perfectly  public  place.  The 
Basilica  lulia,  in  which  the  sessions  of  the  centumviral  court 
were  regularly  held  (cf.  vi.  33.  4),  occupied  the  entire  space  on 
the  southwestern  side  of  the  Forum  between  the  Vicus  lu- 
garius  and  the  Vicus  Tuscus.  It  was  an  immense  rectangular 
building  enclosing  a  large  central  area  within  a  double  arcade 
of  piers  which  were  apparently  repeated  above,  forming 
galleries  that  opened  both  outward  and  upon  the  central 
court-room.     The  building  was  begun  by  Julius  Caesar,  com- 

{)leted  by  Augustus,  and  subjecte<i  to  restoi-ation  by  various 
ater  emperors. 

sportulae  :  the  client  had  formerly  dined  more  or  less 
regularly  at  his  patron's  table ;  nowadays  he  was  given  a 
money-dole  {aporttda)  in  place  of  a  meal.  The  name  sportula 
appears  to  be  derived  from  the  biisket  in  which  the  poor 
people  carried  awaj-  food  from  the  public  feasts  given  in  con- 
nection with  certain  sacrifices  ;  but  some  have  supposed  it  to 
indicate  that  between  the  custom  of  giving  a  dinner  to  the 
client  and  of  giving  him  a  sum  of  money  came  that  of  giving 
him  a  basket  of  food  from  the  patron's  table  (in  triclinio 
dantur).  The  client  might  properly  accompany  his  patron  to 
court,  and  lend  him  the  support  of  his  applause  ;  but  l*liny 
s|)eaks  scornfully  of  these  professional  claqueurs  as  disgraceful 
airicatures  of  true  clients :  cf.  also  luu.  13.  31  ff.  voh  honii- 
numdiuumquefdemclamoreciemus  \  quaiito  Faesiditim  laudoU 
uocalit  a^jentem  \  sportula. 

5.  Laudiceni  :  of  course  from  iaus  and  nva  ;  the  pun  on  the 
name  of  the  Laodiceans  {Lao-  or  Lavdicttii)  is  evident,  the 
atteni])t  being  to  cap  the  pun  on  a  pro|>cr  name  in  (Jreek  by 
a  similar  pun  in  l^tin  :  cf.  Mart.  vi.  48  quofi  tain  i/raiul* 
*  sop/ta-i '  clamat  tih\  furha  toqata,  |  wow  ^m,  Pompoiii^  etna 
distrta  iua  est  ;  Anth.  Pal.   XI.  394  ttoititt}^  7rax'd/M<rTos  dXrjduts 

6.  nomenclatores  :  it  was  the  duty  of  the  (slave)  vomtU' 
clator  to  know  q\vt\  one.  an«l  to  Ikj  ready  to  serve  his  master 
at  home  by  admitting  only  pro|)er  itersons  to  interviews  with 
him,    and    there   or   on   the   street   to   prompt   his   muster's 


S46  C.  PUNI  EPISTVLAE  SELBCTAE.        M.  t     f 

f 
flagging  mofiiory  by  telling  him  the  HMiie  and  other  eirciui-  | 
stances  of  those  with  whom  he  should  exchange  «alatatioos ;  > 
cf.  Hor.  Ep.  1.  6.  49  ff. 

habent,  etc.  :  i.e.  they  were  bat  yoonffsien,  without 
siiificicnt  training  or  experience  to  be  juifgesoTffOodqpeaking. 
Being  slaves  they  themselves  of  course  ooula  not  assume 
the  garb  of  Roman  citizens. 

togas  (sc.  MirUit)'.  cf.  i.  9.  2  (SeL  6)  n.  ofe» i0ga€  tArUii 
inUrfui. 

ternls  denaztia :  somewhere  about  half^iHsrown,  or  rixty- 
two  cents,  apieoe. 

quamllbet :  a  word  unknoMm  to  CSaesar  and  Gioeto  (who 
use  qwtmMvt)^  but  common  enough  in  Pliny's  time  witii  adjeo- 
tives,  participles,  or  even  verbs. 

numerosa:  post- Augustan  in  the  sense  of  «nclto:  with  the 
entire  expression  cf.  vi.  33.  3  ingew  «trtmgiis  adwKaiio  it 
mmieroea  subsellia,  praeierea  dtH$a  drcumBtamiium  eorona 
...  0(2  hoc  MptUnm  trilnmal,  etc. 

meaocliorus,  the  coryphaeus  :  apparently  the  wuateqm 
mentioned  above. 

8.  tribunal  asftenda» :  on  the  tribunal,  which  was  «  raised 
platform,  apparently  with  concave  front,  sat  not  only  the 
presiding  magistrate  with  his  cowtiiium^  but  the  twiMet,  and 
other  persons,  perhaps  those  of  rank,— as  sometimes  upon 
the  judge's  bench  to^y ;  cf.  vi.  33.  4  (<|uoted  above);  nr. 
16.  1  prooehne  cum  dictunu  apud  ctniwmuvron  eaaom^  adttmdi 
nUki  locus  nisi  a  tribuncUi,  nisi  jht  ip90S  ttielices,  mm  fini  ; 
ianta  Hipationt  cetera  tenebantttr ;  Cic  BmL  290  uolo  hoc 
oratori  contingat^  ut  cum  auditum  sit  eum  esse  dietmnm^ 
locus  m  mubftdUis  oceupetur^  compleaiur  tribrnHMi^  grafiosi 
scribae  sini  in  dando  et  cedendo  loro^  corona  muJUipUa^  etc. ; 
Cic.  Df.  Or.  L  168 ;  Tac.  i4iin,  i.  76. 

9.  Lardns  lidnus :  he  is  mentioned  by  the  elder  Pliny 
(XIX.  35;  XXXI.  2,\)  as  praetorian  legate  of  Tarraoonensis. 
serving  doubtless  at  the  same  time  tliat  the  elder  Pliny  was 
there  as  procurator  Awnt'<ti^  from  whom  Lieinus  wished  to 
buy  his  160  volumes  of  notes ;  cf.  in.  o.  17  (SeL  24).  The 
legiil  career  referred  to  must  have  fallen  in  the  time  of 
Claudiu»,  or  early  in  tlie  reign  of  Nero  (see  notes  below). 

ut  auditores  oorrogaret :  hut  not  by  hiring  an  audience. 
He  probably  tlumght  it  no  more  harm  to  invite  his  friends  to 
hear  him  deliver  an  actual  ploa  U'forc  the  court,  than  to 
invite  them  to  listen  to  a  private  ivudin*^  of  the  same,  <»r  a 
similar  composition,  as  was  a  general  custom  ;  cf.  i.  13  (Sel. 
9)nn. 


20.  12.  NOTES.  247 

10.  Quintiliano :  M.  t'abius  Quiutiliauus  Wiis  a  native  ui 
Calagurris  in  Tarraconensis,  and  must  have  been  born  during 
the  reign  of  Caligula,  or  late  in  that  of  Tiberius.  His  father 
became  a  teacher  of  rhetoric  in  Rome,  and  there  the  son 
received  his  chief  training  in  the  same  profession,  es])ecially 
under  Domitius  Afer,  to  whose  teaching  he  several  times 
refers.  Quintilian  returned  to  Calagurris  to  practise  his 
profession,  but  was  brought  back  to  Rome  by  iialba  in 
68  A.D.,  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  there*  chiefly  in 
teaching  rhetoric,  and,  during  the  reign  of  Domitian,  in 
acting  as  tutor  to  the  nephews  of  the  emperor,  and  in  the 
composition  of  his  monumental  work  Iiv^tUxUimUa  Oratoriae 
Libri  XII.  His  death  occurred  apparently  late  in  the  reign 
of  Domitian,  or  not  long  after  the  end  of  that  reign.  Pliny's 
language  in  this  place  seems  to  indicate  that  Quintilian  was 
not  then  alive. 

praeceptore  meo  :  cf.  also  vi.  6.  3  ad  aitdiendos  qvox  tunc 
ego  frequentahamy — Quiiit'dianmii  ^  Niceten  Sacerdoteni, — ?/€n- 
titafxit. 

adsectabar,  /  was  afollofer  of:  as  young  men  got  their 
practical  training  in  public  life  by  attaching  themselves  to 
some  citizen  of  prominence  and  of  ability,  and  bv  learning 
from  him  both  through  precept  and  through  example :  cf.  III. 
11,  7  (Sel.  26)  n.  odHectatorilms. 

Domitium  Aftiun:  Cn.  Domitius  Afer  was  a  native  of 
Nemausus  in  Lugdunensis,  and  attained  distinction  at  Rome 
in  both  politics  and  orator}*,  dying  at  an  advance<l  age  in 
59  A.  D. 

ex  proximo :  evidently  more  than  one  section  of  the 
centuniviral  court  was  in  session  at  the  time  in  the  Basilica 
lulia ;  cf.  I.  5.  4  (Sel.  4)  n.  centvmuiroM. 

11.  intermissa  causa,  throwintj  up  his  brief. 
hoc  artiflciiim  periit,  this  //ro/esttion  is  dead. 

12.  alioqoi,  on  the  contrary  :  i.t.  looking  fnmi  other  points 
of  view. 

quae  quam  :  on  the  (indirect  double)  ejtiphotivma,  see  in. 
5.  13  (Sel.  24)  n.  tanta. 

ftacta  pronuntiatione,  fnfu^'tto  fonrs  -.  the  declining  taste 
in  oratory  had  Icil  some  of  the  newer  school  of  8f>cakers  to 
simulate  energy  and  passion  by  fluent  uttemnce  in  a  high- 
pitched  monotone,  which  Pliny  scoriifnily  compares  t<»  the 
falsetto  shriekings  of  the  oni.jsculatctl  priests  and  other 
votaries  of  Cylwlc  in  her  ojiri.istic  rites,  in  whieli  their 
delirious  dauceti  were  cr.rrietl  on  to  tlie  .sound  of  cymbals, 


348  a  PLFNI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAB.      I 

tainbou lilies,  and  flutes:  cf.  Ino.  2.  HI  Ate;  tarpis  C^belei 
et  fixuUa  uoce  hquencU  |  liherUu ;  and  for  <:rttic[Bm  of  the 
pi*evalent  tendencies  of  style,  Quint.  XL  3.  ^3  non  enim  lam 
moUi  teneraque  noce  Mtam/orti  ae  durabUi  opus  est  ;  Qnint. 
IX.  4.  31  [Damitius  A/er]  cuieo  rejkgit  Unerajti  fklii^atamqm 
modtUancU  tu)litpt€Uem  ut  currenUbua  per  $e  fuimEria  q^ttxi  eo4 
inhiberet  obiceret ;  and  especially  Tac  Dial.  S20. 

tenerls,  effenUneUe :  with  reference  to  the  falieUo  iraio» 
called  above /racto. 

exGlpiaiitar :  as  the  frenzied  worshippers  of  the  goddem 
render  the  priests  shriek  for  shriek  in  their  wild  litiolai^  ao 
the  corona  of  auditors  yells  its  approval  of  the  howfiagi  of 
the  pleader. 

18.  plaumu :  here  not  the  ordinary  form  of  aj^plana»,  liiit 
the  rhythmical  beating  of  the  hands  together  thataooonmaiiied 
the  other  manifestations  of  and  incitements  to  frensy  in  the 
rites  of  Dionysus  and  of  Cybele,  as  in  the  religioiis  rites  <if 
{c.fj.)  some  negroes  of  our  own  day:  cf.  Ov,  MeL  u.  17 
tympanaqtie  et  plau^ia  et  Bacchei  vlulatua. 

ao  potins :  cf.  ii.  13.  3  (Sel  19)  n.  ae  jDottw.  Hiny  em- 
phasises his  own  irony  by  the  correction  of  an  assumed  alip  of 
memory ;  for  of  oourse  there  was  ylausuB  enough  of  ono  Mrt 
in  court. 

cymlnla :  hollow  liemispheres  of  metal  a  few  ineliee  in 
diameter,  held  one  in  each  hand  by  the  aid  of  small  riiu^  or 
thongs  attached  to  the  centre  of  their  convex  snr&oes. 
Struck  together,  they  cave  a  sharp,  clanging  sound:  e£. 
Biuimoister  DetikmaUr,  tH^bild.  1350,  2390. 

tympana:  instruments  like  the  modem  tambourine  in 
construction,  and  often,  like  it,  with  rattling  disks  of  metal 
strung  upon  wires  inserted  in  openings  in  the  frame,  or 
suspended  at  intervals  from  its  edge  by  short  cords ;  cf. 
Buumuister  Denkmdler,  abbild.  492,  714,  1184,  2390. 

cantlcis,  chantM :  cf.  Tac.  Dial.  I.e. 

ululatus,  howliufj :  another  traditional  accompaniment 
of  the  rites  of  Dionysus  and  of  Cybele ;  cf.  Maec  /ratf.  5 
Riclir.  comitum  chonm  nlukt ;  Ov.  Fwit.  I  v.  341  exttlnlant 
romiten;  Ov.  Met.  iir.  725  uhifauit  Affatte. 

theatrls  quoque  :  the  gallery  gods  played  no  minor  part 
in  Roman  theatres ;  cf.  the  references  to  u)>roar  in  the  pro- 
logues of  Plautus  and  Terence  (c.f/.  Po*>n.,  Phor.y  Hec.)^  and 
Hor.  Ay>.  I.  20 )  ff.  vnm  qtiat  jycruiucerv  norm  |  enaJuere  Houum, 
reftniut  (fwrn  vosfm  /heaft'n  f  \  i^anjannm  mmjirt  puttn  vnnu*t 
aiu  niarc  TuHcutm^  |  taato  cum  strepitu  ludi  Mjttctatitur  et  artes. 


21.  NOTES.  249 

14.  ratio  aetatU,  tke  consideration  oj  my  age :  which  was 
not  yet  far  enough  advanced  to  justify  i-etirement  from  active 
life.  Elsewhere  Pliny  professes  to  long  for  retirement  and 
study,  but  his  zeal  in  this  direction  is  somewhat  academic  in 
character;  cf.  in.  1.  11  (Sel.  23);  iv.  23.  4  quando  mihi 
licehit,  quando  per  aetaiein.  fionestum  erit  imitari  intiui  pulcher- 
riinae  quietis  exemplum?  quando  secessus  mei  non  datidiae 
nomen  fted  tranquillita/is  OA^cipienl  ? 

gradatim,  gradually :  cf.  ii.  6.  2  (Sel.  16)  n.  gradatim, 

21.  (II.  17.) 

A  description  of  Pliny's  house  on  the  Laureutine  shore. —  \'^ 
To  a  Gallus  Pliny  also  addresses  viii.  20  (Sel.  59),  another ^.^r 
piece  of  description.  The  similarity  of  theme  suggests  that 
the  correspondent  is  the  same  in  each  case.  He  may  also 
well  be  the  Asinius  (?)  (callus  to  whom  iv.  17  was  written,  as 
well  as  the  Gallus  acainst  whom  Pliny  (i.  7)  declined  to  act 
as  advocate  for  the  Baetics.  The  name  Asinius  Gallus  is  an 
honoured  one  in  Roman  history,  but  of  this  man  nothing 
more  is  known. 

Like  some  other  writers  of  his  day  Pliny  likes  to  try  his 
hand  at  pieces  of  description.  This  letter  and  its  companion 
piece,  V.  6,  a  description  of  his  country-seat  on  a  foothill  of 
the  Umbrian  Apennines  (near  Cittd  di  Castello),  are  his 
most  ambitious  attempts  in  this  direction,  and  cannot  be 
called  very  successful.  Neither  the  theme  nor  the  catalogue 
metho<l  of  treatment  arouses  in  the  reader  the  enthusiasm 
that  the  writer  aims  to  pro<luce.  But  the  present  letter  is 
unique  in  giving  us  a  notion  of  the  general  complex  structure 
of  a  Roman  country-house  where  tlicre  were  no  limitations 
of  site  to  contentl  with,  and  so  far  forth  deserves  some  atten- 
tion. Yet  the  writer  fails  completely,  even  when  he  tries, 
to  convey  a  clear  idea  of  the  relative  position,  and  sometimes 
even  of  the  shajie,  of  the  successive  apartments.  Part  of 
this  failure  may,  to  be  sure,  be  due  to  our  lack  of  preliminary 
knowledge,  but  for  more  his  own  deticiency  in  visualization 
must  l>c  held  responsible. 

The  letter  has  commanded  for  the  last  century  and  a  half 
more  interest  than  it  really  merits,  and  numerous  publislied 
attempts  have  been  made,  often  with  amusing  variation  of 
results,  to  draw  ground -plans  of  the  house  from  Pliny's 
description.  Students  further  interest <'d  may  consult  Pro- 
fessor H.  W.  Magoun's  iMi|>ers  in  TrrntM.  of'  thv  Amer.  PhiM, 
Aw.  xxvi.    pp.  xxxiii.    ff.  (1894),   xi.  ri'.'  (1895).      See  also 


V. 


250  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  21. 

H.  Wiiuiefeld  in  Jafirbuch  d,  deulsch.  arch.  In«t.  vi.  pp.  201- 
217.  No  reinams  of  the  villa  have  been  found  to  help  in 
determining  the  question  of  its  plan. 

1.  Laurens  (sc.  praedium) :  Pliny's  own  preference  for  the 
longer  form  of  the  a<ljective  is  shown,  not  only  by  this 
passage,  but  by  the  fact  that  in  the  six  other  places  in  his 
letters  where  this  villa  is  mentioned  by  name  the  longer  form 
is  used. 

a.  secessit :  a  rare  extension,  in  this  especial  sense  of 
retirement,  of  the  use  of  the  verb  with  a  personal  subject ; 
cf.  I.  9.  3  (SeL  6)  n.  secesaerut. 

saluo  iam  et  composite  die,  tmiig  awl  completing  your 
entire  day :  the  latter  part  of  tlie  phrase  has  the  flavour  of 
poetry  rather  than  of  prose ;  cf.  Verg.  Aen.  i.  374  ante  diem 
clauHO  componet  Vesper  Olyrnpo.  The  ordinary  working-day 
of  the  Roman  of  station  ended  at  noon,  when  the  prandium 
was  eaten :  cf .  Plut.  Qwtent.  Rom.  84  1j  xaOdrep  ii  lucrqtippla 
T^pai  iarl  rots  ttbWoU  tou  rA  SfjixdiTia  xal  <nrov5aia  Trpdrreiv, 
oOrun  apx^^  Wo^  iroi€ta0(u  rd  yxcovvKriw  ;  TCKfA-^piov  Si  ro&rov 
IJuiya^  rb  fiii  roieurdai  'FtafULlov  dpxovra  awS'/iKas  fiffdi  6fto\oylas 
fjuerii  fi4<rov  ijfUpas» 

manera,  to  spend  the  night, 

lapide  {  =  miltano),  niUcHfone  :  cippi  of  thb  sort,  variously 
inscribed,  were  regularly  set  up  along  Roman  roads,  and  many 
of  them  have  been  preserved. 

iunctis  (sc.  equis) :  t.e.  for  driving. 

equo :  i.e.,  for  riding :  cf.  iv.  2.  3  (Sel.  30)  mannuloa  et 
iunctos  et  solntos. 

8.  uaria  flEUdes :  woods  must  have  diminished  very  much 
since  Pliny's  day,  nor  is  the  pasturage  so  frequented  now  as 
when  lie  wrote. 

usibas  capax,  as  large  as  needful :  cf.  i.  12.  7  (Sel.  8)  n. 
secreti  cainicivtima. 

non  Sttxnptuosa  tutela  (doubtless  nominative),  it^  Tnainten- 
ance.  not  exi)enMirt  :  cf.  Plin.  X.H.  xviii.  31  ut  uillarum 
tutela  non  sit  oneri. 

4.  atrium :  it  may  be  that  the  door  of  the  house  opened 
immediately  into  the  aJrium^  as  in  some  of  the  houses  in 
Pompeii,  but  more  likely  the  passage  called  the  fauces  is 
passetl  over  by  the  writer  as  of  no  importance,  or  to  l)e 
taken  for  granted  (cf.  §  \^^  n.).— Vitruvius  remarks  upon  a 
different  arrangement  of  a]Kirtmcnt:$  as  common  in  suburlMn 
country-houses ;   cf.    Vitr.    vi.   5.  3  in  urU   cUria  proxima 


21.  5.  NOTES.  261 

ianuis  &olent  esne^  ruri  avjtem  psendowrhania  sUUim  peruUyla, 
dcinde  tunc    atria   haheiUia    circum    porticus   pammemtatas 

spectantes  ad  jKilaestras  et  ambulationes. 

porticus,  etc. :  this  apartment  occupied  the  place  that  was 
regularly  filled  in  the  city-house  by  the  tablinum.  The 
inward-sloping  roof  wsis  apparently  supported  by  an  archi- 
trave resting  on  a  rectangular  system  of  colunnis,  but  the 
])ass;ige  thus  covered,  instCfati  of  being  of  equal  width  on  all 
four  sides,  was  enlarged  to  a  semicircle  on  two  opposite  sides 
by  the  curving  of  its  wall,  thus  giving  the  effect  in  shape  of 
two  D*8  set  face  to  face,  and  affording  protected  space  for 
something  more  than  a  promenade.  The  general  plan  of  the 
porticus  would,  then,  be  somewhat  as  follows  : 


[ANDRONj 


^^      9-0--0--9       ^^ 


CAVAEDIVM  P  Q  R  T  I  C  y  S  ATRIVM 


Q  R  T  I  c  y  J 

V  ^  *  / 

[ANDRON] 


speculariinu:  porticoes  with  the  intercolumniattons  closed 
by  windows  are  shown  in  certain  drawings  from  an  ancient 
fresco  that  were  published  by  Professor  Ch.  Hiilsen  in  the 
Horn.  A/iUheilungen,  vol.  xi.  (1896),  p.  224,  with  plates  (cf. 
also  Winckclmann  in  A/on.  Inediti  p.  266,  pi.  204),  and 
similar  loggie  protected  by  windows  abound  in  the  older 
paJazzi  of  modern  Rome.  The  earlier  notion  was  that  the 
Romans  used  no  window  glass,  but  only  sheets  of  mica  {lajm 
specularie,  PI.  N.H.  xxxvi.  1()0) ;  but  this  notion  has  been 
thoroughly  exploded  by  more  recent  discoveries. 

6.  contra  mediae  (so.  ftorfint.t).  muhmy  of  (he  \cvrrt  oftht] 
fxyrticoes:  cf.  §  21  r antra  jxtri'tim  medium  %  v.  6.  *2Q  coiUra 
mediant  fere  jtortivum  diaeta  /fau/nm  recedit. 

cauaedium  :  this  room  evidently  occupied  the  place  of  the 
peristyle  in  the  normal  city-hons«\  but  its  character  is 
doubtful,  as  the  word  (or  cnuum  a^dhim)  is  variously  used  by 
different  writers.  It  is  more  frequently  substantially  synony- 
mous with  afrium :  an<l  ivs  IMiuy's  villa  bad  plenty  of  out- 
of-door  room,  ami  hardly  ncede<l  a  lir^e  peristyle,  and  the 
jwrticuH  were  a  sort  of  small   and  specialized   form  of  the 


262  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.        21.  & 

peristyle,    very  probably  he  uses  the    word  caua.ecUum   to 
represent  simply  a  second  (and  larger)  atrium. 

in  litUB  excurrit:  so  the  Romans  commonly  built  their 
sea-side  houses ;  cf.  Hor.  Carm.  ii.  18.  19  ff.  struts  domoa  \ 
marisque  Baits  obstrepentis  urtjes  |  summouere  litoraf  \  parum 
locuples  continente  ripa  ;  also  vi.  20.  4  (Sel.  46)  n.  area, 

nooissiiniB  fluctlbaB :  cf.  Ov.  Met.  iii.  681  falcaJxi  nch 
uissima  cauda  est  (of  the  tip  of  the  tail). 

atque  ita :  t.e.  the  room  had  large  windows  on  the  side 
opposite  the  entrance,  opening  directly  toward  the  sea,  and 
other  windows  on  the  adjacent  sides  to  right  and  left, 
commanding  an  oblique  view  of  the  sea  in  either  direction. 

Biluas  6t  longlnquos  montes :  back  from  the  Laurentine 
shore  there  are  still  thickets  and  plantations  of  trees.  The 
montes  referred  to  are  doubtless  M.  Algidus  and  the  Alban 
rather  than  the  Volscian  hills. 

6.  retractius  paulo :  «c.  so  as  not  to  block  the  view  of  sea 
and  shore  from  the  side  windows  of  the  dining-room.  The 
course  of  the  description  now  changes  to  a  southeasterly 
direction. 

caUculum :  apparently  here  not  a  sleeping-room  (cf. 
dorrmtorium  membrwn  below),  but  a  private  sitting-room  or 
study  ;  cf.  i.  3.  1  (Sel.  3)  cubicula  diuma  noetuma. 

7.  boius  caUcali  :  this  room  alone  is  specified  merely 
because  it  was  the  last  mentioned  ;  but  the  use  of  the  word 
antjulus  of  the  included  space,  and  the  way  in  which  the 
semicircular  room  {cub.  in  hapstda  curua^um)  is  said  to  adjoin 
the  angvlus^  make  it  probable  that  the  south-western  wall 
of  the  cttbiaUum  minus  was  but  a  continuation  in  the  same 
line  of  the  wall  of  the  cub.  maius, 

Bolem  continet  et  accendit :  cf.  §  17  teporem  aolis  infwti 
reperciuum  augeU 

hibemaculoin :  Pliny's  Laurentinum  was  his  favourite 
Mrinter-resort,  as  his  Tusci  was  his  summer-home ;  cf.  §  24 
ScUunifUibus  ;  IX.  40  (Sel  72). 

meorum :  so.  aeruontm  ac  lihertorum,  as  even  in  Cicero  ; 
cf.  also  §  24  meonim^  an<l  v.  6.  46  mfi ;  v.  19.  1  (Sel.  40)  tuon^ 
meos ;  8  tuis ;  vi.  25.  4  suis ;  vii.  27.  7  (Sel.  o4)  mos ;  14 
meortnn;  viii.  1  1  mm;  viii.  16.  1  (Sel.  o8)  v\e.onnn\  ix. 
36.  4  (Sel.  70)  win  ;  IX.  .37.  3  meiH.  But  in  x.  1;>  (Sel.  81) 
meis  includes  the  governor's  wife  and  official  as  well  as 
personal  retinue. 


f 


F 


21.  10.  NOTES.  253 

8.  non  legendOB  llbros  sed  lectitandos  :  so  Lord  Bacon  aays 
in  the  essay  Of  Studies ^  *Soine  books  are  to  be  tasted,  others 
to  be  swallowed,  and  some  few  to  be  chewed  and  digested,' 

9.  dormitorium  membrum,  a  deepiwj  room :  cf.  §  22 
cubiadum  noctis  ct  aomni ;  v.  6.  21  dormitorium  cMcxdivm ; 
and  on  membi-um  as  *  a  room,'  Cic.  Qu.  Fr,  in.  1.  2  cvhiada  et 
eius  modi  membra, 

suspensus  et  tubulatns,  tcith  a  hollow  floor  and  piped 
walls.     Rooms  from  the  first  century  b.c.  were  often  heated  c    .;   , 
bvjigating   the   flooj:  and   walls.      To   this    end    the    floor,  *  V .' 
(ofcement,  mosaic,  or  tiles,  or  stone  slabs  laid  in  cement)  was"  '*  * 
supported   on  very  short  pillars  of  masonry,  and   into   the ' ' '     ' 
space  thus  left  the  heated  air  (and  smoke)  from  the  furnace 
was  conducted,    finally   to   make  its  exit  to  the  outer  air 
through  the  many  small  vertical  flues   of   tiling   that  were 
laid  under  the  plaster  or   incrustation   of  the  walls  of  the 
rooin,  and  comnmnicated  below  with  the  sub  floor  space.    These 
hollow  floors  were  called  suspensuraa.     Sometimes  the  walls 
were  made  entirely  hollow  in  similar  fashion,  by  the  use  of 
tegulae  mammutae.     Cf.  Sen.    Ep.  90.  25  susptnsuroA  iKdne-  T 
orum  et  impressos  parittihm  iubos  per  quos  circtimfumUretur 
calor  qui  ima  aimtU  ac  summa  /oueret  a^qnaliter ;   and   the 
inscr.  quoted  in  Borghesi  OeMrres  vi.  p.  83  idem  •  balnevm  • 
svsPENDiT  •  TVBV  |  [lavitqve]. — In   this   instance  an   inter- 
vening passageway  only  was  thus  heated,  the  air  from  this 
warmed  room  passing  into  the  sleeping-room  on  the  one  side 
and  the  semicircular  study  on  the  other  (Awe  illnc), 

plerisque  :  neut.  abl.  absolute. 

10.  ex  alio  latere :  the  visitor  is  supposed  to  return  now 
to  the  dining-ix)om  (§  5),  and  to  start  in  the  opposite 
direction,  toward  the  northwest. 

cabiculaxn  politissimoxn :  on  this  side  of  the  main  suite 
of  public  rooms  (described  in  ^'§  4  and  5)  are  the  rooms 
r»ccupied  by  guests,  and  the  most  of  the  apartments,  gardens, 
porticoes,  etc.,  usc<l  ])y  Pliny  himself.  The  first  cvhi- 
nUum  was  apparently  a  guests'  j)arlour,  as  was  also  the 
second,  if  not  use<l  Jia  a  small  «lining-room. 

plurimo  sole,  plurimo  mari  lucet :  having  windows  on  at 
least  the  southwest  side,  facing  the  sea  directly,  and  {>erhaps 
also  on  the  northwest  siilo,  commanding  a  view  of  the  coast 
northward.  Some  |»art  of  the  wall  to  the  northeast  may 
also  have  lieen  pierced  with  windows,  a<lmitting  the  morning 
sun  to  some  «legre**. 


254  C.  PUNI  EPISTVLAE  SELBCTAB.      SI.  la 

p08l :  i.e.  on  the  landward  side  of  the  eemaiia,  wlnaii  is 
treatei  1  as  fronting  the  sea,  the  mention  of  which  inmiedUmtelj 

precedes. 

enm  proooetone,  wilfi  an  anteroom, 

tabduotum  omnllms  uentis :  «c.  on  the  sootheastem  and 
sonthwesteni  sides  by  the  caitaedium  (f  6 ;  periiaps  with  its 
adjacent  rooms),  and  by  the  atlticula  jnst  mentioned ;  on  tiie 
northiinstcm  side  by  the  cubiailum  and  proeoetcn  the  mention 
of  which  follows. 

II.  oella  fHfiTldaria:  the  usual  apartments  of  a  Roman 
hath  were  the  cold-room  [ftigidariumU  ^le  warm-room 
{Ujndarinm),  and  the  hot-room  {caldarium)^  the  last  r^gnlarly 
in  closest  proximity  to  the  funiace  {hffpoeoMihim).  Thcae 
itMuis  mignt  be  accompanied  by  a  dressing-room  (opoc^ 
f^rium),  a  massage-room  (t//ur/or«un»),  a  sweating-room 
{Lfoconieum),  and  the  like. 

spatlosa  et  effUsa :  the  cohl -rooms  of  baths  seem  to  have 
been  usually  considerably  smaller  than  the  waiiner  rooms. 

baptisterla,  plunge-hafhs, 

nelut  eieeta  slnuantar,  curve  fortrntrd  as  i/$queezed  o^a  qf 
the  loall,  Pliny's  effort  after  a  new  fiffure  is,  as  usnal,  nc& 
particularly  happy,  but  he  seems  to  be  tninking  of  the  carve 
that  a  straight,  out  elastic,  strip  of  wood  or  metal  assumes 
when  its  ends  are  brought  nearer  together  than  in  a  state  of 
rest. 

almnde  capada :  se.  for  those  desiring  a  cold  plunge. 

nnctorium :  in  this  (warmer)  room  the  bather  was  rubbed 
with  perfumed  oils  before  or  after  the  bath,  or  both  before 
and  after. 

bypoeauBton,  fhe  furnace :  where  the  water  was  heated 
for  the  warm  and  hot  baths,  and  whence  the  hot  air,  mixe«l 
with  smoke  and  flame,  found  its  way  under  the  floors  and 
through  the  walls  of  the  closely  adjacent  hot  and  warm 
rooms ;  cf.  §  9  n.  tnutfttntnia  et  tnbula4us. 

propnigeon :  (Lat.  prae/wnium)  apparently  the  small 
room  imnic<li:itcly  comnnmicating  with  the  furnace.  In  it 
8to<Ml  the  (bron/e)  l>oilcrs  in  which  the  water  was  heated  for 
the  hot  and  wurui  Ixiths  ;  cf.  the  Stabian  iMths  at  I^ompeii. 

duae  ceUae :  *r.  the  cella  rah f aria  and  the  cella  tepidoria, 
the  latter  of  which  ap|wrcntlv  wn-cd  also  as  apodyterinniy 
the  suite  Ix'int;  usually  entered  from  this  end,  and  not  from 
that  which  Pliny,  dc»criliing  the  rooms  in  onler  from  the 
westwanl,  takefi  up  firRt. 


I 


21.  13.  NOTES.  255 

calida:  BC  ooly  in  ocmtnst  with  the  sea,  which  (h«w 
would  use  who  preferred  a  cold  swiin.  And,  indceil,  it  is 
not  at  all  likely  that  the  svrimming-Uuik  was  muler  coyer, 
as  many  people  have  supposed  :  cf.  (of  Pliny's  Tuscan  villa) 
V.  6.  25  St  naiart  latiwt  aut  tepidins  uelis  [xc.  than  in  the 
baptUterium  of  the /rigidcwiuni]  in  cuta  piacitia  esi. 

mare  aspictnnt:  hardly  through  large  and  low  glazed 
windows,  as  the  editors  would  have  it,  hut  because  tho 
piscina  was  open,  at  least  on  the  side  toward  the  sea. 

12.  spbaeristeiiuin,  a  ball -ground.  The  various  games  of 
ball  were  favourite  forms  of  exercise  among  the  Romans,  and 
fields,  or  courts,  especially  arranged  for  such  games  fornietl 
a  frequent  adjunct  to  both  private  and  public  l)aths:  cf. 
also  V.  6.  27  (of  Pliny's  Tuscan  villa)  apodyteHo  sttperjto^itnm 
eM  spluierisUrinm^  quod  plnra  genera  exercitatioHis  fJw^tsqtie 
circulos  capit;  in.  1.  8  (Sel.  23)  n.  nioitetur  pila, 

indinato  die.  in  the  o^ftenioon;  cf.  v.  6.  31  jxtrticn» 
ante  medium  diem  hihenia,  indinato  die  aexfiva  ;  vii.  27.  2 
(Sel.  54) ;  Cic.  De  Or.  in,  17  inclinafo  iam  in  jiotneridianntn 
UtnpUrS  die  (and  Tw^r.  in.  7). 

hie  :  i,e.  at  the  end  of  the  range  of  apartmont^s  extending 
northwestward,  and  sheltering  the  piscina  and  the  sphaeri' 
sterium  from  the  northeast  winds.  The  tw^\s  evitlently  stood 
so  far  northward  that  the  view  of  the  j*ea  from  it  was  not 
impeded  by  the  cubicula  of  §  10. 

dlaetae,  apartments  :  cf.  §  20. 

in  ipsa:  i.e.  in  the  second  story,  where  apparently  was 
also  the  cenntio,  quite  after  that  fashion  of  the  liomnns 
mentioned  by  Varro  {L.L.  v.  162  posteaquam  in  aufteriore 
•parte  cenitare  coej^runt^  stiperioi'is  dofnnx  univeraa  cennnifn 
dicta ;  cf.  also  Fest.  p.  54 ;  (iloss.  Labb.  a.  u.  cotnacnhtm). 
For  instances  in  Pompeii  see  Mau  P<nnjmif  Its  Life  and  Art^ 
pp.  267  flF. 

quae  latissimum  mare,  etc.:  from  its  position  in  the 
second  story  this  dining-room  would  probably  overlook  the 
roofs  of  the  apartments  to  the  south  of  it,  and  comnmnd  a 
clear  sweep  of  sea  an<l  shore. 

13.  alia  turris  :  ilic  po.««ition  of  tins  tower  is  left  uncertain, 
for  it  is  appirontly  mentioned  out  of  order.  lK'cun«c  of  its 
similarity  to  the  former  tower.  But  since  it  adjoincfl  (an  the 
first  tower  did  not)  tlic  tft^sfa/io  jind  hovfVM,  which  were 
sheltered  from  the  sea  by  a  h»ng  rry}ttnjinrticnH  (§  18),  this 
second  tower  nnist  liavc  lain  further  to  the  east  than  the 
first. 


266  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.      21.  18. 

post :  i.e.  on  the  landward  side,  as  before.  The  three 
apartments  of  the  second  story  of  the  second  tower  corre- 
spond in  number,  though  not  in  use,  to  those  of  the  first. 

apotheca  et  horreum,  a  wine-closet  anvd,  a  larder. 

sub  hoc  :  therefore  on  the  ground  floor,  and  cut  off  from 
the  sea  by  the  main  range  of  apartments  (§4  f.)  and  by  the 
long  cryptoporticus. 

gestationem :  cf.  i.  3.  1  (Sel.  3)  n.  gestcUio. 

14.  qua  parte  defenditnr  tectis  :  ac,  the  side  of  the  geatcUio 
that  ran  close  to  the  long  cryptoportictis,  which  extended  to 
the  northwestward,  between  it  and  the  sea. 

15.  cingltnr ...  a  tergo:  this  cenatio  therefore  was  prob- 
ably situated  at  the  northeast  comer  of  the  main  building, 
with  its  windows  (in  the  northwestern  wall)  opening  upon 
the  garden.  The  two  diaetae  must  have  bounded  the  two 
inner  walls  of  the  cenatio^  each  tq  each.  Tliey  were  thus 
adjacent  also  to  the  cUritim  of  §  4,  with  which  they  doubtless 
communicated.  The  former  of  the  two  lay  thus  to  the  south- 
east of  the  cenatio,  and  its  southeastern  wall  formed  the 
wall  of  the/auce3  which  led  from  the  front  door  of  the  house 
into  the  alrium.  The  latter  bounded  the  cenatio  on  the  south- 
west and  the  eUrium  on  the  northwest,  and  its  windows 
opened  upon  a  vegetable  garden,  which  apparently  lay  in  the 
triangular  space  left  mainly  between  the  cryptoporticus  to  the 
southwest,  the  dia^ta  and  cenatio  to  the  southeast,  and  the 
sweep  of  the  (probably  oval ;  cf.  v.  6.  17  gesta/io  in  modnm 
circi)  gestatio  to  the  north. 

qoanun  fenestris :  sc.  respectively. 

uestibulam :  as  regularly,  not  an  entrance-hall,  but  the 
spivce  of  ground  before  the  villa,— the  *  front-door-yard  * ;  cf. 
the  citations  in  Marquardt  Privailehen  d.  ROnier,^  p.  224  f. 

16.  hinc :  i  e.  from  l>eside  the  hortns  iruMticuft,  and  there- 
fore quite  a  little  to  the  westward  of  the  cenatio. 

cryptoporticus  :  a  jtorticnf*  (cf.  i.  3  1  n., — Sel.  3)  walled, 
not  on  one  side  only,  but  on  both,  forming  thus  a  completely 
closed  passage. 

prope  public!  operis  :  sc.  by  reason  of  its  size  ;  cf.  Plant. 
AfoMt.  908  f.  On  the  construction  cf.  ii.  1.9  (Sel.  15)  n.  huius 
aeta^in. 

extenditur :  ^r.  to  the  northwestward,  l)etwcen  the 
gfisfnfh  (§13)  to  tlic  east  and  the  xysfuA  (§  17)  to  the  west, 
ieadin<;  to  the  ai)artments  described  in  §§2<)fV. 


i 


21.  20.  NOTES.  257 

altemis :  sc.  fenesh-is  :  there  are  windows  on  both  sides, 
— ^more  on  the  side  toward  the  sea,  feM*er  on  the  side  toward 
the  garden,  but  even  here  a  single  window  for  every  second 
one  on  the  opposite  side, 

17.  ante  :  i.e.  as  Ijefore,  toward  the  sea,  the  long  crypto- 
porticos  protecting  it  toward  the  northeast. 

xsrstus,  a  (jardeV'traiky  a  terrace',  of.  Vitruu.  v.  11.  4 
hypaethroe  amhuJatiomA^  qnan  Oraeci  TapadpajjuSai,  nontri 
xipita  appellant  ;  Plin.  Ep.  v.  6.  \(i  ante  jiwticum  xystus  in 
j^urimoH  npecies  di-'<t{nc(H'<  concifiusque  huxo. 

repercussu  auget  *.  of.  §  7  sdem  accendit. 

tenet  solem  :  cf.  §  7  solem  continet. 

aqnilonem :  a  wind  somewhat  to  the  east  of  north,  as 
Afriam  was  one  somewhat  to  the  west  of  south  ;  cf.  1*1. 
y.IL  II.  119;  Sen.  Q.X.  v.  16:  Hor.  Cami.  i.  3.  12  f. 
pi'oedpitem  Africum  \  decertantem  Aquiloiul/wt. 

retro  :  i.e.  on  the  northe«ast  side. 
ao.  in  capite  xysti,  deinceps  cryptoporticas,  horti:  i.e. 
the  terrace,  and  the  cryptoporticus  and  garden  that  lay 
successively  behind  it,  are  crowned  and  capped  by  a  suite  of 
apartments,  the  main  axis  of  which  apparently  was  at  right 
angles  to  the  axis  of  the  xysdis^  etc.  Some  editors,  however, 
following  Keil,  bracket  crypto/>orticn.%  horfij  taking  these 
words  to  be  an  ancient  glo.ss  suggested  by  deinc^pa,  which 
they  must  hold  to  be  haroly  different  from  atUem. 

dlaeta,  a  ftnite  of  ajtartmenft  -.  cf.  §  12  and  v.  6.  31  hac 
[porlic%i\  ajdeuniur  dUutac  duac,  quartnn  in  altera  cnhicida 
qtuUtuor,  alteixi  tria. 

amores  mei,  my  pet :  the  word  occurs  not  infrecjuently 
from  Plautus  downward,  especially  in  collo<|uial  usage,  for  an 
animate  object  of  aflection ;  but  Pliny  is  perhaps  the  first 
writer  to  extend  its  use,  somewhat  fantastically,  to  an 
inanimate  thing  (as  ho  also  uses  dificiac  ;  cf.  I.  3.  1  n., — Scl. 
3).  With  the  form  of  the  phrase  amoro^  mei^  re  nera  amoren^ 
— ijMe  ftasuicf.  ill.  9.  37  epiHtrdatfnin^  rt  nerajini.\ — litferam 
nan  addam. 

heliocaminus,  (T^it.  f^olarium)  a  ft^m  -  parlmir,  which 
eviilently  occnpie*!  the  s*»uthwest  end  of  the  dint  fa.  In 
city-houRcs  a  Wariwrn  on  the  house-top  might  serve ;  cf. 
Maniuardt  PHixitf,-  p.  247  n.  7. 

alia  ..  alia  ...  utraque  :  .«?c.  ffntittra,  which  appean»  liolow, 
in  the  mention  of  the  view  from  the  single  window  of  the 
cuhiciUmn. 

K 


256  C.  PLINI  EPI8TVLAE  SBLBCTAE.      81.  ga 

enUoQlnm :  this  *  sitting-room,'  or  *  rtody '  Mfpmnntfy 
occupied  the  middle  portion  of  the  diaeia^  and  its  aiq^ 
window,  which  apparently  was  in  its  outer  wall  to  the  wiMt- 
ward  of  the  projecting  toihtca^  commanded  a  \iew  of  the 
sea  and  coast  to  the  northwestward  and  northward  of  the 
villa. 

21.  contra  parletem  medium,  in  the  middU  o/tke  wall :  sc  ef 
the  free,  iiorthwestcni,  wall  opposite  the  door  into  the 
i'ry/ttojforliciut ;  with  this  use  of  the  preposition  cf.  { 5  n. 
cojilra. 

sotheca,  an  alcove :  apparently  like  a  right-an^pled  bay- 
window,  and  just  larse  enough  to  hold  a  readuig-ooudb 
parallel  to  the  outer  wall,  with  its  head  to  the  northeast,  and 
two  easy-chairs :  cf.  v.  6.  38  totheeula  r^furjU  [a  tuincMl  tgwui 
in  cMculnm  idem  cUque  aliud,  Sidonius  uses  the  diminutive 
of  a  bookcloeet  {Ep,  viii.  16.  3  ;  ix.  11.  6). 

specularlbus :  perhaps  the  glazed  frames  (cf.  §4  n.)  were 
not  movable  (as  freouentlv  in  the  case  of  the  partitions 
dividing  the  tajblinum  from  the  peristyle  in  an  ordinary  lionse), 
but  were  fixed,  forming,  however,  only  the  parts  of  the  per- 
tition  at  the  extreme  right  and  left,  the  mtddle  {utrt  being 
closed  only  by  curtains  (utiis).  Tlie  words  ebdnetlB  ze- 
dnctisne  would  then  apply  more  grammatically  than  in  Cact 
to  the  complete  partition  (specalarilras  et  utiii).  Being 
glazed,  the  upeadaria  would  admit  litfht  from  the  Tiiihtca  into 
the  rii6tc«/uiii,  which  was  otherwise  lighted  by  only  a  single 
window. 

cathedras :  easy-chairs,  with  long,  sloping  Imcks,  but 
apparently  without  arms.  They  were  earlier  considered 
more  fit  for  women  (cf.  iii.  16.  12, — Sel.  28)  than  for  men, 
but  Pliny  (viii.  21.  2)  makes  his  auditors  comfortable  in  them 
at  a  recitation  of  his  poems  in  his  own  dining-room.  Seneca 
{Clem,  I.  9.  7)  mentions  them  as  if  ordinary  furniture,  as  here, 
of  a  ctiltieulum. 

a  pedibus :  ftr.  as  the  reader  lay  upon  the  couch,  sup- 
ported, as  usual,  upon  the  left  arm,  and  facing  towartl  the 
southeast. 

a  tergo  uillae:  sc.  along  the  coast  to  the  northward;  cf. 
§2T. 

a  capite  siluae:  «c.  to  the  eastward:  cf.  §5  n.  aiifias, 
22.  cubiculum  noctis  et  somni:  i.r.  a  lied-chamlier ;  cf. 
§9  tlonnitoriiini  mt^mhrnni, 

tarn  altl  .  quod,  itn  rharartrrisfir  nff*\irh  df.rp  and  j^er/ect 
solitwlt  M  due  to  the  Joel  that. 


21.  26.  NOTES.  259 

andron,  a  passageway :  cf.  Vitruu.  vi.  7.  6  inter  duo 
periHyla  ad  hospUalia  itinera  sunt  qtiae  mtsaidoe  dicuntur  ...  ; 
iiostri  aiUem  eas  andronas  appellant, 

oxnnem  sonum :  for  from  the  outer  side  of  the  building  no 
noise  was  to  be  apprehended. 

23.  hsrpocauston  :  cf.  §  1 1  n.  hypocaust<m. 

fenestra :  probably  like  a  small  door,  serving  the  purpose 
of  a  modern  *  hot-air  register,'  and  communicating  with  the 
andron f  which  was  suspemusi  tt  tubulattia  like  the  traiiaitus 
interia/:eiis  of  §  9. 

procoeton  inde  et  cubiculum  :  these  apartments  evidently 
occupied  the  northeastern  end  of  the  suite,  communicating 
with  the  cubictUum  of  §  20  by  the  aiidron. 

24.  Satumalibus :  this  festival  in  honour  of  Saturn  was 
originally  observed  on  a  single  day  only  (Dec.  17)  in  each  year, 
but  popular  gaiety  refused  to  be  so  limited,  and  extendeil  the 
celebration  over  the  following  week.  Legally  Augustus  had 
made  the  festival  three  days  long,  which  numl^er  was  later 
increased  to  five.  Dunng  the  Saturnalia  general  joy  and 
license  prevailed,  friends  exchanged  gifts,  slaves  were  allowed 
the  privileges  of  free  men,  and  a  nuin1>er  of  other  customs 
prevailed  which  have  come  down  in  the  Christmas  and  Yule- 
tide  festivals  of  the  Christian  Church. 

xneomm :  cf.  §  7  n.  meorum. 
26.  aqua  aalienti,  running  water. 

ae  potius :  cf.  ii.  13.  3  n.  (Sel.  19)  oc  pofius. 

in  siimmo,  at  the  surface  (of  the  ground) :  while  in  wells 
{putei)  the  water  did  not  usually  rise  so  liigh. 

leuiter  cormptas :  i.q.  brackish  ;  cf.  Bell.  Alex.  6.  3  Ula 
[aqtta]  inferior  corruptior  iam  Moltiorque  reptrieJioiur. 

26.  Ostieniis  oolonia:  Ostia.  the  very  ancient  settlement 
and  hartwnr  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tiljer,  is  said  to  Iiave  been 
founded  as  a  colony  of  Rome  by  Ancus  Marcius.  Tlic 
emi>eror  Claudius  constructed  a  spacious  an<l  magnificent 
port  on  the  it[}\f(mXc  »ide  of  the  Tilicr  {/'ortuM  Avju*ti :  m<Ml. 
Porto),  which  was  iMiprovr,*«l  I»)-  Trajan,  and  from  that  time 
the  settlciiiciit  of  Oxtia  decline*!  in  imfK>rtancc%  and  IVftcfpius 
in  the  sixth  cifnturj-  «K-ak»  of  it  a^  ainkist  de«crie<L  Its 
rtiinetl  warchouivs  aici  other  building»  arc  m>w  aimmg  the 
most  interesting  ami  imfiortant  remains  in  tlie  nei^hlirHirhorifl 
of  Rome.  Cf.  %iU*r  alia  Lanciani,  Auri*iU  llom*^  in  tlu  Liffhl 
of  lltrent  hitrortri^A,  eh,  IX. 

tdeoM:  fir<flitaMy  iIm;  y|«r//ii  •//#// «#4  nirtt*  wat  tlie  mmXem 
Castel    VtHTAsuitp ',    it    lay    tritbin    ilw   ttrnUnistX    limits  of 


260  a  PUXI  EPISTVLAK  8RLBCTAB.      M. 


■1.11      f 


the  ancient  Laar«ntiim:  c£.  DeiMa  in  OJ,L.  ur. 
486. 

meritorla :  t.e.  open  for  the  uae  of  the  pablio  npon  the 
payment  of  a  fee.  The  existence  of  as  many  aa  three  «aeh 
establishments  in  what  mnst  have  been  a  small  Tillage  is 
an  indication  of  the  popularity  of  the  bath  among  the  Ronain 
of  this  period. 

27.  slue  marl,  etc:  f.e.  whether  one  ooasts  along  the  ihoie 
in  a  boat  or  walks  upon  the  shore  itself. 

quod,  etc. :  t.  e.  the  sand  grows  dry  and  yielding  in  oontiniied 
fair  weather,  but  is  hardened  to  a  pleasant  snrfioe  lor  walk- 
ing bv  the  waves  driven  npon  it  by  the  winda  blowing 
directly  from  the  sea  toward  the  shore. 

eontrariot :  the  adjective  seems  not  to  denote  apedfieal^ 
the  beating  of  the  waves  '  against '  the  beach,  bnt  to  be  bor- 
rowe<l  from  the  aspect  of  the  wind  that  would  drive  the 
waves  far  up  on  the  beach.  The  rise  and  fall  of  the  tide  wm 
'  apparently  too  slight  to  leave  a  damp  strip  of  sand  In  snitafale 
condition  for  easy  walking. 

28.  soleas,  8oIm, 

squlllas :  apparently  *  lobsters/  rather  than,  aa  iiaa  been 
suggested,  *  shnmps'  or  '  prawns.' 

mediterraneas :  so  that  the  villa,  though  directly  on  the 
seashore,  commands  all  the  advantages  of  an  inland  position. 
20.  iustisne,  etc. :  cf.  similar  rhetorical  challengea  at  the 
conclusion  of  a  letter  in  iii.  16.  13  (Sel.  28)  ^lidenlumt ;  III. 
21.  6  (Set  29)  meritone ;  where  also,  as  here  (and  not  very 
rarely  from  Plautus  downward)  -ne  is  used  where  nofme  might 
be  expected:  add  e.g.  Pan,  88  ituttigne  de  caum  MmUu» 
po)wJiiMque  RomanuB  ojdimi  libi  cognomen  adieeit  f 

de  canals :  cf.  i.  2.  6  (Sel.  2)  n.  ex  cawis, 

incolere  secessum :  so  of  the  seaside  villa  of  Verginlaa 
Rnfus  in  vi.  10.  1  (Sel.  44). 

22.  (U.  20.) 

Three  anecdotes  of  Rcgulns. — The  corrcRi>ondcnt  to  whom 
this  letter  is  adilresseil  is  C.  Calnisius  IJnfus.  His  nm^nomrn 
is  known  from  the  reference  to  him  in  iv.  4.  1,  where  he  is 
mentioned  as  the  maternal  uncle  of  a  certain  Varisidins 
Ne)H)s ;  his  cognomen,  from  the  addreRs  of  iir.  19  and  the 
imlcx  to  Hook  111.  in  rothx  B.  He  was  a  niemlwr  of  the 
nuinicipal  council  in  Conium,  Pliny V  native  place  (v.  7.  ^i  4), 
and,   from  the  letters  addressed  to  him,  apiMircntly  one  of 


22.  3.  NOTES.  561 

Pliny's  most  trusted  friends  throughout  his  maturer  life, 
though  he  appears  nowhere  else  in  history  or  literature. — On 
the  date  of  the  letter  see  §  12  u.  tam  pridtnu 

1.  assem  para :  the  function  of  the  wandering  story-teller, 
who  subsistetl  on  the  minute  alms  of  his  auditors,  dates  back 
at  least  to  the  times  of  the  epic  rhapsoclists,  and  has  not  yet 
been  entirely  supersede<l  by  printing  in  southern  Europe  and  ' 
among  Ekistern  nations.  The  first  sentence  of  the  letter  • 
perhaps  is  framed  in  imitation  of  the  cry  by  which  the 
audience  was  summoned. 

auream:  implying  superlative  excellence,  as  frequently 
in  the  poets,  and  appi\rentiy  colloquially.  With  its  applica- 
tion to  a  story,  cf.  the  Asinxvi  Aureus  of  Apuleius. 

a.  Pisonis :  sc.  uxor,  as  not  infreouently  in  the  poets  and 
other  writers  of  the  empire ;  ami  also  in  early  inscriptions, 
and  in  legal  documents :  cf.  vi.  16.  8  (Sel.  45)  f  Beciintu 
TfUfci  (sc.  uxor) ;  x.  5.  2  Tha^nuthin  Theonia  (sc.  Mxor) ;  but 
X.  11.  2  Chrysijypo  MilhridattH  <sc.  Jilio}^  uxorique  Chirysippiy 
Stratonicae  Epigoni  <8c.  Jiliae}. 

iacebat,  tccts  iU :  cf.  i.  12.  6  (Sel.  8)  n.  iaceiUem, 

quern  Oalba  adoptauit :  as  his  heir  upon  his  elevation  to 
the  throne.  Both  were  murdered  five  days  after  the  adoption, 
Jan.  15,  A.D.  69:  cf.  Tac.  Hist.  i.  14  ff.,^7  ff.;  Plut.  Oalba, 
ad  Jin.;  Suet.  Oatba  17,  19;  Dio  Cass.  LXiv.  4-6. 

Impudentiani :  accusative  of  exclamation. 
3.  esto,  li  nenit  tantum,  tha4  might  pass,  (/*  he  merely 
caUed. 

qno  die,  qua  hora  nata  esset :  the  necessary  data  for  the 
calculation  of  an  astrological  horoscope,  in  the  prophetic 
value  of  which  Regulus,  given  as  he  was  to  all  sorts  of  super- 
stitions (cf.  §  13 ;  VI.  2.  2, — Sel.  41)  may  have  had  ii  genuine 
belief.  Practitioners  of  astrology  had  made  their  way  to 
Rome  before  the  time  of  Ennius,  and  in  spite  of  severe 
repressive  mctisurcs  adopted  repeatedly  by  the  government, 
the  art  seems  to  have  gained  constantly  in  its  lioKl  upon  the 
people.  For  details  see  the  article  Affrofogia  in  Pauly- 
\V  isso wa's  //ca/-  Knryrfojtan.dic. 

componit  ualtum :  i.e.  puts  on  the  set  look  of  a  man  wrapficd 
in  deep  cogitation. 

agltat  digitos.  computat:  the  Romans,  like  the  Greeks 
an»l  Orientals,  had  an  elalwratc  system  of  finger- reckoning, 
the  details  of  which  are  known  to  us  ehicfly  through  the 
works  of  Nicholas  of  Smyrna  (^  fx^paais  SaKTvXiKoO  fUrpov)  and 
of  Btfda  (Z>e  loquela  per  geatum  digitorum  et  If^porum  ralUnu), 


262  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.        22.  a 

The  nine  units  and  nine  tens  could  be  «lenoted  by  eighteeQ 
positions  of  the  fingers  of  the  left  hand,  and  the  nine  hundreds 
and  nine  thousands  by  corresponding  positions  of  the  fingers 
of  the  right  hand.  From  ten  thousand  up  to  a  million  the 
sums  were  denoted  by  the  position  of  one  hand  or  the  other 
with  reference  to  the  body.  Cf.  Jahn's  Jahrbiicher^  xv. 
Suppl.-Bd.  (1849),  pp.  511  ft.;  Mayor  on  luu.  10.  249. 

liabes  dimactericimi  tempus,  you  are  at  a  critical  period: 
here  not  one  of  the  climacterics  common  to  all  (at  seven  years 
of  age  and  its  multiples,  especially  sixty-three  ;  Gell.  iii.  10 ; 
XV.  7),  but  an  especial  one,  to  be  determuied  and  decided 
only  by  the  individual  horoscope. 

4.  hanuiplcem :  his  especial  form  of  divination  was  by  the 
inspection  of  the  entrails  of  a  slain  sacrificial  victim,  tliough 
he  might  also  prescribe  what  should  be  done  to  avert  the 
evils  foretold  by  any  prodigies,  and  especially  might  interpret 
lightning-flashes. 

6.  ut  in  pericnlo  credula,  toUh  the  credulity  natural  to  one 
in  peril. 

codicUlOB,  her  toill:  (apparently  so,  as  also  in  vi.  .^1.  7) 
but  perhaps  the  word  is  used  here  simply  of  wax-tablets 
i^sputfUlarea ;  cf.  i.  6.  1  n., — Sel.  5). 

bominem :  the  construction  is  a  vivid  adaptation  of  the 
actual  accusative  of  exclamation  to  that  of  the  direct  object 
of  clanuU :  cf.  lAv,  xxi.  62.  2  in/antem  triumphum  clamasae 
(in  direct  form  *  triumpe  % 

per  salntem  fllli  :  ordinary  forms  of  legal  oaths  also  were 
per  denm,  per  caput  «unm,  jkv  capita  Jiliorum  suortim  (see  Dig, 
XII.  2.  3.  4).  Regulus,  having  an  only  son,  swore  most 
dramatically  by  that  which  was  presumably  most  precious 
to  him. 

6.  in  caput  Infelids  pueri:  the  boy  died  not  long  after 
(cf.  IV.  2,  7, — Sels.  30,  31),  but  perhaps  not  »is  the  victim  of 
his  father's  perjuries. 

7.  Velleius  Blaesus  ;  not  otherwise  known. 

ex  nouistabulis  :  upiKircntly  a8))ortivc  use  of  the  familiar 
expression  for  a  repudiation  of  debts. 

captare :  1>oth  tliis  wonl  of  hunting,  and  the  similar 
uenari,  are  used  of  the  operation.s  of  legacy -hunters :  cf.  (of 
Regulus  with  reference  to  his  own  son)  iv.  '2.  '2  (Sel.  .30) ;  viti. 
18.  2  dim  se  ca/>tandum  prathiiisHct  rtHqHitnlinm  hfralan. 

8.  inuidetis  bonam  mortem :  on  the  construction  cf.  i.  10. 
12  (Sel.  7)  n.  bonum,     A  *  good  death'  is  evidently  a  swift, 


22.  12.  NOTES.  263 

and   tlierefore  comparatively  painless  one ;   cf.   Plin.  N,H. 
VII.  180  mortes  repentiiicLe,  hie  est,  summa  uittie /elicitas, 

tantulum,  apparently  a  proverbial  ellipsis  (sc.  legauit), 
spoken  deiKTiKuSj  with  a  snap  of  the  finger. 

9.  scholastica  lege,  after  the  norm  of  the  schools :  in  whose 
trite  and  jejune  rhetorical  teaching  completion  and  roundness 
were  found  in  triplets.  Quintilian  criticizes  this  fashion  in 
List.  Orat.  iv.  5.  3. 

10.  omata  femlna,  a  wmnan  of  loealth. 

pulcherriinas :  for  the  occasion  was  made  a  social 
function,  and  the  testator's  friends  were  invited  :  cf.  i.  9.  2  n. 
(Sel.  6). 

tunicas  :  even  Roman  matrons  at  this  period  often  discarded 
the  heavy  and  somewhat  clumsy  ])(illa  and  /ifoia  of  their 
ancestors,  and  wore  habitually  over  the  short-sleeved  tunica 
interior  a  second  tunic  (tnnicojmlliwn)  which  was  arranged 
and  draped  after  the  fashion  of  the  Greek  doubled  x'-'^'^"  oi' 
Tre'TrXos.  This  outer  garment,  like  the  inner,  miglit  be  made 
of  the  most  delicate  and  costly  silk,  brocaded  with  gold  and 
elaborately  embroidered.  In  Aurelian's  time  the  finest  silk 
was  sold  for  its  weight  in  gold  (Vopisc.  Atirel.  45.  5). 
has :  sc.  tunicas  {leges  being  a  verb). 

11.  nemulta:  sc.  dicam. 

tabulas  :  i.q.  codicillos  in  §  5,  *  her  will.' 

quas  erat  induta :  similar  constructions  of  the  accusa- 
tive with  the  passive,  more  frequently  of  verbs  denoting  the 
putting  on  or  oiT  of  clothing,  begin  in  prose  with  Sallust,  and 
are  found  in  many  writers  from  Livy  downward. 

tanquam  morlturam :  and  so  seemed  to  anticipate  lier 
death,  which  was  an  ominous  act. 

coeglt:  with  the  accusative  of  the  person  and  of  a  neuter 
pronoun  :  cf.  viii.  6.  3  nemo  tarn  miser  est  ut  iila  cogaiur,  and 
other  writers  pcuisim. 

hereditates,  leg^ata :  the  former  word  denotes  the  inherit- 
ance of  a  sole  {hens  ex  a^tse)  or  proijortional  heir  {hens  e.r 
ftesKf',  etc.),  the  latter  that  of  the  legatee  of  a  specific  object 
or  sum. 

12.  dXXd  rl  8iaTc{vo|iat,  hut  why  do  I  trouhit  mysiff?  The 
expression  is  jxjrhaps  proverbial,  but  its  source  is  unknown. 
It  is  also  possible  that  Pliny  occasionally  drags  in  a  (iieek 
phnisc  in  blind  imitation  of  the  style  of  Cicom's  letters. 

iam  prldem  :  the  tone  of  the  complaint,  so  diircrt-nt  from 
the  way  in  which  Pliny  speaks  of  the  cheering  condition  *»f 


.^x^i  KPISTVLAK  8RLBCTAE. 


Mciety  antler  Nerva  and  Trmjan*  has  led  mora  tbmn  oae  «ritto 
(ao  €.ff.  PiBter,  Aabaeh,  Schnlts)  to  believa  tluit  thia  letter 
written  in  the  reign  of  Doniittan. 
18.  ad  tantaa  opee:  of.  i.  5.  15  (Sel.  4)  n.  /ompba. 
oonaoleret :  ec.  exia  per  AanupjocNi. 
eeatartiiini  eeaoeBttei :  (ao.  eenCeaa  «ifMi)  «boat  £802,000 
or  $3,250,000. 

exta  dniflicia :  the  liver  aeema  to  hav«  heeii  tbe  onaui 
eepecially  ojieu  to  Una  *  duplicatioa '  of  lobe» :  oL  €,g,  the 
instances  cited  (with  similar  method  of  interpratatioikl  ia 
Plin.  X.H,  XI.  189  f. ;  Val.  Max.  i.  0.  a    t^,^  ^,^.^^ 
14.  fUai,/orsfery.  '     •> 


LIBER  III. 
23.    (m.  1.) 

The  old  age  of  Spuriuna. — On  C  Caluistus  Rufua,  to  wIkmii 
this  letter  u  addressed,  see  introd.  note  to  IL  20  (8eL  23). — 
Pliuy  oharacterixes  tlie  ]f roper  life  of  the  old  also  in  IF.  2S.  1, 
and  describes  that  of  his  great  uncle  in  iii.  5  (SeL  24)»  And 
hta  own  extra-orbao  life  in  OL  86  (SeL  70)  and  OL  40 
(SeL  72). 

1.  neido  an :  with  an  inclination  towards  negation ; 
cf.  I.  15.  3  (8eL  10)  n.  n^teio  a».  Cicero  wonld  dcmbtleaa 
have  written  utdlum  instead  of  tUlum,  with  hit  usual  inclina- 
tion of  ne«ck>  an  toward  the  affirmative. 

Bpurlnnam  :  Vestricius  Spurinna  had  served  as  Ugatus 
UgiotuM  of  Otho  against  the  Vitellians  (Tac.  HuU.  ii.  11,  18, 
23,  36  ;  Plttt.  OUto  5-7),  and  under  Nerva  had  won  triumphal 
decorations  as  governor  of  Lower  Genuuti^*  (ii.  7  ;  Tac.  (>erm. 
33).  His  lost  public  service  was  cither  tins  (in  97),  or  iwrhdpa 
a  (third  ?)  cousulship  (in  lUO).  Pliny  addrusses  unlv  two  letters 
to  him,  one  (iii.  10)  on  a  memoir  conii>ostMl  bj*  IMiuy  of 
Spurinua's  deceasccl  son  (of.  ii.  7.  3),  and  the  other  (v.  17)  on  a 
literary  success  of  a  Oilimrnius  Piwo.  Nothiiij;  further  is 
known  of  his  career.  The  four  poem»  attrihute<l  to  him 
by  Barth  (Ricse  Anfh,  Lot.  918.921)  arc  «ndoubte<lly 
spurious. 

datum  est :  the  perfect  tense  of  a  thin>;  detonninetl  long 
in  advance  by  fate ;  cf.   vi.   16.  3  (Sel.  45)  quihun  dtorum 


23.  6.  NOTES.  265 

munere  dcUum  est,  etc.;  vii.  19.  7  (Sel.  50)  quod  paucta  datum 
est,  lion  minus  amabi/is  quam  iteneraiida  ;  vm.  18.  6/uU  quasi 
fcUo  datum  ut  diuites Jia'tnt. 

distinctiTis,  more  carefully  ordered. 
a.  nam  iuuenes,  etc. ;  one  of  Pliny's  not  infrecjuent  formali- 
ties :  cf.  In  trod.  p.  xxxiv. 

industria,  activity. 

3.  banc,  baec,  the /oliowinf/. 

parua,  etc.:  i.e.  they  might  be  judged  triOes,  were  it  not 
that  daily  life  is  made  up  of  them  ;  but  cf.  the  dififei-ent  senti- 
ment in  I.  9.  3  (Sel.  6). 

4.  mane  lectnlo  continetur  -.  %.e.  instead  of  receiving  visits 
of  ceremony,  or  {xiyiiig  them,  in  the  early  morning  hours. 
Cf.  Pliny's  own  habit  in  his  Tuscan  summer-home  ;  ix.  36.  1, 
2  (Sel.  70).  The  lecttUiuf  is  probably  the  sofa  for  use  by  day, 
not  the  bed. 

calceos  poscit :  having  been  barefooted  in  his  own  study  : 
cf.  (of  the  eliler  Pliny)  vi.  16.  5  (Sel.  45)iaceiissludcf>at :  poscit 
Sitlea^t^  ascendit  locum  ex  quo,  etc. ;  and  of  quests  at  a  dinner, 
IX.  17.  3  quam  multi,  cum  lector  aut  lynstes  aut  comoedus 
inductus  est,  caiceos  po*icimt. 

ambulat  milia  passuumtxla :  i.e.  makes  the  fixed  number 
of  laps  on  a  measured  awbulatio  or  tjestatio  in  his  own  garden  ; 
cf.  I.  3.  1  (Sel.  3)  u.  (ftslatio. 

honestissiml:  i.e.  on  lofty  themes,  not  mere  frivolous  chit- 
chat. The  foniiality  of  the  verb  explicantur  also  emph.'isises 
the  gravity  of  the  conversation. 

liber  legator:  sc.  by  the  regular  lector,  who  doubtless 
walked  by  his  side. 

6.  considit :  probably  on  one  of  the  garden  seats. 

liber,  sermo  :  the  fi-ce  ellipsis  of  verlie  is  one  of  the 
most  characteristic  touches  of  Pliny's  stylo  ;  cf.  Kraut  pp.  46, 
47  ;  Lagergren  p.  42  f. 

uehiculum  ascendit :  the  drive  was  doubtless  around  the 
hip]todromo'i,  or  perhaps  around  the  same  measured  tjestatio  on 
which  he  had  walked  (cf.  §  4  n.  amhulaZ  ...  tria). 

ozorem  singrularis  exempli,  his  wife,  a  modd  woman  :  cf. 
VIII.  5.  1  uxorcm  Hhnjularis  extmjUi,  and  ii.  1.  9  (Sel.  15)  n. 
huius  a^tatis. 

6.  secretum,  trfeaft'te  :  cf.  T.  5.  11  (Sel.  4)  n.  secrefum. 

quantum  ibl  antiquitatis,  how  pcrf^-rt  a  pichtre  there  o/ 
ancinit  da»/'* :  probably  referring  to  the  character  of  Spurinna 
as  shown  in  such  intimate  conversations,  rather  than  to  his 


«6  C.  PUNI  EPISTVLAB 


rVLAB  ^USCTAB.       ML  C      | 

it  timmi  cL  It.  iL  4  «ir rlii^      I 

qmid  <CbnMto>  «  «m»  §mtn     f 


objective  picturioff  of  m 
OMliqHwi ;  V.  14.  3  (ScL  38)  .  , 
/aM//M  at/  rjctmjjium  ttMii^mikiiit  eipnmum'f  (The  i 
in  I.  22.  2  qnaHtHm  fvniM,  ^iiarirw  ijuwji" 
mUiquiiittiH  ttnet  (^Artemidonuy  u  4ifl«rent>. 
qoamuU,  etc.:  tkongk  he  ha$ pmi  twekj 
inotltMiy  n«  no/  /o  appear  ditiadie.  One  nujght  imther\ 
IMiny  to  say  tliat  Sparinna's  modeaty  had  pata  reateaadvpoB 
him, — but  he  has  some  noo-CioeriMiiaB  fomlneai  for  ^nmm. 
illogical  epigrams.  The  ae-daiiM,  howefer  frsmhtrt^  is  a 
clause  of  pui-poee. 


7.  ntraque  llnffiia :  4«.  Latin  or  Greek ;  ebewfaeve  FUbij 
uses  the  phrase  in  immediate  connection  with  the  ijpMilo 
mention  of  Iwth  languages  {e.g.  n.  14. 6,~SeL  30 ;  til  SL  4)  ; 
but  of.  Hor.  Carm.  m.  8.  5  doete  eenmmet 
Plin.  N.H,  XII.  U  piatanms  tuMait 
monimeiUin ;  and  other  writers  not  innequently. 

lyrica :  as  a  substantive  almost  nniqne  ezoept  here  and 
in  VII.  17.  3  and  ix.  22.  2.  Georges  cites  Lact.  ▼•  IX  IC 
FiarciiH  in  lyricis. 

doctisslma :  no  quality  could  be  furtlier  firom  excellenoa 
in  the  case  of  Ivric  verse ;  but  Oatnllns,  and  the  later  poste 
who  wore  tinged  xnth  Alezandrianism,  were  called  doeU^  and 
Pliny's  deferential  taste  adopts  the  false  catch-worda  of  hit 
beloved  anti(|uity.  He  probably  means  that  Spniinnali 
poems  were  a  revamping  in  theme  and  style  of  the  OMtfont 
auphorionU  of  the  earlier  day. 

dulcedo,  suanitas,  hilaritaStgratiam,  .iioee/iwM.mioofAjieM^ 
piquancy,  charm.  The  lyrics  were,  t<hen,  on  amatory  themes, 
and  not  of  the  chastest  sort.  The  claim  tluit  literature  ia  not 
concerned  with  morality  is  modem  as  well  as  ancient^  and 
tlie  especial  vogue  of  morally  objectionable  writing  aoaoog 
the  peoples  who  trace  a  linguistic  descent  from  the  ancient 
Romans  is  perhaps  due  to  an  inheritc<l  defect  of  ethical  aa  of 
oAthctic  nature.  But  it  is  remarkable  that  Pliny  finds  the 
eharui  of  such  ri^jud  compositions  actually  enhanced  by  tlio 
chaste  life  of  the  ajred  poet.  See  Pliny's  «lefcnce  of  his  own 
\vritin.t48  of  similar  character  in  v.  .S  (Sel.  3C) ;  iv.  14.  4,  5  ; 
and  cf.  Cat.  16.  5-8  nam  aistum  e>*ftt  tifo-t  piutu  jioeiam  \ 
ipsunit  nersiru/os  nihil  nfce»*e  iMt,  \  qni  htm  fleniqw  habent 
Mofem  a/:  /fporem,  \  tn  «unt  moHiculi  ac  panim  pndici ;  Ov. 
TriH.  II.  353  ff.  rrefle  mihi,  distant  moren  a  rttrmine  noiftro ; 
I  uifn  tterfnuiffa  ft,  Muna  ioco^ta  »i€o,  etc.  ;  Sei».  Contr,  vi.  8 
auid  hi  putat,  tpta^-  nentiunt^  scrifttre  ?  uixit  motlrttfe,  ra^iV/a/f  ; 
j^Iart.  I.  4.  S  iasciua  tat  nobU  jtatjina^  uita  profta ;  Hadr.  ap. 


23-  S.  NOTES.  267 

Apul.  Apol.  1 1  lasciuus  uermiy  meiUe  j^udiciis  eras  ;  Rob. 
Herrick  To  his  hookas  end  this  last  line  he*d  have  placed^  | 
Jocund  his  Mitse  wasy  but  his  life  was  chaste.  But  Seneca  Js^p. 
114.  3  non  potest  aliiLs  esse  ingenio,  alibis  animo  coloi'. 

8.  hora  :  the  hours,  being  twelfths  of  the  time  from  sun- 
rise to  sunset,  or  fron\  sunset  to  sunrise,  varied,  for  tlie  lati- 
tude of  Rome,  from  about  J  of  a  mean  hour  (at  the  winter 
solstice)  to  IJ  mean  hours  at  the  summer  solstice. 

balinei  :  Celsus  lays  down  the  proper  order,  i.  2  jyrima 
^corporisy  curatio  exercitatio  est,  qxiae  semper  antecedere  cibw7i 
debet  .  .  .  commode  xiero  exercent  clara  lectio,  amia,  pila, 
cursuSy  ambidatio  .  .  .  melioTy  si  caput  patitin%  in  sole  qtiam 
in  umbra  .  .  .  exercitationem  recte  seqnitur  modo  unctio  .  .  . 
modo  balneum  .  .  .  post  haec  paulinn  conquicscere  opus  est. 
vhi  ad  cibum  tientum  est,  etc. 

in  sole  ambulat  nudus  :  such  sun-baths  have  been  a  not 
unconnnon  prescription  of  physicians  in  various  ages,  and 
form  an  imix)rtant  ^Kirt  of  some  *  cures '  of  the  present  day. 
It  seems  to  have  been  the  aged  and  the  luxurious  who  affected 
the  sun-bath  in  Rome ;  of.  luu.  11.  203  bibat  uemum  ctUicula 
solem  ;  and  Mayor's  note  thereupon.  But  cf.  the  custom  of 
the  elder  Pliny  in  in.  5.  10  (Sel.  24) :  vi.  16.  5  (Sel.  45). 

monetnr  pila,  he  takes  exercise  hy  playing  ball :  with  the 
verb  in  this  middle  sense  cf.  Cels.  i.  6  ambidatione  dimoutri ; 
IV.  10  per  mamis  ecerceH.  The  jyUa  was  a  small  hand-ball, 
stuffed  with  hair  and  covered  often  with  brightly  coloured 
materials.  Various  games,  of  greater  or  less  activity,  were 
played  with  it,  requiring  from  one  player  to  several.  The 
resend)lance  of  them  to  modern  games  of  ball  is  noteworthy 
(cf.  Marquardt  Privail.  d.  JkOm.^  pp.  842  ff.  ;  Baumeister 
Denkmider  p.  247).  Games  of  ball  were  a  favourite  form  of 
active  exercise  among  Romans  of  advanced  as  well  as  of 
adolescent  years;  cf.  ii.  17.  12  (Sel.  21)  n.  sphaeristerium  \ 
Hor.  Sair.  i.  6.  125  f.  aM  %d)i  me  /essum  sol  acrior  ire 
launtum  \  culmonuif,  fuglo  camjmm  lusumqw  Irigonem ;  I.  5. 
48  f.  In.Hum  it  Maecenas^  donuitum  effo  Venjili usque  ;  |  fiamque 
jtila  lippis  inimicum  et  ludcre  criulis ;  ^'u\.  A\h  Ejt.  i.  8.  2 
rtrum  omnium  Itije  jterxtema  .  .  .  studtnt  pilae  sevcs,  aleae 
inuenes. 

pugnat  cum  senectute :  see  the  precepts  of  Cicero  in 
Sen.  35  resist tndum  ...senectuti  est,  ...  jrugnandum  lanquam 
contra  morbvm  x/r  contra  senecttUem,  etc. 

lotus  accubat :  of.  the  same  phrase  in  vi.  16.  12  (S<«1.  45) 
lotus  nrcuhuty  ituat.  On  the  verb  see  ii.  6.  3  (Sel.  16)  n. 
recumbtbot. 


^68  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.        23.  S. 

paolisper  cilmxii  differt :  so  Celsus  advises,  I.e. 

legentem  :  sc.  the  professional  lector^  as  above  ;  of.  i.  15. 
2  (Sel.  10)  n.  lectorem. 

9.  cexia :  dinner  was  generally  served  about  the  ninth  or 
tenth  hour,  and  with  its  several  courses,  of)  oivo  lusque  ad  mala, 
and  its  frequently  following  conuixUum  might  last  well  into 
the  evening  (in  special  cases  till  late  at  night,  or  even  till 
dawn) :  cf.  also  i.  15.  1  (Sel.  10)  n.  nee  id  modicum, — Pliny 
mentions  no  itntaculum  or  prandium  (cf.  of  the  elder  Pliny, 
III.  5. 10, — Sel.  24),  but  we  are  not  necessarily  to  suppose  that 
Spurinna  ate  but  one  meal  a  day.  Old  men,  like  children, 
were  advised  by  the  physicians  to  eat  simple  food,  but  more 
frequently  than  those  in  the  vigour  of  youth  and  middle  age 
(cf.  Cels.  L  3),  and  Spurinna  may  have  taken  a  light  ierUa- 
aduin  after  his  early  walk  (§  4),  and  a  light  prandium  after 
the  later  walk  (§  7).  Yet  Celsus  allows  vigorous  old  men  to 
follow  the  same  rule  in  eating  as  those  in  middle  age,  and  to 
these  he  recomnieuds  only  one  meal  a  day  (of  course  ceva)  in 
winter,  though  considering  the  addition  of  a  second  meal 
(pi-andium)  to  be  advisable  in  summer  (Cels.  I.e.),  And  the 
younger  Pliny  apparently  was  accustomed  to  but  one  meal  a 
day  (see  ix.  30.  4, — Sel.  70, — u.  cenanti).  No  siesta  (fner»- 
dia^io)  is  mentioned,  but  that  is  perhaps  to  be  understood 
before  the  exercise  that  preceded  dinner  (§  8;  cf.  in.  5.  11, 
— Sel.  24),  though  Spurinna  did  not  rise  early,  like  the  elder 
Pliny,  and  even  the  younger  Pliny  omitted  the  midday  sleep 
in  winter  (ix.  40.  2,— Sel.  72).  (?f.  also  iii.  5.  11  (Sel.  24)  n. 
dormieba^. 

argento  poro:  Le.  plain  (and  therefore  less  expensive) 
silver  plate,  as  distinguished  from  that  which  was  decorated 
{caelatum  ;  cf.  Ditf.  vi.  1.  6)  by  engraving  or  embossing  or  by 
attached  ornamentation  {avjiUa,  crusta^,  emblemata ;  cf.  Cic. 
Verr.  ii.  iv.  48-52). 

et  antique,  avd  yet  antiqive  ;  and  therefore  presumably 
prized  and  valuable, —though  the  most  valuable  ancient  plate 
was  cadatum;  cf.  luu.  1.  76;  12.  47;  Hor.  Sat.  i.  X  91  ; 
Mart.  vni.  C,  where  the  rage  for  ancient  plate  is  satirized. 
With  et  in  this  sense  of  et  famen  cf.  ii.  fi.  1  (Sel.  16)  lautmn  el 
dithjentem ;  iii.  5.  17  (Sel.  24)  tt  tunc  ;  16.  9  (Sel.  28)  et  vim's  ; 
IX,  25.  1  qiiercrin  de  turha  caHtrensium  netjotiorum,  et, 
tamquam  nimmo  otio  per/nuire,  lusus  et  ineptias  nontrus 
legiH  ;  and  several  other  instances,  especially  in  the  Panegyric. 

Corinthia  (sc.  rrrm,  and  cf.  in.  0.  4):  dishes  of  Corinthian 
bronze,  which  were  also  use<l  for  table-service  ;  cf.  Plin.  S.H. 
XXXI V,  7  mnterjo  uasa  lanlum  CoriiUhia,  quae  inli  eltgaiUiorra 


f 

r 
t 


23.  11.  NOTES.  269 

Tnodo  ad  esctUenta  trawi/erwnt,  modo  in  lucemas  out  truUeoa. 
Articles  of  this  rare  alloy,  the  art  of  compouading  which  was 
said  to  have  been  lost,  were  often  comparable  in  value  to 
those  of  the  precious  metals ;  cf.  Plin.  Lc.  §  1  aeris  metalla^ 
cui  el  in  tiau  proxhnum  est  pretium  immo  iiero  ante  argentum 
ac  paene  etiam  ante  anrum  Corinthio.  The  passion  of  the 
collector  for  Corinthian  bronzes  is  a  subject  for  the  moralist 
and  satirist  from  Cicero's  time  onward.  The  younger  Pliny 
with  all  his  wealth,  had  not  a  single  Corinthian  in  his  house, 
and  purposed  to  give  to  some  temple  a  statuette  of  that  sub- 
stance which  he  had  bought  from  the  proceeds  of  a  legacy 
(III.  6). 

(luibus  delectatar  nee  adflcitur,  by  which  he  ia  pleased  btU 
not  swayed.  With  nee  in  the  sense  of  nee  tanien  cf.  et  in  the 
sense  of  et  tamen  just  above. 

comoedis :  cf.  i.  15.  2  (Sel.  10)  n.  comoedum. 

distingoitur :  i.e.  the  recitations  took  place  at  intervals 
during  the  dinner,  perhaps  between  the  courses. 

ut,  etc.  (hat  even  pleasure  may  he  spiced  with  letters. 

de  nocte :  contniry  to  the  custom  of  a  younger  and  busy 
man  like  the  elder  Pliny  (iii.  5.  13, — Sel.  24);— and  even 
to  the  apparent  practice  of  the  younger  Pliny  (ix.  36.  4, — 
Sel.  70 ;  ix.  40.  2,— Sel.  72). 

et,  even,  as  not  infreciuently  in  Pliny  :  cf.  Kraut  p.  28. 

conuiuium  :  the  after-dinner  session  over  the  win^  (Grk. 
(rvfiir6(Tiov) ;  cf.  III.  21.  5  (Sel.  29)  n.  seras  ad  lucemas. 

10.  ex  senectute  prudentia :  cf.  Cic.  Tusc.  i.  94  nihil  enhn 
est  pro/ecto  hwnini  prudentia  dtdcius,  quam,  nt  cetera  au/erat, 
adjert  certe  senectns. 

11.  uoto  et  cogitatione  praestuno,  /  anticipate  with  earfer 
imcujination. 

ingressurus :  the  future  participle  thus  stands  not  infre- 
quc-ntly  in  Pliny  in  place  of  a  clause. 

ratio  aetetis:  cf.  ii.  14.  14  (Sel.  20)  n.  ratio  aetafin. 

receptui  cacere,  to  sound  a  retrail :  a  military  term 
frequently  used  figuratively. 

mille  :  cf.  i.  ir>.  2  (Sel.  10)  n.  mil/e.  Pliny  had  <loubtlf»s 
at  this  time  his  usual  business  in  the  management  of  his 
estivtea,  which  often  wore  upon  him,  ami  was  engaged  in 
moro  or  less  K'^al  practice  (cf.  especially  in.  4).  He  may  also 
have  been  ^till  in  jicrvict!  as  jtrrn/ufns  uwarii  Salnrni. 

quoad  honestum  fuit :  cf.  ^  2  quihnu  ind  fist  via  stra^  turpit< 
amUitio  esf. 


cuua  EPtSlTLAK  ! 

pre-«ri3re  o<  xhe  inennrr  «■  qEt^H»  (L  Ml.  t^ — fliL  7$  Xm 
3«.  1  -S<L  75:  9.--SeL  7»!.  » the p*^ «""n^^nhipB fr.  M. 
±— NeL  »:  TIL  IJL  Uw  the  praMMrocf  i 
«t|3e<R«a  rxrm»  mi.  5l  f.— Sm.  9I|.     Brt  ysi 
caM-f  tae  vool  ttboosh  n  eke    * 
of  the  RMAain-^  *  daties '  :>•  m  »  i 

■mlitrmti:   IB   ercfj  Ar€mtr  iMtaae» 
worl  wemi  to  be  oaei  of  cKe  hi^ernipdhr« 

from  the  aide-faiietMBs)  im  the  i ' '  — 

(except    «bcs    dutiactlj 
mimortA)  to  the  coe  lespoodba^  i 

IKiwiif  !■■  :  it  ii  quite  \^ 
lieen  goremor  of  other  proriBeee  thMi  Ihrt'oae  Iibw  tD  «s 
'cf    ^  I  n.  ^/NunuuH»),  bat  the  pluBl  Haj  be  nithrr  fW|il 
iiientAry  than  accoFaie. 

19.  Igitv:    Qaintilian   ohKrres  (L  &  39)  that  U  ia 
«inestioD  whether  this  partide  should  ataad  fint  ni  ita 
and  that  the  practice  of  the  beat 


practice  of  the  beat  vritan  duked.  Fln^ 
sboars  no  hesitation  aboat  placing  it  in  the  Inithd  pnrftSna  ; 
of.  also  t.g.  I.  19.  2;  ii.  6.  7  (Sd.  1€);  m.  IS.  5;  nr.  «.  3; 


t.e. 

is  no  lon|Eer  hmu^fa  (S  %  H)- 

Id  apod  te  aolHigno  :  of  making  a  swonn  statement :  d. 
X.  4.  4  *mhttffmo  apmd  te  /dim  pro  jmorAmB  Romnm  wteL 

d  n.  14.  14  n.  (SeL  20). 


24.   (m.  8.) 

The  writings  and  manner  of  life  of  the  elder  Pliny. — Of 
R-ifliiiis  Ma«.'cr,  to  whom  Pliny  addresses  this  single  letter, 
nothing  further  is  known  than  that  he  was  ccmMui  de^mimafajt 
nliout  Kl^  or  IfU  (iv.  9.  16),  «ind  ftrae/eettuf  nrhi  nmler 
lf:i*lri.in  in  117  (S|Mirt.  lindr.  5.  5).  But  as  this  letter  is  on  a 
xuhject  of  (litcrar>')  hi8t(»r>'  one  would  like  to  connect  him 
(in  descent,  if  not  identity)  with  the  liaelnus  Mncer  <|UotG<l 
l»y  Servius  {Atn,  v.  fWia  ;  Ed.  9.  46)  as  his  authority  on  two 
events  in  the  reign  of  Aujpistns. 

1.  aunneuli  met:  the  main  facts  in  the  life  of  the  elder 
I'liny  (('.  Pliniu«  ScH-undus,  a  native  «»f  Xonmm  Ccmmm)  are 
known   to   us   fi-»»ni   this   letter,   from  Sdnic    few    scattered 


24.  3.  NOTES.  271 

references  in  other  letters,  from  the  detailed  description  of 
the  circumstances  attending  his  death  in  the  eruption  of 
Vesuvius  in  a.d.  79  (vi.  16,— Sel.  45),  and  from  a  brief 
biography  prefixed  to  MSS.  of  his  XaturaJis  Hiatoria  (§  6), 
drawn  from  the  work  of  Suetonius  De  niris  illustribiis  (cf. 
Reifferscheid  S^iet.  Rel.  p.  92).  'Jhe  younger  Pliny  was 
arlopted  by  his  uncle  in  his  \rill  (cf.  v.  8.  5  miuncidna  mens 
idemqne  per  adoption (m  jyater  historia-s  et  quidem  rdigiosissime 
scrip<if :  Intr   p.  xix).     i^ee  notes  passim. 

3.  de  iacnlatione  eqnestri  oiitis  (sc.  liher)^  On  (he  Use  of  the 
Javelin  hy  CarcUry,  Oii''  Book.  The  earlier  Roman  cavalry, 
besides  heavy  defensive  armour,  including  a  shield,  carried  a 
long  lance  and  a  long  s^^ord  (Polyb.  vi.  io)  ;  by  the  time  of 
Vespasian  they  had  discarded  the  shield,  contenting  them- 
selves with  breastplates  like  those  of  the  infantry,  and  had 
added  to  the  long  lance  and  sword  three  or  more  javelins, 
carried  in  a  sort  of  quiver  (los.  B.  lud.  in.  5.  5).  This  work  of 
Pliny's,  like  all  the  others  Mith  the  exception  of  the  Na^vrnlis 
Historia{%Q),  has  perished. 

praefectus  alae :  a  candidate  for  official  career  in  the 
equestrian  order,  above  whicli  the  elder  Plinj'  did  not  seek 
to  rise,  began,  in  the  time  of  the  empire,  and  before  the 
reforms  of  Hadrian,  bj-  filling  one  or  more  military  offices,  in 
the  infantry  (as  prefect  or  tribune  of  an  auxiliary  cohort,  or 
tribune  '  angusticlauim '  in  the  regular  legion)  or  cavalry  (as 
prefect  of  a  squadron).  Or  he  might  serve  as  tribune  in  one 
of  the  city  troops  {nifjih.<,  cohortes  urbanae,  cohortes  prae- 
toriae).  Thence,  at  the  age  of  thirty,  or  perhaps  a  little  less, 
he  might  be  advanced,  through  a  number  of  the  many  procura- 
torships  at  home  or  abroad,  to  one  (or  more,  successively)  of 
the  great  prefectures,  civil  {annmia^e)  or  military  {classis 
RaiienncUium,  classis  MiMenatiunif  uitjilum^  Aegypti,  jimt- 
torio). 

Pomponl  Secondi :  the  elder  Pliny  refers  to  this  biography 
in  X.If.  XIV.  56.  Pomponius  Sccundus  narrfjwly  escapcil 
death  on  the  chnrjfo  of  l>oiiig  involved  in  the  con- 
spiracy of  Sejanus  (Dio  mx.  G;  Tac.  Aim.  v.  8).  The 
accession  of  (laius  brought  luni  release  fn»ni  imprisonment 
and  the  friendship  of  the  cmjKTor  and  his  8uc«;essor.  He  was 
consul  in  44,  and  as  leirato  of  Upper  (Jcrnianv  received  the 
insignia  of  a  triumph  under  Claudius  in  iV»  (I'hc.  Ann.  xii. 
27,  *iS).  He  wrote  tra«:fdies  (vii.  17.  11),  and  Quintilian 
(X.  1.  OS)  calls  him  the  Inst  of  the  tragedians  personally  known 
to  him,  though  remarking  that  his  seniors  thought  the 
superiority  of  Pom|)onius  lay  in  erudition  and  polish  rather 


272  C.  PLTNI  EPISTVLAE  SELBCTAE.         24.  & 

than  in  the  true  tragic  afflatus.  Cf.  also  P].  N.H,  ptumm. 
Tacitus  (^»n.  v.  8)  calls  him  mdta  morum  eUgamUa  et 
ittgtjUo  ilituUri. 

4.  beUonimOeniianlae  :  the  work  is  cited  by  Taoitna  (Atm, 
I.  69),  and  by  Suetonius  {Cal.  8),  and  must  have  served  as 
the  chief  source  for  the  Germania  of  Tadtus.  Sjinmacfaus 
{Ep.  IV.  18)  speaks  as  if  the  Oerman  Wars  was  pomibly  lost 
by  his  day  (end  of  the  fourth  century  a.d.). 

in  Germania  militaret:  (sc.  in/eriore)  under  IDomitins 
Corbulo.  A.I).  47;  cf.  Plin.  N.H.  xvi.  2  with  Tac.  ^itR. 
XI.  18. 

Bomnlo  monitus :  cf.  i.  18.  1  (Sel.  12)  n.  aomnio, 

Drusi  Neronis :  Nero  Claudius  Drusus,  son  of  livia 
(wife  of  Augustus)  and  brother  of  the  einperor  Tiberius,  at 
the  affe  of  23  hod  advanced  the  limit  of  the  Roman  empire  to 
the  Danube  on  the  northeast  by  the  conquest  of  Rhoetia  and 
Noricum  (b.c,  15  :  cf.  Hor.  Carm.  iv.  4, 14),  and  bade  fair,  by 
the  successes  of  repeated  campaigns,  to  make  the  Elbe  its 
boundary  to  the  northward,  when  he  died  at  the  early  a^  of 
thirty,  in  the  year  of  his  consulship  (B.a  9),  from  the  effecta 
of  a  fall  from  his  horse. 

latlssime  nictor :  cf.  on  the  construction  i.  2.  5  (Sel.  2)  n. 
fortoAHt  en^oH :  Verg.  Aen,  i.  21  populum  late  regem :  Hor. 
Carm.  iii.  17.  9  late  tyranmis;  iv.  4.  23  lafe  nictriceH, 
Drusus  penetrated  Germany  further  than  any  other  Roman 
general. 

adsereret :  cf.  i.  3.  3  (Sel.  3)  n.  te  aiudiU  adseris. 

6.  stndiosi  :  perhaps  nominative  plural  instead  of  genitive 
singular ;  cf.  Gell.  ix.  16.  1  Plinitis  Secundtts  extHtimatwf  t»t 
tMf.  aefatis  ^itae  doriUsinm^.  in  lihros  reliquii  quw  *  nt^tdio- 
Mnim*  inscripnit,  non medius ^fidvis  wtquequaqtte  OMprmnnfftMt. 
in  his  librin  rmUta  «arte  ad  oblectandas  eruditortim  hominnm 
aurcM  poiiit.  re/ert  etiam  pl^rattque  nententias  quas  in 
declamavdifi  rond'owrsiis  lejndf  artj^Ueque  dictan  pufaf, 
(acllius  goes  on  with  quotations  which  show  that  the  work 
was  a"  practical  hand1)o<>k  of  rhetoric  (oratory),  with  examples 
of  nH)ot-ca.so8  like  those  that  have  come  «lown  to  u»  from  the 
pen  of  the  elder  Seneca.  It  is  mentioned  also  by  Quintilian 
{Inst,  Oral.  in.  1.  21  ;  .\i.  3.  143,  148). 

nolumina :  Callimachus  is  said  to  have  introduced  the 
fashion  of  the  shorter  rolls  {nolumina)  of  pa])yrnR  wliich  later 
subHtuntially  conditioned  the  length  of  each  completo  division 
{lilnr)  of  a'^ivrn  work;  so  that  from  (^icoro's  time  lifter 
and  volume.n  are  often  usc<l  synonymously  (cf.   Birt  AiUike 


24.  C.  NOTES.  2/3 

Buchtvesenpp.  147  ff.,  480  ff.  ;  Marquardt  Privatleben^  p.  812). 
But  here  IPliny's  libri  must  have  been  of  nearly  double  the 
stock  length,  one  of  them  substantially  tilling  two  rolls 
{uolumina);  cf.  also  the  co77imc7Uario8  opislhographos  of  %  17 . 

ab  inconabulis  instituit :  as  Quintilian  also  does  in  his 
IiiMitvJtio  Oratoria  (cf.  proem.  6  lihH  giu>s  ah  ipsis  dicendi 
ueltft  incunahidU  per  omnia  .  .  .  artis  ad  »ummam  eivs  ojierifi 
perducere  destvnabamiis. 

dubli  sermonis  :  a  treatise  on  doubtful  or  objectionable 
inflectional  forms,  word-formation,  and  matters  concerning 
the  parts  of  speech.  Pliny  himself  (N.H.  praef.  28) 
refers  to  assaults  projected  upon  this  work  {libtllos  quos  de 
grammatica  edidi) ;  it  was  frequently  cited  and  used  till  into 
the  middle  ages. 

cum,  etc.  :  cf.  Tac.  A(ir,  6  rpmniA  mih  Nerone  temporum 
quihtut  inertia  pro  sapieniia  fuit.  History,  satire,  and  the 
like  were  dangerous  fields  of  literature,  though  Persius 
managed  to  write  with  impunity  what  was  said  (Prob.  Vit. 
Peri*.)  to  be  satire  directed  against  Nero  himself.  Perhaps 
the  emperor,  like  moderns,  found  difficulty  in  making  it  out. 
8o  Calpurnius  wrote  elegies  and  Seneca  tragedies  without 
challenge.  But  not  even  philosophy  and  rhetoric  were 
always  safe ;  cf.  Tac.  Ann.  xv.  71  Verfiinium  Flannm  et 
Mnsonium  Rvfum  claritudo  nmninis  exjndit:  nam  Verf/iuinft 
studia  iwienum  eloqtientia,  Mwtonins  prasceptis  sapienliae 
fouebat, 

liberius  et  erectius :  cf.  Pan.  85  neque  est  vUvs  afecfm 
tarn  erectus  et  Ixber  et  dominaiionin  impaiietvi. 

6.  a  fine,  in  contimtation  of:   apparently  not  an  unusual 
form  of  title  for  the  work  of  historians  under  the  empire. 

Aufidi  Bassi :  he  was  yet  living,  though  in  extreme 
weakness  of  body,  when  Seneca  (a.i>.  60)  wrote  Kp.  30. 
His  work  has  disappeared,  except  for  some  fragments  (in 
Senec.  Sitafi.),  and  its  points  of  beginning  and  ending  are 
unknown.  Quintilian  says  of  him  (x.  1.  103),  quam  (hintoriae 
aiiHoritatemy  BanHHA  A  v  fid  ins  fijrefjie  jTraesfifif^  fjfuere  ipso 
proltahifis  in  ojnnifniM,  sed  in  qvilntsdam  >*iti<  ijisf  virions 
minor. — Pliny  refers  to  his  own  continuation  in  N.Jf.  praef. 
20,  etc.     Its  chronological  terminus  is  unknown. 

naturae  historiarum :  extant,  and  called,  in  the  dedica- 
tory preface  of  the  fii-st  book  (to  the  emperor  Titus,  in  77 
A.i>. ),  lihri  nnfnra/ix  hinioriat,,  whence  the  usual  name  by 
which  it  is  filed.  P«Th;ips  the  niitlior  pultlifhed  only  the 
flrst  ton  bor>ks.  the  rest  l»eing  issued  after  his  death  by  the 


?74  C.  PUXI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.         SML  6. 


f 


younger  Pliny.  The  work  it  a  roost  diffoie  and  wearisome  f 
compilation  of  facts  on  innumerable  subjects,  gathered  pain- 
fully from  a  vast  number  of  authors  and  works  (praef  i.), 
and  put  together  in  a  style  often  most  exasperating  for  its 
cruility  and  blindness.  The  subject-matter  is  arranged 
under  the  heads  of  a  general  description  of  the  wond, 
gi*o^rapliy,  anthropology,  physiology,  zoiilog}*,  liotanv  (in- 
cludin.i;  fariiiin«r  and  mattria  nudica)^  anatomy*  and  mecficine, 
antl  tinally  mineralogy  (including  even,  and  most  valuably, 
a  history  of  art).  Inaccuracies,  irrationalities,  mod  inoon- 
sistencies  al)ound,  and  yet  the  work  is  of  most  immense  value 
and  interest. 

7.  actitasse :  only  here  in  Pliny,  but  a  Ciceronian  wcnrd. 
anno  sexto  et  quinquagensimo :  Aug.  25,  a.d.  79  ;  of.  \^. 

16.  17  n.  (Sel.  45). 

medium :  «c.  between  his  retirement  from  the  bar  and 
his  <leath. 

offlciis:  cf.  III.  1.  11  (Sel.  23)  n.  officia, 

amidtia  prindpum:  referring  doubtless  to  Vespasian 
and  Titus,  and  not  to  earlier  rulera  On  the  amidtia  CaesariH 
as  denoting  a  semi-  or  wholly  official  relationship  see  Pr^- 
liinder  SHlengMch.  i.^  pp.  133  ff. 

8.  uigilantla :  so  Pliny  says  {N,H.  praef.  18)  that  being 
oficiiH  occnpati  he  has  compiled  this  work  in  the  nicht  hours, 
pro/ecto  enim  uila  uigilia  ent:  but  cf.  §9n.  quod  reHqunm 
teniporxM. 

lucubrare,  to  study  by  lamplight, 

Vttlcanalibus :  Auff.  23.  The  date  is  given  by  the  sacred 
calendars,  and  the  cult  was  a  very  old  one  in  Home,  but 
almost  nothing  is  known  of  it. 

auspicandi  causa,  for  the  stike  of  the  [good]  omeni  as 
farmers  be^an  labours  on  Jan.  1  :  cf.  Colum.  R,R,  xi.  2.  98 
per  has  qtvoqur.  die,/*  [i.e.  from  the  Kalcntls  to  the  Ides  <»f 
January]  aJtHtiufiil  ttrrfuix  operthun  rtfigioftiorex  ngriciJae,,  if  a 
tamtn  nt  iftnin  KaJendii*  laiwariin  avapicnndi  rait^i  omve 
fjiuus  ofteriH  iiiMfttiirfu/ ;  On.  Fan/,  i.  165  ff. :  cf.  li.  14.  2 
(Sel.  2(>)  n.  auftpirari.  Tlic  phrase  is  apparently  prov«rl>ial, 
but  no  other  references  to  the  beginning  of  tires  or  lights  on 
the  Vulcanalia  appear  to  exist. 

statim  a  nocte  molta,  while  yet  it  iraf*  drrp  in'fjht. 

hieme  uero :  the  previous  specification,  then,  applies  to 
other  seasons  of  the  year. 

hora  :  <^f.  in.  1.  S  (Sel.  23)  n.  hora. 


24.  10.  NOTES.  275 

erat  somni  paratiasimi :  so  he  found  no  difficulty  in 
falling  asleep  amid  the  terrors  of  the  eruption  of  Vesuvius ; 
VI.  16.  1.3  (Sel.  45).  On  the  coustruction  cf.  ii.  1.  9  (Sel.  15) 
n.  huiiui  aetatis. 

9.  ille  quoque  noctibus  utebatur:  Suet.  {Vetp.  21)  tells  of    J 
his   habits,   vfuiturius  ntntpcr  ac    de   nocte    eiiujilahat ;    dein 
periectis    epuitiUU    ojjicioruviqae    omnium    breviariis    amicos 
admittebaty  etc. 

delegatum  sibi  offlcium  :  the  prefecture  of  the  fleet  at 
Miseuuni,  which  was  about  as  much  of  a  naval  office  as  that 
of  the  admiral  in  Pinafore.  Its  duties  were  largely  adminis- 
trative and  recjuired  much  residence  in  the  capital ;  but  the 
short  amount  of  thne  that  he  had  to  devote  to  them  daily 
(cf.  note  below)  does  not  seem  to  indicate  that  they  were 
very  engrossing.  On  delegatum  cf.  v.  14.  9  (ISel.  3JS)  dele- 
fjatum  Coniufo  officium  (v.  14.  2  mandatnm  mihi  ofiiciiim  .  .  . 
jxir  GormUo  datum)';  on  officium,  in.  1.  11  (Sel.  23)  n.  oWiV 
ojficia. 

quod  reliquum  temporis  :  i.e.  the  rest  of  the  day, — 
which,  as  he  reached  home  by  the  breakfast  hour,  meant 
practically  the  whole  of  the  day.  The  account  is  inconsistent 
with  Pliny's  own  statement  {N.H,  praef.  18),  tntbsiciwH 
temporibtui  ista  curaitiVJi,  id  ent  noctunm  .  .  .  dies  nobis 
impendimus. 

10.  post  cibum :  sc.  the  ientaadum,  which  was  usually 
taken  in  the  third  or  fourth  hour,  and  consisted  of  bread 
dipped  in  wine  (the  common  breakfast  of  the  Roman  peacant 
to-day)  or  eaten  with  honey,  ilates,  olives,  or  salt.  More 
luxuriously  inclined  persons  might  add  cheese  or  fried  cakes. 

quern  interdiu  leuem  et  facilem  siunebat :  qiiem  refci-s  to 
cUmm  in  the  generic  sense  of  food  rather  than  in  reference  to 
the  specifle  ienfiwu/mn.  The  meals  that  Pliny  took  in  the 
course  of  the  day  {itUerdiu),  l)oth  ientactdum  and  jrrandium 
(^  11),  were  light  meals  of  easily  digestible  foml,  *  in  the  goo«l 
old  fashion'  {wtei'um  more)  :  tlic  reva^  which  c<mcluded  the 
day,  couhl  cl.iiui  no  especial  distinction  fi»r  simplicity. 

si  quidotii:  cf.  vn.  4.  8  (Sel.  47)  hide  jJvrn  mfh-a^  tti 
quid  otii,  maximr.  iti  itinpre  ff-mpfam  ;  and  similar  ellipsis  of  the 
verb  in  conditional  clauses  is  not  uncommon  in  Plinj'  ;  cf. 
T^agergrcn  p.  4.3. — The  leisure  referred  to  must  he  from  more 
scM-ious  studios  (<rf.  §  0), — yet  it  is  difficult  to  sec,  accordint' to 
his  nephew's  a<N!ount.  where  Pliny  found  any  time  for  his 
private  busiiutss. 

iaceb^t  in  sole  :  piobably  in  a  >tolnrium  on  the  house-top; 


276  C,  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.       24.  10. 

cf.  II.  17.  20  (Sel.  21)  n.  heliocaminuSj  and  on  the  sun-bath, 
III.  1.  8  (Sel.  23)  n.  in  sole, 

legebatur:  sc.  a  lectore;  cf.  iii.  1.  4  (Sel.  23);  i.  15.  2 
(Sel.  10)  n.  lectorem. 

adnotabat :  i.e.  Pliny  affixed,  or  ordered  affixed,  the 
marginal  sign  that  called  attention  to  the  p<'is.sage,  whether 
for  approval  (as  in  many  mediaeval  Mss.)  or  for  censure. 

excerpel>at :  many  books  beside  those  of  Plinj^  were  thus 
made  in  that  and  the  later  unoriginal  ages  ;  and  so  the 
younger  Pliny  was  trained  by  his  uncle;  of.  vi.  16.  7  (Sel. 
45) ;  20.  5  (Sel.  46). 

nullum  esse  librum,  etc.  :  cf.  Quint,  x.  1.  iOjKLUCon  etiim 
uel  potius  uix  iillum  ex  his  qui  vetustcUem  jterttderunt  existimo 
posse  reperiri  quin  iudicium  adhibentibus  allcUurus  sit  vfifitafis 
cUiquid  ;  ibid.  57  ut  qui  dixerim  esse  in  omnibus  utilitcUis 
cUiquid. 

11.  post  solem  :  the  usual  time  for  the  balh  was  in  the 
afternoon,  after  the  athletic  exercise  that  followed  the 
siesta  (cf.  ill.  1.  8  n., — Sel.  23) ;  but  other  people  than 
Pliny  took  the  bath  before  the  prandium^  as  that  model  of 
health  in  old  age,  the  physician  Antiochus  (Gal.  vi.  p.  332)  ; 
also  later  the  emperor  Alexander  Severus  (Lampr.  Alex. 
30.  5);cf.  alsoluu.  11.  204. 

trigi&BL :  sc.  aquut  as  frequently  in  colloquial  I^tin  (cf. 
inscriptions  on  walls  of  taverns  in  Pompeii),  and  not  infre- 
quently in  writers  of  the  empire ;  see  also  vi.  16.  18  (Sel. 
45).  Pliny  apparently  took  only  the  cold  bath,  as  much  to 
save  time  as  for  any  other  reason. 

gustabat :  cf.  vi.  16.  5  (Sel.  45)  gustauerat.  The 
pj-undinm  was  served  ordinarily  at  the  sixth  or  seventh 
hour,  and  was  commonly  a  somewhat  hearty  meal  with  hot  or 
cold  meats  or  fish,  accompanied  by  vegetables,  fruit,  and  wine. 

dormiebat  minimum:  the  almost  universal  practice 
among  the  Romans  was  to  devote  the  hour  or  two  immediately 
following  the  prandiuvi  to  rest  and  sleep  (meridiaiio) ;  but 
cf.  Cels.  I.  2  lojiffis  dicbus  meridiari  potiuM  avfe  ribu?»  :  «/w 
fnimu%  jfo/tf  eum,  whose  advice  does  not  seem  to  have  Ikjcu 
generally  followed.  The  siesta  might  be  omitted  in  times  of 
especial  business,  or  in  the  more  active  season  of  winter  :  cf. 
e.g.  Oic.  Diu.  ii.  142  nunc  qvidem  propter  ivtermifntionem 
forevsis  ojyrac  ef  hirubrntiovfx  dflraxi  et  wc.ridiatimu s  addidi^ 
qnihiM  uti  av/fa  vov  ftofehnm  ;  and  Pliny's  dilTeron<cof  ouRtom 
as  iK'twocn  sunmior  and  wintrr  (vii.  4.  4, — Sel.  47.  and  IX. 
36.  3,-  .Sel.  70;  40.  2,— Sel.  72). 


*■ 


24.  14. 


NOTES.  277 


quasi  alio  die :  the  active  day  for  tlie  ordinary  Roman, 
undei  onlinary  circu instances,  ended  with  ^^rawrfiwm ;  of. 
Mart.  IV.  8.  4  sexta  quiet  la^isy  sej^tima  fnU  eril  ;  Auth. 
Pal.  X.  43  ^1  t&/o«M  M^X^^*-^  iKai* (Ararat •  al  8^  fier^  avrds  \  ypd/jLfJMffi 
SeiKifOfievcu  ZH6I  Xiyoinyi  ppoToU. 

cenae  tempos  :  cf.  iii.  1.  9  (Sel.  23)  u.  ceiia. 

super  banc  :  cf.  sw^>er  cenani  also  in  iv.  22.  6  (Sel.  35) ; 
IX.  33.  1  (Sel.  09). 

adnotabatur :  cf.  above  §  10  n.  adnoiabat, 

et  quidem :  cf.  i.  6.  1  (Sel.  5)  u.  et  quidem. 

12.  lector  :  cf.  §  10  n.  letjebcUur. 

versus  :  applied  to  *  lines'  whether  of  veree  or  of  prose, 
though  in  the  latter  cases  referring  usually  (not  in  iv.  II.  16, 
— Sel.  32)  to  the  formal  arlxos  (the  number  of  letters  in  an 
avei-age  verse  of  Homer)  by  which  copyists  and  others 
measured  writing;  cf.  Quint,  x.  I.  38  cuvi  in  Bruto  J/. 
Tullius  tot  milibus  iiersuum  de  Romanis  tantnm  watoribus 
loquatur ;  Birt  Das  Antike  JJnchiceffev ,  c.  4 ;  E.  Maunde 
Thompson  Handbk.  Orh  and  Lat.  Pcdaeog.  c.  6  (Sticho- 
metry). 

13.  tanta,  etc.  :  an  example  of  what  the  rhetoricians  calle<l 
epiphotiema;  cf.  Quint,  viii.  5.  11  eat  enim  ejnphonema  rei 
narratae  uel  jirobtUae  sumnui.  acclamation  *  tantae  molis  erat 
liomanam  condere  ffenffm* ;  Niigelsbach  Lat.  Stil.^,  pp.  710 
ff.  ;  cf.  the  double  epiphonema  in  i.  9.  3  (Sel.  6)  quot ...  quam ; 
III.  7.  13  tam...tantcLe;  ii.  14.  12  (ScL  20)  qtiae  ...quam, 
quibiut  ..  quam  (the  last  two  in  indirect  form). 

urbis  frexnitum :  oft«n  complained  of ;  cf.  e.g,  Hor.  Cat-m. 
III.  29.  12;  Ep.  I.  17.  6-S ;  ii.  2.  79  ff.  ;  luu.  3.  232  ff.  ; 
Mart.  XII.  18.  13  ff.  ;  57.  3ff. 

14.  in  seoessn,  when  in  the  country :  cf.  I.  3.  3  (Sel.  3)  n. 
«ecessu, 

destrixigitnr...audie1)at :  the  sequence  is  noticeiible,  the 
dum-c\a.use  l>eing  sinii)ly  c<|uivalcnt  to  a  present  participle 
passive.  Pliny,  indee<1,  inclines  in  his  effort  after  liveliness 
and  vigour  to  the  use  of  the  present  tense,  even  in  connection 
with  secondary  tenses  ;  see  e.y.  v.  1.  8  f. ;  vi.  20.  4  (Sel.  4(5) ; 
IX.  13.  8  ff.  (Sel.  r>4). 

destringitur,  tergitur  :  with  the  tUriyiliH  and  with  towels 
{liutea)  respectively.  These  operations  generally  took  place 
immediately  after  the  cold  Iwith  (which  was  the  only  one 
Pliny  ordinarily  to«ik  ;  cf.  i;  1 1)  either  in  the  culdarium^  or  in 
a  special  apartment,  the  unctorium  {ci,  ii.   17.  11   un., — Set 


278  C.  PLINI  KPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.      M.  U. 

21).      After    drying,   tlio    skin   wai  usually    rubbed    with 
oiutuieut. 

16.  in  itinera  :  the  younger  Pliny  emulated  his  uncle  :  cf. 
IV.  14.  *2  hcttdecani/UalwH  nostros,  qtubua  noH  in  uehieuio^  m 
bfUiutOt  inttr  cenam  Mecianiwi  otiwn  teniporis  :  and' on  his 
conibinatioii  of  hunting  and  writing,  L  6  {Sel.  5)  nn. 

ad  latus  :  Hc.  in  the  carriage. 

notarius,  a  secretary,  who  was  not  necessarily  a  short- 
hand (iiolae  Tironiaiiae)  writer.  Here  he  ailded  to  his 
functions  that  of  the  usual  lector  :  cf.  IX.  36.  '2  (SeL  70) ;  20. 
2  qui  ...me  noUiriis  et  lectorihua  feliquemitL 

libro :  the  author  from  whom  he  read  sloud. 

pogUlarlbus,  toMetH  of  wax  (cf.  i.  6. 1,— Sel.  5,— n.  MubU 
pugillarea),  on  which  to  take  down  the  notes  dictated  by  his 
master. 

manicis,  deeves :  after  the  fashion  of  the  northern  (Tac 
Germ.  17)  and  eastern  (Verg.  Aeti.  ix.  616)  races.  The 
ordinary  Roman  tunic  had  but  a  very  short  sleeve  at  luoet. 

Romae  :  where  driving  within  the  city  was  forbidden  to 
ordinary  citizens  from  very  early  times  till  the  fourth  century 
A.D.  ;  cf.  Marquardt  Privatleben,*  pp.  728  ff. 

sella,  a  sedan-chair :  which,  like  the  iectica,  was  carried 
by  from  two  to  eight  lusty  slaves,  but  differed  from  it  chiefly 
in  being  suited  to  a  sitting  rather  than  to  a  reclining  posture. 

16.  repeto  :  see  ii.  6.  1  (Sel.  16)  n.  altiiu  repetere,  ad  fin. 
perdere,  perire  :  the  latter  verb  serves  for  the  passive  of 

the  former  from  the  Ctarliest  to  the  latest  times  :  cf.  lexx. 

17.  Intentione :  cf.  i.  3.  2  (Sel.  3)  n.  irUeiUione, 
electorum,  exlraclH :    cf.  viii.  21.  4  qnod  coiUimjere  nmi 

potest  electa  recitaiUibtut, 

commentarios,  notebooks :  cf.  x.  66.  1  (Sel.  99) ;  Suet. 
Aug.  64  dianiOH  commentarios  ;  also  vii.  19.  5  (Sel.  50)  n. 
commcntanoji. 

mihi  reUquit :  as  his  adopted  son  and  heir.  It  would  l>e 
interesting  to  know  what  the  younger  Pliny  did  with  these 
immense  collections. 

opisthogn^aphos  :  the  back  of  the  piipyrus  roll,  havin;;  the 
grain  running  the  wrong  way,  was  not  so  well  adai)tcd  for 
writing,  and  moreover  was  subjected  to  wear  by  the  constant 
rolling  and  unrolling  in  the  hands.  Hence  literary  M-orks 
were  hut  rarely  written  on  l)oth  sides  of  the  roll  (bnt  cf.  luu. 
1.  6  .scripfwt  ct  in  tt.rtjo  n^cdum  Jinit%ut  Orentts).     IJnt  pressure 


25.  1.  NOTES.  279 

of  space,  or  consitleratioiis  of  economy,  especially  in  mere  note- 
books, might  lead  to  the  use  of  l)oth  sides  (el.  some  of  the 
papyri  recently  discovered  in  Egypt). 

cum  procuraret  in  Hispania :  cf.  §  3  n.  praefecttis  aloe. 
There  were  a  number  of  different  procuratorahips  fille<l  by 
equiles  at  home  and  abroad,  of  which  by  far  the  largest  class 
was  that  of  the  procurators  of  tl»e  emperor's  Jitcus,  or  official 
purse  (as  distinct  from  the  ordinary  state  treasury,  civil  or 
military).  These  oHicials,  in  their  respective  stations,  handled 
all  the  income  from  the  imiierial  provinces,  and  served  along- 
side the  quaestors  in  the  senatorial  provinces.  The  Sue- 
tonian  biography  of  Pliny  (i.e.)  says  that  he  tilled  procura- 
tiones  qnoqne  HpleiididUshnas  el  contimias.  Besiiles  holding 
this  procuratorship  in  Hispania  Tarraconensis  under  Ves- 
pasian, he  apparently  sei-vea  (a.d.  70)  in  Gallia  Narl>onensis, 
(a.d.  74)  in  Belgica,  and  had  at  some  time  been  resident  in 
some  capacity  in  Africa. 

Larclo  Licino  :  cf.  ii.  14.  9  n. 

quadringentis  milibus  nummum :  (sc.  scMterfiuni)  about 
£4,350  or  $21,750, — the  precise  amount  of  the  necessary 
fortune  of  an  eqtieft ;  cf.  Mommsen  Staatxi-.  iii.  p.  499  f. 

et:  in  the  sense  of  el  tameii;  cf.  in.  1.  9  (8el.  23)  u.  et 
aiUiqiio. 

18.  amicitia  principis :  cf.  §7  n.  amicitia  priiiciptnn. 

19.  offlcia  distringunt :  cf.  the  same  expression  in  i.  10.  9 
(Sel.  7) :  VII.  15.  I. 

tota  nita  :  with  this  ablative  of  duration  of  time  cf.  il. 
11.  14  (Sel.  17)  n.  hon'i ;  iv.  13.  I  (Sel.  :W)  fJieb^iM. 

ao.  stimulis :  cf.  iii.  7.  15  (Sel.  25) ;  iv.  5.  3  Bhoilii  .  .  . 
comparationis  actdein  excitabaiUur, 

26.    (in.  7.) 

The  death  of  Silius  Italicus.— On  Caninius  Rufus,  to  whom 
the  letter  is  addressed,  see  introiluctory  note  to  I.  3  (Sel.  3). 

1.  nnnUatus  est :  like  all  the  writers  from  the  classical 
jH^riod  onward,  IMiny  uses  tlio  iH'rsonal  passive  construction 
of  verbs  of  telling  with  the  infinitive  ;  cf.  j§  3  rreffrttafnr  accn- 
«c-wc;  IV.  G.  1  ahtindantia  HHntiutnrx  vii.  27.  3  (Sel.  iiA)jiijntxi 
occurrtHse  narratur ;  viii.  24.  2  (Sel.  00)  /rmjes  inuentae  ettxe 
crednntur:  but  also  the  neuter  construction,  as  in  v.  5.  I  (Sel. 
37)  nnntiatum  mihi  ent  C  Famiium  decessinHt ;  v.  14.  1  (Sel.  38) 
iiuntiahtm  ent,  etc. 


280  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.        25.  1. 

Silius  Italicus :  this  letter  is  the  chief  source  of  our  know- 
ledge of  liis  life,  but  a  few  facts  are  gleaned  from  other 
writers,  chiefly  from  Martial,  who  courted  him  as  he  also  did 
Pliny  (see  notes  below).  The  full  name,  Ti.  Oatius  Silius 
Italicus,  is  preserved  in  the  lists  of  the  sodale»  Aiigustalea 
Clavdivdes  (G.I.L.  vi.  1984). 

Neapolitano  sac:  sc.  praedio;  cf.  ii.  17.  1  (Sel.  21),  etc. 

Inedia  finisse  uitam  :  cf.  l  12.  9  (Sel.  8)  n.  abstinebat  cibo. 
a.  iTiflanaMlifl :  Seneca  sums  up  the  Stoic  position  on 
suicide  as  an  escape  from  disease  in  Ep.  58.  36  morbum  morU 
fion  /ufjiam,  duintaxcU  aanahilem  iiec  ojficieiUem  ammo,  naii 
ad/eram  7nihi  manua  propter  dolorem :  sic  mori  ninci  est.  hunc 
(amen  si  sciero  jmpetuo  mihi  esi<e  patiendxvniy  exibo,  non  jri'op- 
ter  ipsum,  sed  quia  impedimento  mihi  Julurus  est  ad  omn^ 
propter  qitod  uiuitur.  imbccilliM  est  et  irptauus,  qui  propter 
dolorem  morilnrj  stvltusy  qui  ddoris  cawta  uiuU. 

clauus :  described  by  Celsus  (v.  28.  14)  as  a  com.  But  it 
is  hardly  conceivable  that  such  an  ailment  should  be  so  painful 
as  to  induce  to  suicide.  Perhaps  some  sort  of  ulcer  (described 
by  d^elsus  in  immediate  connection  with  claui)  is  here  meant. 
C5.  VI.  24,  where  the  victim  of  incurable  ulcers  {dOfua^  cf. 
Cels.  /.c.)with  the  encouragement  and  companionship  of  his 
wife  drowned  himself,  and  Plin.  N.H.  xxvi.  142  clauos  in 
ulcere  iiatos;  but  C.O.L.  ill.  p.  598.  22  clauus  farunctdus  et 
est  dolor  cum  ccUositate  in  similtludinem  clauorum. 

taedio :  labium  uita^  (a  proverbial  expression)  was  a 
commonplace  verdict  on  the  cause  of  suicide ;  cf.  Pin.  N.  //. 
II.  156 ;  Paul.  SeiU.  v.  12.  1. 

irreuocataill  constantia :  cf.  i.  12.  9  (Sel.  8)  n.  perseue- 
rantem  constantia  /ugit. 

beatus  et  felix,  pronptrous  and  fortunate  :  cf.  i.  3.  2  (Sel. 
3)  n.  felix  beatusque. 

minorem  :  named  Scuerus  ;  cf.  Mart.  ix.  86,  on  his  death. 

ex  liberis  duobus  :  both  children  were  sons. 

consularem :  cos.  apparently  in  93,  under  Domitian  (the 
younger  son  was  then  living) ;  cf.  Mart.  viii.  60,  a  congratu- 
latory ode  on  the  occasion. 

8.  credebatur :  personal,  as  in  §  1  ntuUiatuH  tsf,  on  which 
see  note. 

sponte :  cf.  I.  12.  1  (Sel.  8)  n.  H)yonte. 

accusasse :  voluntary  service  as  an  informer,  in  hoixj  of 
reward,  is  distinguished  from  such  prosecutions  as  were 
undertaken  through  fear  at  the  coumiand  of  the  emperor ;  cf. 


f 


25.  4.  NOTES.  281 

Tac.  Hist.  IV.  42  (of  Regius  under  Nero)  sixnite  Caeitaris 
acamationem  siihisse.  iuuenis  adnwdum,  nee  depellendi  i)ericuli 
sed  in  spm  poteiUiae  uidebatur. 

in  ViteUi  amicitia :  cf.  iii.  5.  7  (Sel.  24)  n.  amicitia  prin- 
cifrum.  Silius  is  mentioned  by  Tacitus  [Hist.  iii.  65)  as  one 
of  the  two  counsellors  of  Vitellius  present  at  his  confei-ences 
with  Sabinus  concerning  surrender. 

Asiae  :  a  senatorial  province,  over  which  Silius  presided 
at  an  unknown  date  (perhaps  in  a.d.  77,  under  Vespasian  :  so 
Zippel).  With  the  phi-ase  cf.  ix.  23.  2  (Sel.  67)  e  sencUu 
/amain  rettidi. 

otio :  HC.  since  his  proconsulship  of  Asia,  after  which  he 
devoted  himself  entirely  to  ])hilosophy  and  literature.  Up  to 
that  time  he  had  also  practised  before  the  courts ;  cf.  ^l^rt. 
VII.  63.  5  fF.  aan'a  cotknrnati  non  aitipit  ante  Maronis  \  im- 
pleuit  ma{fni  quam  Ciceronin  opus :  \  hunc  viiratur  adhuc 
centum  gixiiiis  hanta  uiromm,  \  hunc  loquitur  f/rato plurimiM  ore 
cliens.  \  ...emerifos  ^[usi.i  at  Phoebo  tradldit  annoSj  \  proque  sua 
celebrat  nunc  Helicoua  Joro. 

4.  sine  potentia,  sine  inuidia :  without  influence,  because  he 
had  deliberately  withdrawn  from  politics,  and  therefore 
without  sutTcring  from  that  hostility  that  is  a  necessary  con- 
comitant of  power. 

salutabatur :  according  to  old  Roman  custom  every  man 
of  position  received  his  clients  and  friends  in  formal  audience 
in  his  alHum  early  each  morning.  The  main  purpose  of  the 
visit  was  that  of  courteous  paying  of  respect,  but  business 
might  l>e  couibined  with  p^diteness  (cf.  I.  5.  8,— Sel.  4, — 
n.  mane).  By  the  middle  of  the  first  century  a.d.  the  formal 
salulatio  of  the  clienies  was  rendered  simply  for  the  sake  of 
securing  the  customary  dole  {^jwrtufa:  cf.  ii.  14.  4  n., — Sel. 
20;  III.  12.  2  (Sel.  27)  n.  ojHcia  antelucana),  and  by  the  end 
of  the  century  the  regular  promiscuous  ttalutatio  was  generally 
abandoned,  and  friends  called  upon  their  friends,  as  in  the 
case  of  Silius,  out  of  real  regard.  Cf.  Friedliinder  Sittrn- 
l/t'itch.^  I.  pp.  382  ff. 

non  ex  fortnna  frequenti :  the  thronging  of  his  room  was 
not  due  to  anything  else  than  his  own  personal  C|ualities, 
for  he  was  not  concerne<l  directly  or  indirectly  in  ]>olitics,  and 
had  an  heir  to  his  great  wealth  living  in  gootl  health  ;  cf. 
Tac.  DiaJ.  6  quid  enim  didciim  lUttro  el  ingemto  aiiimo  tt  ad 
uohipta/eM  hovestaM  uato  quam  vidrre  pfennm  nemper  ft  /re- 
qnentem  domum  Muam  rofirursn  sp/endidiHsimoritm  hominnm, 
idque  ftn're  nou  prruniae^  non  orhitati^  non  officii  alicuius 
adminintrntioni^  sed  sihi  ip«i  dari  ? 


282  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.         25. 4. 

doctlssimis  sermonibus  :  sc.  ou  tlicmes  of  philosophy ;  cf. 
the  reference  in  Epict.  Diss,  iii.  8.  7  ^IraKiKbs  6  fidXiara  doKw» 
avrdjif  <f>i\6<ro<f>os  etvai  trapovTos  vot4  fwv  xo^^^^f<^'  "^^^  idiois  Cjs 
d»T^K€aTa  trdffx^*'*  ot»  Suvafjiai,  (^rj,  <f>ip€i»,  k.t.X. 

6.  carmina:  his  only  known  work  is  the  lonj^est  poem 
extant  in  the  Latin  language,  the  Puuica,  an  epic  account  of 
the  second  Punic  war  in  seventeen  books.  This  was  certainly 
the  chief  work  of  his  mature  years,  but  the  so-called  Ilicui 
Laiina,  or  Homerus  LoUiniJUi,  is  also  with  great  probability 
ascribed  to  him  as  a  product  of  his  youthful  studies.  It  is  a 
brief  (1070  hexameters)  Latin  abstract,  rather  than  transla- 
tion, from  Homer's  Wad^  and  is  the  only  one  of  many  such 
works  of  the  classical  period  that  survived,  and  was  popular 
in,  the  middle  ages. 

maiore  cura  quam  ingenio:  the  characterization  is 
entirely  well-judged.  But  Martial  of  course  praises  his 
patrons  verse  exuberantly,  ranking  him  even  with  Vergil; 
Mart.  IV.  14 ;  vii.  63 ;  xi.  49. 

recitationibus :  cf.  i.  13.  1  (Sel.  9)  n.  rtcilaret. 

6.  aduentu  noui  principis :  «c.  Trajan,  who  was  serving  as 
legate  of  Upper  Germany  at  the  time  of  Nerva's  death  (Jan. 
27,  98),  and  did  not  return  to  Rome  till  the  next  year.  The 
great  public  rejoicing  in  the  city  on  the  occasion  of  his  entry 
as  emperor  is  magnilocjuently  described  by  Pliny  in  Pan, 
22  ff.  Under  a  jealous  emperor  like  Domitian  the  failure  of 
any  Roman  of  rank  to  come  to  the  capital  and  pay  his  respects 
in  person  on  such  an  occasion  would  nave  been  perilous. 

7.  hoc  libenim  ftiit :  see  also  on  Trajan's  temper  regarding 
such  formalities  Pan.  24  libtitim  tt<t  iwjrtdicute  jmr  puUiaim 
pnucipe  sulmstere,  occurrere,  comif-ari,  praeterirt ;  48  itaqite 
non  alii  et  attoniti,  ncc  ut  pericnlum  capitis  culituri  tarditate^ 
sed  securi  el  hilaren,  cum  conimodttvi  €«/,  cotiuenimiut.  el 
admitteiUe  principe  interdum  est  aliqiiid  quod  nos  domi  quatn 
matjis  neremariwn  Cenea^ ;  exciiaaii  «emper  tihi  nee  unqnam 
exciisandi  KUinns. 

<|>iXdKaXos,  a  virtuoso:  cf.  II.  3.  8  d^cXoKaXoi',  illitttratum, 
intrs^  ar  pa-ene  tfiam  tur^te  est  von  putare^  etc.,  where,  as 
also  in  Greek,  the  epithet  is  used  in  a  more  general  sense. 

usque  ad  emacitatis  reprebensionem :  with  the  phrase- 
ology cf.  Spart.  Vil.  Iladr.  2.  1  uenaudo  tutqtic  ad  rcprc- 
htiisioucm  Htudiosus. 

S.  uillas :  among  them  he  owned  a  villa  that  lm<l  been 
Cicero's  (Mart.  xi.  4S), — jKirhaps  (but  not  probably)  his 
Tiusculunumf  as  De  Rossi  inferred  from  a  certain  inscription 


25.8. 


NOTES.  283 


{C.I.L.  XIV.  2653)  discovered  at  that  place  {Bull.  Coin.  Rom. 
1882,  pp.  141  ff.).  Teuffel  (Schwabe)  thought  the  villa  iiiight 
be  Cicero's  Cumanum  {Gtsch.  rOm.  Lil.^,  §  320.  1),  Nissen, 
his  Arpinas  {Hal.  Landesk.  i.  p.  330.  n.  1). 

imag^um:  of.  i.  10.  8  (Sel.  11)  n.  imagines. 

uenerabatur :  a  favourite  word  of  Pliny  in  relation  to 
learning  and  things  connected  therewith ;  cf.  ill.  15.  2 
Itoeticen  relifjiosissiine  naieror  \  iv.  28.  2  ntudionim  mimma 
reuerentia ;  vi.  17.  5  omnes  qui  aliqxiid  in  studiis  /acinnt 
uenerari  etiam  mirarique  soUo ;  vii.  25.  1  maximum  opna 
sileniio  reuerentur  ;  31.  5  .shulia  quoqtie  utnei-atur. 

Verglli  ante  omnes :  the  regard  of  Silius  for  Vergil  is 
shown  not  merely  by  the  flattery  of  imitation  but  by  refer- 
ences in  Martial  (//.  re.).  Annaeus  Cornutus,  the  philosopher 
and  rhetorician,  dedicated  to  Silius  his  commentaries  on 
Vergil. 

cuius  natalem  (sc.  diem)  :  Oct.  15 ;  cf.  the  lives  by 
Probus  and  Uonatus  (ap.  Kcifferscheid  Sitet.  Bell.  pp.  52  ff*.) ; 
Mart.  XII.  07.  3  Octobres  Maro  consecrauit  Idus;  Auson. 
xviii.  Epist.  XXI.  Genethl.  25  Octohres  dim  genitus  Maro 
dedicat  Idtis. 

religiosius  quam  suum :  cf.  Hor.  Carm.  iv.  11.  17  f. 
iure  Hollemnis  mihi  sandhrque  \  paene  natali  propi'io  (of  tlie 
birthday  of  Maecenas) ;  luu.  12.  1  natali,  Coruiue,  die  mihi 
dulcior  haec  lux.  To  each  man  the  celebration  of  his  own 
birthday,  by  festal  garments,  sacrifices  to  his  genius  and  to 
the  other  gods,  presents  from  (Plin.  E2i.  iv.  9.  7)  and  jollifica- 
tion with  his  friends,  was  both  a  sacred  and  a  joyous  duty  ; 
cf.  Mart.  X.  24.  1,  2  uafcdes  mihi  Martiae  KalevdaCy  \  lux 
formosior  omnihiis  Kaleudin ;  Plin.  Ej).  vi.  30.  1  debcmvM  me 
hercule  naiaies  hios  penvde  nc  nosfros  celehrare  ;  Cens.  De  die 
natali  2.  2 ;  De  Marchi  //  culto  pi'ivato  di  L*oma  antica, 
pp.  209  fT.  The  birthdays  of  the  dead  were  also  celebrated 
by  sacrifices  ;  cf.  ibid.  p.  202.  And  on  the  birthdays  of  the 
emperor  see  x.  17a.  2  (Sel.  S3)  n.  celebrare. 

ubi  monimentum.  etc.  :  Vergil  died  at  Brundisium, 
(Sept.  21,  19  it.c,  at  the  ace  of  nearly  51),  but  was  buried 
at  Naples,  within  the  seennd  milestone  on  the  roiid  to 
Puteoli,  if  we  may  trust  the  life  by  Donatus  {I.e.).  Accord- 
ing to  Martial  (xi.  4S,  -49)  the  tomb  had  been  practically 
forgotten,  and  was  in  the  possession  of  some  poor  man  when 
Silius  bought  the  \y\ot  of  jrround  on  which  it  stood.  Statins 
used  to  visit  it  for  inspiration  {Silu.  iv.  4.  51  flf.).  The  little 
columbarium  of  ojtK't  rttntilntum  that  stands  just  nlK)ve  the 
entrance  to  the  ancient  grotto  of  Posilippc,  and  is  shown  to 


2R4  C.  PLINl  EPISTVLAE  SELECl^AE.  25.  a 

touriflU  as  the  tomb  of  Vergil,  has  no  claim  to  Uiat  dis- 
tinction, though  tlie  tomb  must  have  been  in  that  neighbour- 
hot  k1. 

9.  In  hac  tranquillitats,  etc :  with  the  phraseology  cf.  ii.  ]. 
4  (S.-1.  I.-».  '^ 

delicato :  i.e.  re(|uiring  care, — a  very  unusual  sense  of 
the  wonl,  which  generally  implies  something  of  the  cxf|ui8ite- 
ncjw  of  self-inilulgcucc  (cf.  t.ff.  vii.  24.  3,— Sel.  52) ;  cf.  also 
II.  11.  25  (8el.  17)  u.  ddicatiitsimat, 

consul:  coH.  ordinariun  in  a.d.  68,  with  Galerius 
Trachalus:    cf.  Mart.  vii.  63.  9. 

10.  quo  oonsule  Hero  p«riit :  not  that  Silius  was  actually 
consul  at  the  time  of  Nero's  deatli  (June  9,  08),  for  his 
nuntlinum  had  expired  (or  he  had  been  de|K)sed  before  tbe 
time  ;  cf.  Suet.  Nero  43),  but  that  he  was  eponymous  consul 
for  the  year. 

quod  me  recordantem,  etc. :  cf.  the  phraseology  in  v.  5. 
7  (Sel.  37),  and  the  meditation  on  the  shoi^tness  and  uncertainty 
of  life  in  iv.  24  (tantas  conuersiones  atU  frcLgUitoA  mortcditaits 
a  lit  fortunae  moH)ilita8  facit),  Tlic  idea  is  a  «Stoic  commonplace 
(cf.  Sen.  Ep,  49.  3  punctum  est  qntxl  uitumwit  tt  adhuc  jmnclo 
mmtM),  and  Petronios  satirizes  it  in  Sal,  42  hen,  eheu,  uires 
iiiflcLti  anibulamiiA ;  mhioris  quam  mtiscae  «*mti«;-  mn^cae 
tamcn  aliquam  uirtntem  habtJit ;  noa  nmi  pliiris  fnimtu  quam 
bullae. 

11.  tam  circumcisum,  tarn  toeue:  cf.  i.  20.  4  (Sel.  13) 
circHiiicisac  el  breues. 

modo  modo,  only  just  now  :  an  evidently  colloquial 
reduplication,  wliich  is  fully  developed  in  Italian  ;  cf.  Petr. 
42  ChrysanlhuH  animam  eMliil — modo  modo  me  appellauit ; 
also  V.  6.  32  loiuje  loiujeque. 

cum  interim,  xohile  the  fact  is  that :  cf.  the  same  expres- 
sion in  III.  16.  13  (Sel.  28) ;  viii.  14.  13 ;  and  cum  iiUerea 
with  the  same  nieming  in  Pan.  4,  70.  Both  phrases  arc 
classical  in  this  sense. 

gesserant ...  superest :  on  the  sequence  see  i.  2.  1  (Sel.2)  h. 
prom'tHcram  exhibco. 

12.  quanquam,  avd  yti  (icafroc)  :  as  not  intrcfiuently  ;  cf. 
VII.  a  15  (Sel.  49);  viii.  8.  7  (Sel.  57);  24.  10  (Sel.  00);  I.\. 
3.  3;  33.  11  (Sel.  69). 

L.  Piso  :  his  praenomcn  was  Cn.  until  the  jiost  nioiion 
condemnation  of  his  father,  Cn.  Calpurnius  Tiso,  for  tho 
murder  of  (Jennanicus  (Tac.  ..4mm.  hi.  17).  He  himself  was  cos. 
ordinarius  in  a.d.  27  (Tac.  Ann.  iv.  62),  jmw/ectva  urbi  in  36 


t 


26.  13.  NOTES.  285 

(Joseph.  XVIII.  6.  5,  10),  and  proconsul  of  Africa  in  40  (Dio 
Lix.  20). 

PisoniB  iUius  qui,  etc.  :  L,  Calpurnius  Piso,  the  son,  was 
COS.  ordinarhis  in  a.d.  57  (Tac.  Ann.  xiii.  31)  with  Nero,  a/rorfer 
Ai'iialisas  early  as  57  (Henzen  Acta  Fral.  Am.  s.  an,),  cut'utor 
aquariim  in  60  to  03,  triumnir  ii£c(if/cUilms  puhlicia  curandU 
in  62  (Tac.  Ann.  xv.  18),  and  in  69  proconsul  of  Africa, 
where  he  was  killed  by  Valerius  Festus  m  70 ;  see  below. 

Valeric  Festo  :  C.  Calpetanus  RantiusQuirinalis  Valerius 
Festus  (so  inscrr.  give  his  full  name)  had  passed  through  the 
usual  grades  of  office,  and  was  lerjains  jtro  praetore  in  com- 
mand of  troops  in  the  province  of  Africa  under  Piso  as 
proconfnd.  He  was  related  to  Vitellius  by  marriage,  and 
at  first  tried  to  steer  a  middle  course  between  him  and 
Vespasian  (Tac.  Hint.  ii.  98),  going  so  far  as  to  make  an 
attempt  (but  fruitlessly)  to  enlist  Piso  on  the  side  of 
the  Vitellians  as  a  leader  against  Vespasian.  But  when 
Mucianus  sent  a  centurion  with  orders  to  kill  Piso, 
Festus  joined  the  winning  side,  and  Piso  was  killed  by  a 
band  of  cavalry  despatched  by  Festus  and  aided  in  identify- 
ing the  governor  by  the  procurator,  Bnebius  Mussa  (Tac. 
Hut.  IV.  49  f.),  whom  Pliny  later  prosecuted  for  extortion  in 
Baetica  (in.  4.  4 ;  vi.  29.  8  ;  vii.  33).  Festus  was  rewarded 
by  Vespasian  with  military  decorations,  and  with  the  consul- 
ship in  71,  and  had  a  successful  career  in  high  office  under 
him  and  Titus. 

per  siiTnmnm  fadnus;  for  he  was  himself  more  of  a 
Vitellian  than  Piso,  and  very  probably  his  false  information 
led  Mucianus  to  order  Piso's  death. 

consul :  in  a.d.  27  ;  see  above. 

sententiam  rogauisset:  the  technical  phrase  for  calling 
upon  the  senators,  in  due  and  formal  order  individually,  to 
speak  their  minds  (dicere  Htnteiitiam)  upon  the  question  bejfore 
the  house ;  cf.  IX.  13.  9  (Sel.  64)  n.  seittenfiar  foro. 

13.  tarn  . . .  tantae  :  a  double  epip/tonenia ;  cf.  in.  5.  13 
(Sel.  24)  n.  fanfa. 

angrustis  terminis  concluditur :  cf.  ix.  2.  3  vo^i  qunm 
amjusftM  (erminis  rlavdavnir  .  .  .  jTcrtipiris. 

uiuacitas  ipsa,  fhr  rlfnfifj/  ifKclf  :  i.e.  the  ut most  jrrasp  on 
life  of  so  large  a  numl)er, — the  life  of  the  most  long-lived 
among  thom. — is  yet  so  short. 

illae  regriae  lacrimae  :  thoy  soom  to  have  part.ikcn  of  ti 
s.'inrian  cliaractcr.  or  to  resemble  those  of  the  oy.*!trr-dev<»iir- 
ing  Walrus. 


aw  C.  PTJXI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTTAE.        85.  13. 

f«nmt :  the  itor^-  is  told  bv  Herodotus  (ni.  45  f.),  and 
is  elsewhere  repeated  ;  cf.  e.g.  Sen.  BrtH,  Vit.  17.  2. 

cam,  etc. :  when  on  his  wa}*  to  invade  Greece  he  saw  the 
entire  Hollcsjwnt  completely  coverecl  from  view,  and  the 
surrounding  plains  and  neights  filled  with  his  mighty  army. 

breois,  immiutnt :  this  adjective  is  used  by  Pliny  nearly 
forty  tinu'tf  in  s<ime  fonn,  but  only  here  in  this  sense.  Nor 
can  similar  iujtt.'inccs  he  readily  cited  from  other  writers. 
But  tho  meaning  is  akin  to  that  of  the  adverbial  ablath'e 
{hrtni,  *  shortly  *),  which  occurs  several  times  in  Pliny,  as  else- 
where. 

14.  datur :    sc.   -projtrrty  according  to    Pliny's    frequent 
syllepses  ;  cf.  Kraut  pp.  42  ff. 

In  aliena  mann :  sc.  jtrinripift,  who  alone  can  promote  to 
honour  and  adniinistratio:i :  but  each  man  may  command  his 
own  brain ;  cf.  ill.  20.  12  swU  quidem  cnncta  sub  itnius 
nrhitrio. 

proferamus :  cf.  ii.  7.  4  ut  nit  a  tim  breuis  H  anmiafa 
firhuet'it  hac  <RC.  ntatwify  wfuf  immortaJlitate  pro/erri ;  Sil.  ix. 
.*i75f.  ;  hrtuii*  koc  uitae,  qualcttmqiie  relicium,  \  extendatnua  ^mc. 
uiriHtt.y 

relinqamaa  ...  testemnr :  cf.  v.  5.  4  (Sel.  37)  memariam 
jTHi  ofterUtM  txttmhint ;  CJic.  TSi^e.  i.  109  uita  acta  perfickU  tit 
mtU  Muj^erque  uixisse  uidfamnr. 

15.  correntem  qnoqne  instigem :  cf.  i.  8.  1  addidisti  ergo 
mfraria  fponfe  cnrrtnti  ;  the  expression  is  proverbial  in  both 
<Jnvk  and  T^tin,  going  back  as  far  as  Homer;  cf.  //.  viii. 
2?)S  f.  \\rp€idri  «rj''5«<rTe,  tI  fie  (nr({'do¥Ta  Kal  avrbu  \  drpC'peit ; 
cf.  Otto  SprichicOrffr  pp.  102,  103. 

ikyoB^  8*  Ipis :  from  Hesiod  Op.  24,  where  he  remarks 
that  stimulus  to  effort  is  found  in  ol>serving  another's  success. 

cum,  etc.  :  cf.  vii.  20.  2  (Sel.  51)  o  ptifrhras  tiiVe«,  etc. 

in  nicem,  cnrh  i»  tvni  :  but  hardly  (liffcrcnt  from 
mutuis,  M'hich,  with  it  and  se  niakos  a  truly  sur))rising 
I>l«M)nasni,  oven  in  a  pleonastic  writer  :  cf.  vn.  2<i.  7  (S«*l.  51), 
whert'  in  uhn»  means  *  <»nt:h  r>tbt'r,'  tlw  object  of  the  verb 
)M«ing  ouiittcit,  and  also  iv.   10.  S  (Sel.  'M)  n.  In  uhrm. 

26.     (HI.  11.) 

The  praise  of  Artemidorus. — Iwlins  (Jouitor.  to  whom  this 
letter  is  aiblresscd.  was  a  profe-jsioiial  rliet<ni«'ian,  and  is 
highly   extolled    by    Pliny   in    in.   X  4  iV.  for  eliaractcr  and 


26. 3.  NOTES.  287 

ability.  Two  other  letters  are  addressed  to  him,  one  on 
Pliny's  studies  (vii.  30),  and  the  other  (ix.  17)  on  the  variety 
of  entertainments  at  dinner. 

1.  omnino,  in  (jenercU. 

Artemidori :  nothing  more  is  known  of  him  than  is  con- 
tained in  this  letter. 

2.  philosophi  ab  tirbe  summoti :  by  Domitian,  in  that  fatal 
year  93 ;  cf.  i.  5.  2  (Sel.  4)  n.  Rmtici  Aruleni ;  Suet.  Dom. 
10  intereviU  .  .  .  lunium  Rimticxim  .  .  .  cuius  criminis  occa- 
sioiie  philosophos  omnU  urhe  Italiaque  snmmouit ;  Gell.  XV.  11. 
3  fF.  (eiecli  cUqm  urbe  et  Italia  interdkti) ;  Sulp.  Sat.  36  ff. 
{abire  foraA  atqne  urf)e  excedere  iitssit).  Eusebius  in  his 
Chronica  (Armenian  version)  saj's  the  philosophers  were 
driven  out  of  Rome  also  in  .v.d.  89  ;  cf.  also  Dio  Cass.  LXVII. 
13.  2  dXXw  T€  tK  rrjs  avTTJi  Tavrrjs  rrjs  Kara  ttjv  (f>i\oao<pia.v  airlai 
avx^oi   dtuAovTOf  Kal  oi    Xoiirol    rrduTts  e^rjXddrjaav    ai5^i«    «k  rrjs 

apud  ilium  in  suburbano  :  perhaps  after  the  decree  but 
before  the  limit  of  time  set  for  the  departure  from  Italy. 
Yet  as  Pliny  (like  some  others ;  see  above)  mentions  sj)eciH- 
cally  onlj'  «r6e,  and  not  urbe  et  Jfalia,  some  have  supposed 
that  the  decree  of  expulsion  from  Italy  was  a  later  addition  to 
the  original  measure. 

periculosius. :  as  a  possible  challenge  to  Domitian's 
wrath. 

praetor :  it  is  from  this  mention  alone  that  the  date  <»f 
Pliny's  praetorship  is  determined  as  9.'{  a.ik,  or  jwssibly  94. 

qua...  opus  erat:  proliably  to  enable  him  to  conclude 
his  business  affairs  at  once  in  view  of  his  speedy  removal  from 
Italy. 

ex  causis  :  cf.  i.  2.  6  (Sel.  2)  n.  ex  caxuds, 

mussantibus :  perhaps  not  so  much  on  account  of  the 
possibility  of  loss  through  the  removal  of  Artcmidorus  as 
because  tln-y  feared  tlic  cmixiror. 

gnratuitam  dedi,  /  {fare  outright :  though  all  Artcmidorus 
had  ti'wd  to  secure  Mas  a  loan.  Pliny  not  iufn*<|UfUtly  nmde 
large  gifts  to  friends  in  nee»l. --l»ut  s*»nie  understand  gratui- 
tam  to  mean  '  without  charging  interest/  com)mring  such 
fiassages  as  Suet.  In/.  27  oitniihiut  .  .  .  ijratuito  avt  hni  fevore 
ohsfn'rffM^  which  is  cjuite  |H»ssiblc. 

3.  Senecione :  cf.  i.  .'>.  3  (Sel,  4)n.  nfrcnnhim  $^(n*riomm. 
Rustico  :  <*f.  I.  .'».  2  (Sc?!.  4)  n.  //«/</»>/  Aniievi, 


288  0.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.         26. 3. 

Heluidio :  the  son  of  that  Heluidius  Priscus  who  was  the 
husband  of  Fannia  (daughter  of  Thrasea  Paetus  and  the 
younger  Arria),  and  liad  oeen  banished  by  Nero  in  G6,  and, 
after  quarrels  with  Vespasian,  again  banished  by  him  and 
finally  put  to  death  in  exile.  The  younger  Heluidius  had 
been  consul,  perhaps  mftectiis  in  87,  and  was  accused  maiestatia 
laesae  in  93  by  Publicius  Certus  and  put  to  «leatli.  He  left 
two  daughters  and  a  son  (iv.  21),  of  whom  perhaps  all,  but  at 
least  one  daughter  was  by  Anteia  (ix.  13.  4, — Sel.  64) ;  and 
Pliny  undertook  to  avenge  his  death  upon  his  prosecutor  {II. 
cc, ).  The  relationships  of  this  revolutionary  family,  so  often 
mentioned  by  Pliny,  can  be  most  clearly  indicated  by  a  simple 
stemnta : 

(142)  Caecina  Paetus  +  Arria  (t42). 

j 


I 


(son  :  cf.  III.  16.  2).     I 

?  C.  Caecina  Paetus  (cos.  suff.  74). 

{\^)  P.  Thrasea  Paetus  +  Arria  (f  bet.  97  and  107). 

.  .  .  +(l)(tc.76)Heluidiu8Pri8cus(2)+Fannia(tc.l07). 

(t93)  Heluidius  -i-  (1)  Anteia  (2)  -i- .  .  . 


Heluidius.  | 

(n02-105)Heluidia  +  .  .  .  I 

•    (tl02-10.5)Heluidia+.  .  . 

(dan.)  (dan.) 

relegatis  :  cl.  i.  5.  5  (Sel.  4)  n.  rdcgatus. 
Blanrico :  cf.  i.  6.  10  (Sel.  4)  n.  Mauricum, 

Gratilla:  mentioned  in  v.  1.  8,  in  connection  with  Aru- 
lenus  Rusticus,  as  one  of  the  condemned,  but  otherwise 
«inknown. 

Arria :  the  3'ounger  ;  cf.  the  stemma  above,  and  notes  on 
HI.  16  (Sel.  28),  VII.  19  (Sel.  50),  ix.  13  (Sel.  64)  ^Kissim. 

Fannia :  see  the  ntcmma  above,  and  Pliny's  description  of 
her  in  vii.  19  (Sel.  50). 

fulniinibus  quasi  ambustus :  cf.  the  siiino  figure  in  Pan. 
90  utrumqm  vofdrum  [sc.  Comutus  and  Pliny]  Uh  ojitimi 
ruiu.<qiw  MpnliaJor  ft  camiffjc  sfrnrfflnifi  aitnro7'inn  [sc.  Domi- 
tiaii]  cf  iu  jiroximum  iartofuJmivf  a^Iflanrmf. 

quibusdam  notis  :  r.7.  such  attack.*!  as  that  ff  Rcgulus, 
describe<l  in  i.  5.  4-7  (Sel.  4).     That  the  i>roj:no}<tication  was 


26.8. 


NOTES.  289 


not  unfounded  is  perhaps  indicated  by  the  fact  mentioned 
in  VII.  27.  14  (Sel.  54).  But  Pliny  may  be  exaggerating  his 
own  danger ;  cf.  Introd.  p.  xxiii. 

6.  C.  Musonlum:  C.  Musonius  Rufus,  a  native  of  Etruria, 
and  a  teacher  of  Stoic  philosophy  at  Kome,  was  banished  by 
Nero  in  65  to  Gyarus  as  a  corruptor  of  vouth  (Tac.  Ann.  xv. 
71  ;  Dio  LXii.  27.  4).  In  69  he  preached  peace  uusuccessfull}' 
to  the  troops  of  Antonius,  as  a  member  of  the  embassy  of 
Vitellius  with  Arulenus  Rusticus  (Tac.  Hv*t.  iii.  81  ;  cf.  PI. 
Ep.  I.  5.  2  n.  (Sel.  4).  But  he  apparently  got  on  well  with 
Vespasian  later,  for  in  71,  when  that  emperor  Imnishcd  all 
philosophers  from  Rome,  he  especiallj'  excepted  Musonius. 
His  later  life  is  unknown,  though  many  fragments  of  his 
teachings  are  preserved,  especially  in  Stobaeus. 

quantum  lidtus  est  per  aetatem  :  on  the  phraseology  cf. 
II.  13.  8  (Sel.  19)  quantum  potui  per  aetatem. 

cum  admiratlone  dilexi :  cf.  i.  22.  1  q'iiem  singulariter  et 
miroret  dUigo. 

com  militarem:  cf.  vii.  4.  3  (Sel.  47),  and  Introd.  p.  xxi. 

indolis  dedi  specimen :  with  the  phraseology  cf.  ii.  7.  4 
Cot(iu8  ipse  tarn  clarum  specimen  indolis  dederaZ. 

ant  proximum,  etc.  :  for  the  Stoics  taught  that  no  man 
was  absolutely  sapiens:  cf.  Quint,  xii.  1.  18  quo  modo  Sfoici, 
si  interrof/entury  an  sapiens  Zeno  an  Cleanthe»  an  ChrysippuSj 
respondeant  magnos  quidem  illos  oc  ueneraJiiles,  non  tamen  id 
quod  natura  hominis  summum  habet  canMecufos;  so  Seneca 
frequently,  and  so  St.  Paul  {PhU.  3.  12),  not  that  I  have  already 
attained  .  ,  .  hut  I  pursue  ajlei\  etc.  Cf.  also  v.  20.  5 
eloquentia  uix  uni  aut  cUteri,  immo,  si  Af.  Antonio  credimusy 
nemini  .  .  .  contigit. 

6.  qua  patentia,  etc. :  the  virtues  recited  are  all  common- 
place virtues  of  the  Stoic  system,  and  most,  if  not  sill,  of 
them  are  extolled  by  Musonius  (ap.  Stob.  pa^m). 

7.  qnibus  meruit,  etc.  :  precisely  like  Euphrates,  whose 
virtues  led  him  to  be  preferred  as  a  son-in-law  above  many 
other  suitors  ;  cf.  i.  10.  8  (Sel.  7). 

omnibus  omnium :  cf.  similar  collocation  in  Pan.  32  ad 
omivs  omnium  bona  jKrtintiUx  i.  20.  7  (Sel.  13)  rtndtae. 
mtdtorum  oratUmes  ;  viii.  8.  7  (Sel.  67)  m%dta  nndtorum. 

adsectatoribus,  dlsciplfsi  cf.  Sen.  Ep.  0.5.  18  sapiens 
adtertatorque  Mapinitiae  \    ii.    14.    10  (Sel.  20)  n.   adxerfafntr. 

8.  ne  modum  excedat:  as  Pliny  himself  was  fnultc^l  for 
«loing  :  cf.  vii.  28.  1  (Sel.  .55). 


290  C.  rUNI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.         M.& 

Umc      ooepi :  on  the  resumptive  phimae  cf.  i.  5.  16  (SeL 
4)  n.  M/  itUm  saepiwt  dieeai^ 

9.  honetto...erTore:  cf.   vii.  28.  2   (Sel.   55)  quid  emm 
huMStiuii  cut/M  UuitjHiUUwf 

pluris  :  genitive  of  estimation,— rare,  if  not  unique,  with 
«iW«i7itii'i. 


27.    (m.  11.) 

Accepting  an  invitation  to  dinner. — L.  ratilins  Seneros, 
tho  |H>raon  ail<lres9ed,  6Uod  a  6rst  consulship  at  some  unknown 
tUte,  and  was  proconsul  of  Asia.  Hadrian  left  him  in 
ot^niinand  of  Syria  on  his  return  to  Rome  after  his  accession 
(S|)art.  Hadr.  5.  10),  and  ^xe  him  a  second  consulship  {cot, 
ord,)  in  1*20,  appointing  him  later  prefect  of  the  city.  He 
even  ;ispired  to  l)c  Hadrian's  successor,  and  lost  his  office  as 
prefect  on  the  adoption  of  Antonine  in  138  {ibid,  24.  6-8). 
Hut  though  he  failetl  of  empire  himself,  his  granddaughter, 
l)onutia  Lucilla,  was  mother  of  the  emperor  M.  Aurelins,  who 
bore  in  early  life  the  name  of  his  maternal  great-grandfather 
(Capit.  M,  Anr,  1.  3,  9).  Pliny  addresses  to  him  one  other 
letter,— I.  22,— on  the  illness  of  Titius  Aristo.  With  this 
letter  should  l)e  com|>ared  its  companion-piece,  i.  15  (Sel.  10). 

1.  ezpedita :  t.e.  without  much  appcaratus  (§  4),  simply 
served. 

parca,  inexpewnvt :  without  much  impendium  (§  4). 
Socraticis  sermonitras :  perhaps  quoted  from  Hor.  Oarm. 
III.  21.  9f.  noH  iUt  'ixumquam  Socraticis  madet  |  sermonilma  U 
neijlefjit  horridwi.  Conversations  on  serious  themes  are 
fueiint,  such  as  Plato  represents  in  his  Dialogues ;  cf.  alao 
III.  1.  6,  9  (Sel.  23). 

a.  oflicia  anfelucmna :  t.e.  for  the  most  part  the  early  morn- 
ing wlufatio  ;  cf.  III.  5.  9  (Sel.  24) ;  iii.  7.  4  (Sel.  25)  n.  ra/tcta- 
ffttiir ;  so  Juvenal  (3.  127;  5.  19)  speaks  of  the  nalutatoren  as 
starting  out  while  it  was  yet  night,  lest  others  get  ahead  of 
them  in  (viying  their  respects ;  and  so  two  Ronum  knights 
pli>tteil  to  kill  (yiccro  in  his  l)ed  before  daybreak,  presenting 
themselves  jus  snlnfafares  (Cic.  Cat,  I.  9,  10). 

Catoni  :  so-called  r/icr N^n*  (great-grandson  of  Oto  Censor), 
the  stiff-necked,  uncompromising,  and  uncon(|uerable  foe  of 
tlu»  }topularfA^  and  of  their  great  leader  Julius  (^'aesiir,  and  a 

{)rofosscd  nio<lcl  of  upright  character.  After  the  disastrous 
Kittle  of  Pharsalus  (at  which  he  was  not  present,  lieinc  then 
in  couiuianil  at  Dyrrhachium)  he  Kiile<l  for  .\frica,  an«T  took 


28.  NOTES.  291 

command  of  the  Pompeian  garrison  in  Utica.  On  the  defeat 
of  Scipio  and  Labienus  by  Caesar  at  Thapsus,  Cato,  recogniz- 
ing that  the  cause  was  lost,  committed  suicide  (B.C.  -16).  On 
his  model  virtue  cf.  Val.  Max.  ii.  10.  8  omnibiis  numais 
perfecta  uirttiSy  qiiati  quidcrti  cffecU  ul  quisquia  nanctum  atque 
egregium  ciuem  signijicare  udit  mib  nomine  CcUonu  definiaf. 

C.  Caesar:  in  his  Anticatones.  Soon  after  the  announce- 
ment of  Gate's  suicide,  Cicero  published  a  panegyric  upon  him, 
called  by  his  name,  Cato^  in  which  he  set  forth  more  particu- 
larly the  excellences  of  his  personal  character.  This  provoked 
Caesar  to  a  reply,  and  he  found  time  at  about  the  date  of  the 
battle  of  Munda  to  publisli  two  books  Anticatones^  in  wliich 
he  complimented  Cicero,  but  scored  Cato's  reputation  un- 
mercifully. Both  works  are  known  to  us  by  ancient  report 
only. 

3.  ebrii:  Plutarch  remarks  upon  devotion  to  wine  as  a 
growing  failing  of  Cato's  ;  Cat.  min.  6  irpoLbvTL  rip  xp^^V  fJ^d^ifTTa 
TTponleTO  TTipeiPf  &aT€  TToWaKis  iv  olvtp  didyeiif  els  6p0pov  ;  and  its 
inconsistency  with  the  rest  of  his  stern  character  was  so 
striking  as  to  provoke  frequent  remark  even  in  the  following 
generation ;  ci.  Sen.  Tt-unq.  17.  4  Cato  uino  laxabat  animum 
curia  ptiblicis  fatigalum  ;  17.  9  Catoni  ebrietas  obiecta  eat  ; 
/acilius  efficietj  quisquis  ofneceritj  hoc.  crimen  hoJiestum  quam 
turpem  Catouem  ;  Mart.  ii.  89.  Perhaps  the  younger  Cato 
was  but  trying  to  emulate  his  distinguished  ancestor  in  this 
as  in  other  things ;  cf.  of  Cato  Censor,  Hor.  Cami.  iii.  21. 
11  f.  narratur  et  priaci  Catoiiis  \  aaepe  mero  caJuisse  uirlus; 
Cic.  Sen.  46  ego  tvero  propter  aemwiiU  delectationem  tempeatima 
qvoqne  conniniis  defector j  nee  cmn  aequcdibna  aofmn,  qui  pavci 
culmodum  restani^  sed  aim  nestra  efiam  actate  atqne  vohiacnm. 

4.  apparatus  :  embracing  the  *  elaboration '  of  cookery  and 
service,  such  as  was  carried  to  an  extreme  in  Trimalchio's 
famous  dinner  (Tetr.  31  ff.). 

neque  enixn  ..possint  nisi  at :  cf.  the  same  construction 
in  II.  11.  16(Sel.  17)  n. 


28.     (III.  16.) 

The  true  jrroatncss  of  the  ehler  Arria. — The  Ncpos  to  whom 
this  letter  is  addresse<l  may  Ikj  identiHed  with  the  Nepos  of 
two  other  letters  (ii.  :< ;  vi.  19),  an<l  he  with  the  (P.)  Metilhis 
(Sabinu.s)  Ncjins  of  i\'.  *J(),  who  was  then  al>out  to  take  coin- 
mand  of  some  proviiioo,  and  is  mentioned  in  the  Ar/a  Fratntm 
Anudivm  (a.ii.  lO'i)  a.s  admitted  to  that  college.      His  place 


292  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.        28, 2. 

therein  was  filled  by  another  election  in  118,  presumably  after 
his  death.     Nothing  more  is  kno^-n  of  him. 

2.  Fanniae  :  wife  of  Heluidius  Priscus,  and  granddaughter 
of  Caecina  Paetus  and  Arria  ;  cf.  iii.  11.3  (Scl.  2Ki)  n.,  and  the 
stenwia  there  given.  • 

Arriae :  wife  of  Caecina  Paetus  (see  stemma  under  iii.  11. 
3  n., — Sel.  26),  who  was  involved  in  the  uprising  of  Camillus 
Scribonianus,  governor  of  Dalmatia,  against  Claudius.  He 
was  brought  from  Dalmatia  to  Rome  for  trial,  found  guilty, 
and  forced  to  commit  suicide  (a.d.  42).  Arria's  counigeous 
example  to  him  is  commemorated  also  in  Dio  Cass.  LX.  16.  6  f ., 
and  in  Mart.  i.  13.  With  her  action  in  sharing  her  husband's 
death  may  ha  compared  that  of  the  woman  of  Como  (vi.  24), 
of  the  wife  of  the  philosopher  Seneca  (Tac.  Ann.  xv.  63),  and 
of  the  mother-in-law  and  daughter  of  L.  Vetus  (Tac.  Ann, 
x^n.  11). 

3.  Caedna  Paetus:  see  stemma , {I.e.)  and  preceding  note. 
Paetus  had  been  consul  (§  8),  but  the  year  is  unknown. 

4.  quotiens  intraret:  cf.  i.  12.  7  (Sel.  8)  n.  quoiiens 
intrasset, 

quid  ageret :  colloquial ;  cf.  i.  3.  1  (Sel.  3)  quid  aait 
Comum ;  ii.  11.  25  (Sel.  17)  quid  aegetes  ctgunt ;  iii.  20.  11  ilia 
UiUf/aria  *  qnid  ctfjis,' 

6.  gloria  et  aetemltas  ante  ocolos  erant :  with  the  phrase- 
ology cf .  IX.  3.  1  mihi  wUi  praemium  aetemitatis  ante  oculos, 
pingtve  Ulnd  altumque  otium  placeaL  Pliny's  own  persistent 
passion  for  posthumous  and  enduring  fame  leads  him  much 
to  misapprehend  the  more  unconscious  motives  of  the  human 
heart. 

7.  Scribonianus:  M.  Furius  Camillus  Scribonianus  had 
l>een  consul  in  a.d.  32,  and  ten  years  later  was  proconsul  of 
Illy ri cum.  It  was  a  time  of  great  dissatisfaction  with  the 
rule  of  Claudius,  and  Scribonianus  boldly  (Suet.  Claud.  35) 
raised  the  standard  of  revolt,  proclaiming  the  ancient  republic 
(l)io  Cass.  LX.  15).  But  the  troops  declined  to  follow  him 
into  Italy,  and  he  fled  to  an  island,  where  he  was  killed  by  one 
of  his  own  soldiers  (Tac.  Hu<t,  ii.  75 ;  but  Dio,  with  loss  pro- 
biibilit}',  says  that  he  killed  himself). 

8.  seruulos  :  probably  a  diminutive  of  depreciation, 
aliquos  :  the  extreme  sulxlivision  of  labour  amonj:j  slaves 

in  ancient  Rome  is  well  kno\\ni  (Marquardt  Priinf/.^  pp. 
137  ff.).  Arria  mentions  personal  sorvices  that  wouul 
ordinarily  be  hold  to  recjuire  at  least  three  several  slaves. 

9.  uxori  Scriboniani  :  VMbia  by  name  ;  cf.  Tac.  Ann.  xii.  52. 


I 


28.  12.  NOTES.  293 

cum  ilia  profiteretur  indidum,  when  she  turned  slattH  [in 
Great  Britain  hiwfft]  evidence^  with  regard  to  the  accomplices 
in  the  uprising,  concerning  whom  Claudius  in  his  fear  made  a 
very  thorough  investigation  (Dio  I.e.),  Vibia  probably  saved 
her  life  thereby,  as  her  sentence  was  merely  that  of  banish- 
ment (Tac.  Ann.  xii.  52). 

ego  ...  audiam :  the  subjunctive  is  thus  used  since  the 
earliest  days  of  Latin  literature  (ordinarily  as  here  with  the 
pronominal  subject  expressed)  in  argumentative  questions  of 
surprise,  challenge,  or  indignation. 

occisus  est :  agreeing  with  the  account  of  Tacitus,  and 
not  with  that  of  Dio  (cf.  notes  above). 

et,  and  yet :  cf.  iii.  1.  9  (Sel.  23)  n.  et  antiquo. 

10.  Thrasea:  P.  Fannius  Thrasea  Paetus,  a  native  oi 
Padua,  husband  of  Caecinia  Arria,  the  daughter  of  Caecina 
Paetus  and  the  elder  Arria,  was  a  very  prominent  statesman 
during  the  reigns  of  Claudius  and  Nero,  but  hatl  clearly 
shown  his  opposition  to  Nero,  and  for  three  years  (a.d.  G3-()6) 
abstained  entirely  from  public  deliberations.  ^J'his  very  fact 
increased  his  danger  when,  in  66,  he  was  charged  with  treason, 
and  allowed  only  to  choose  the  manner  of  his  death.  His 
wife  earnestly  desired  to  follow  her  mother's  example,  but  he 
dissuaded  her  for  the  sake  of  their  daughter,  Fannia,  already 
for  more  than  fifteen  yeai*s  the  wife  of  Heluidius  Priscus. 
He  also  forbade  his  young  friend,  Arulenus  Rusticus  (cf.  i.  5. 
2  n., — Sel.  4),  a  tribune,  front  ruining  himself  by  attempting 
to  exercise  an  antiquated  right  of  veto.  Cf.  Tac.  Ann.  xvi. 
21-35  ;  Dio  Cass,  i.xii.  26  ;  Suet.  -Nero  37  ;  and  the  sttmma  in 
III.  11.  3  n.  (Sel.  26). 

uis  ergo  fiUam  tuam,  etc. :  cf.  note  above  on  the  actual 
event  twenty-four  years  later. 

11.  nihil  agitis,  you  accomffUsh  nothimj :  cf.  i.  9.  8  (Sel.  6) 
n.  9cUiwi  est,  etc. 

at  male  mortar :  cf.  per  contra  ii.  20.  8  (Sel.  22)  honam 
mortem. 

la.  cathedra:  cf.  ii.  17.  21  (Sel.  21)  n.  calhtdras 

aduerso  parieti,  atrnujht  aijninsl  the  wail :  so  the  young 
Spiirtan  died  rather  than  be  a  slave  (Sen.  A;>.  77.  14  hiHtvm 
/Hiriifi  caput  rupif) ;  .so  the  Spanish  con.'^piratfjr  cscapcil 
further  torture  (Tac.  Aiin.  iv.  45  jn'oripnit  sr  cnstoihhnH 
stixoqne  cnpvt  riffjfirlf  uf  sfnfini  cxtnihnantHr)  ;  an»l  so 
("ato  said  Im*  i-ouid  <iic  if  iii>  .««on  pcrsiKted  in  hi<liti;;  his 
sword  (pint.  Cat.  miu.  r»S  Kai  Tr)v  Ke0a\?/i'  dira^  iraTo^apro. 
wpoi  TOif  ToixO'f  diroOaiftu'  iytari). 


294  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.       28.  13. 

13.  uldentume,  etc.  :  cf.  ii.  17.  29  (Sel.  21)  n.  iustisne 
de  catms. 

ad  quod  per  haec  peruentum  est .-  wc  must  apparently 
undei-qtand  that  the  remonstrances  of  Thrasea  and  the  watch 
kept  upon  her  were  in  the  short  interval  after  the  condemna- 
tion of  her  husband  but  before  his  death  ;  and  that  when  her 
determination  was  so  clearly  indicated,  her  family  ceased 
their  opposition,  and  she  showed  Paetus  the  way  to  death  (cf 
the  case  of  Seneca's  wife  in  this  respect ;  Tac.  Ann.  xv.  63). 
Mommsen's  emendation  jKr  q^uxi  ad  haec  does  violence,  not 
merely  to  Pliny's  text,  but  to  historical  probability. 

cum  interim :  cf.  iii.  7.  11  (Sel.  25)  n.  cum  interim. 

unde  colligitur :  Pliny  has  proved  his  point  by  three 
examples  schofastica  lege  (cf.  ii.  20.  9  n., — Sel.  22). 

quod  initio  dixi :  cf.  i.  5.  16  (Sel.  4)  n.  ut  idem  saepius 
dicam. 

29.     (in.  21.) 

The  death  of  Martial. — Cornelius  Prisons,  to  whom  this 
sole  letter  is  addressed,  is  mentioned  but  once  more  in  Pliny's 
cori*espondence  (v.  20.  7),  and  that  only  as  being  an  ex -consul, 
and  speaking  on  one  occasion  (about  105  or  106  a.d.)  in  the 
senate.  An  inscription  shows  him  to  have  been  proconsul  of 
Asia  in  120  a.d.  (Hermes  iv.  178). 

1.  Valeriom  Uartialem:  the  greatest  epigrammatist  of  the 
world,  and  one  of  its  most  disagreeable  literary  characters ; 
living  by  the  careful  adulation  of  the  great  and  rich, 
whether  good  or  l>ad,  and  content  so  to  live ;  capable  of 
the  keenest  moral  discernment,  and  preferring  to  cater  to 
the  lowest  tastes.  His  last  book  of  epigrams  (L/ib.  xii.)  was 
finished  at  Bilbilis,  in  Spain,  and  (at  least  in  its  preliminary 
form)  published  at  the  end  of  101  a.d.,  though  Friedliinder 
(sec  liis  edition,  Einleitung  p.  67)  and  Stobbe  think  it  was 
later  revised,  enlarged,  ana  reissued  bj'  the  jwet.  Martial's 
d'jatli  is  not  mentioned  elsewhere.  Mommsen  thinks  that 
Hook  XII.  was  published  in  the  spring  of  1 01,  and  that  Martiar» 
death  may  he  taken  as  following  speedily  thereafter  (Etude, 
etc,  p.  14,  and  App.  C ):  Friedliinder,  on  the  other  hand, 
thinks  he  may  have  Hve<l  till  104. 

sails,  fellis,  candoris,  ?r/V,  nrrimoni/,  ffooflnafvre  ;  common 
charactejiz-itions  of  a  siitirioal  stylo  :  cf.  Ovid  on  his  own 
vor.ses,  Tn'sf.  n.  r^Cttl  \X.  voit  ego  viordari  ihslrhixi  carmine 
qtnnqunm.  I  nw  minx  n/lins  rnmina  ru.r.'Hi.s  hnhef.  !  cainlidtifi  a 
sfdilms  sHfTiists  jMlc  rrftuji :  \  mdla  uenuiato  littera  mixta  ioco 


28.  5.  NOTES.  295 

est.   So  Martial  speaks  (vii.  25)  of  the  amanvnifd  of  epigram. 
Cf.  also  I.  16.  5  (Sel.  11)  n.  amaritudtnis. 

2.  prosecutus,  honmind :  originally  of  showing  honour  to 
a  person  by  accompanying  him  to  or  from  the  forum,  or  for  a 
space  on  his  departure  from  the  city  :  see  v.  5.  2  (Sel.  37)  n- 
prosectUiia  eat ;  vi.  4.  1  (Sel.  42)  n.  proaequi. 

uiatico,  a  jmrting  gift :  probably  not  used  here  in  pre- 
cisely its  literal  sense  of  *  travelling  expenses*;  cf.  ii.  11.  23 
(Sel.  17)  n.  ungiientarii :  and  x.  43  tenia  milia,  qvae  ttiatici 
nomine  annua  dabantur  legato. 

secedentem :  cf.  i.  9.  3  (Sel.  6)  n.  aun  secesse7'is.  Martial 
had  been  silent  three  years  when,  in  101  a.d.,  he  issued  his 
Liber  xii.  from  his  retirement  in  Spain  {uhi  .  .  .  secessimuA  : 
Lib.  XII.  'praef. ) ;  and  the  final  departure  from  Rome  probably 
occurred  in  98. 

nerslcnlis :  the  diminutive  is  apparently  used  to  mark 
Pliny's  (affected)  modesty  about  referring  to  verses  compli- 
mentary to  himself. 

3.  ftdt  moris  :  cf.  ii.  19.  8  i7/w  erat  morin ;  vii.  27.  14  (Sel. 
64)  reia  moria  eat ;  viii.  19.  2  est  mihi  mwis  ;  and  the  partitive 
construction  in  i.  12.  7  (Sel.  8)  habebat  hoc  nioria. 

honorilms :  (sc.  a&  urbibua)  in  the  case  of  those  who  sang 
the  praises  of  cities :  so  e.g.  Ennius  was  given  Roman  citizen- 
ship (Cic.  Brut.  79). 

pecnnia:  in  the  case  of  those  who  extolled  individuals. 
Simonides  was  said  to  be  the  first  who  sold  his  Muse  for 
coin ;  but  Pindar,  and  many  a  later  bard, — including  such  a 
man  as  Horace, — did  not  hesitate  to  make  a  living  by  tlie  gifts 
of  the  patrons  they  served  by  their  songs.  Nor  was  tlie 
custom  a  reprehensible  one  in  the  England  of  the  eighteenth 
century.  And  Pliny  was  just  the  man  to  delight  to  play  the 
Maecenas. 

4.  tenerem :  sc.  menioridy  as  not  infrccjuently  (see  vii. 
9.  3, — Sel.  49,— n.  teneas).  So  in  iv.  27  Pliny  piaises  Scntius 
Augurinus  for  certain  verses  written  in  jmii.se  of  him,  and, 
with  some  affectation  of  difficulty  in  recollection,  writes;  them 
out  for  his  correspondent. 

in  libro  :  av.  Marl.  x.  19  (in  the  Plialaccean  metre). 
6.  mnsam :  mm  Thalia  (Mart.  x.  19.  3). 

Esqoiliis  :  at  the  up|>er  end  of  the  Subura,  near  tlio  Innix 
Orphriy  a  K>c;ility  .«till  in.-irkcd  by  the  churches  of  S.  IjKiia 
juhI  S.  Martino  'in  Orfra." 

sed  ne,  etc.:  so  Horace  bids  the  messenger  carry  Uia  lKN>k 


296  C.  PLINl  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.        29. 6. 

to  Augustus  (Ep.  I.  13  init.)  Augxisto  reddes  signata  uoluminOf 
rim,  I  si  xwlidns,  si  laetus  erity  si  denique  poscet^  etc. 

tempore  non  tuo  :  cf.  note  below  on  hora  tva. 

centum  .  ulrorum :  cf.  i.  5.  4  (Sel.  4)  n.  centummros. 

ArplnlB  (for  the  usual  Arpinatibus) :  t.e.  of  Cicero,  a 
native  of  Arpinum.  The  compliment  is  the  more  effective 
because  Pliny  professed  himself  a  follower  of  Cicero ;  cf.  i.  2. 
4  (Sel.  2)  n.  Marci, 

seras  ad  lucernas :  when  the  comissatio  was  on :  cf.  iii. 
1.  9  (Sel.  23)  n.  cmuiuium ;  Marq.  PrivaU,^  pp.  331  ff. 

liaec  hora  est  toa  :  cf.  Sen.  Med.  1017  mens  dies  est, 
tempore  accepto  xUimur;  Stat.  SiltL  ii.  7.  20  tiestra  est  ista 
die-s  ;  fauete,  Musae  /  Sil.  Ital.  xii.  193  dexter  deus,  horaqtve 
nostra  est ;  S.  Luke  22.  53  aihri  iariv  6/juap  i/  &pa. 

Lyaeiis  (Grk.  Avaios) :  an  epithet  of  Bacchus  as  the 
deliverer  from  care  (but  cf.  Seru.  on  Verg.  Aen.  iv.  68  where 
the  epithet  is  said  to  be  given  dwb  rod  \v€iv  quod  nimio  uino 
niemhra  fioluantur /) ;  cf.  Auacreout.  47  Bergk*  toD  Aibs  6 
Tois  6  Bd/cxo$,  |  6  XwrUppun^  6  AvaTos,  etc 

rigldi  Catones :  cf.  iii.  12.  2.  (Sel.  27)  n.  CcUoni.     But 
Martial  elswhere  warns  Cato  away  from  his  books  ;  cf.  Mart. 
I.  ptrief.;  XI.  2.     C!f.  the  contrast  between  Pliny  and  Cato 
drawn  by  Sentius  in  iv.  27.  AiUeo  PUnitiSj  ille  quot  Catones. 
6.  meritone  :  cf.  ii.  17.  29  (Sel.  21)  n.  imtisne. 

quantum  maximum  potuit:  cf.  ii.  13.  10  (Sel.  19)  n. 
qtiantum  amplivtimum  potes. 

tanquam  essent  futura :  and  to  make  the  compliment 
sure  of  life,  even  if  the  rest  of  Martial  should  die,  Pliny 
embodies  it  in  this  letter,  as  he  does  the  verses  of  Sentius  in 
IV.  27. 

daturus :  cf.  vii.  27.  14  (Sel.  54)  u.  fiUurus. 


LIBER  IV. 
30.    (IV.  2.) 

The  death  of  the  son  of  Regulus. — ^To  Attius  CleinenH  is 
utldressicd  one  other  letter  (l.  10, -Sel.  7),  but  he  is  otherwise 
uiiknowii. 

1.  Regrulus :  cf.  I.  5.  I  (2Sel.  4)  n.  M.  Betjuio. 


I 


30.  2.  NOTES.  297 

filium  axnisit :  whether  as  the  result  of  the  perjuries 
meutioned  in  ii.  20.  6  (Sel.  22)  is  nowhere  stated.  According 
t(»  the  probable  date  of  composition  of  Mart.  vi.  38,  which 
celebrates  the  infant  precocity  of  the  child  as  shown  in  a 
liking  for  court-scenes,  he  must  have  been  bom  in  a.d.  87 
or  88,  and  therefore,  from  the  possible  date  of  this  book  of 
the  lettei-s  (cf.  Introd.  pp.  xxxvii  fF.)  his  death  occurred  not 
far  from  the  time  when  he  would  have  taken  the  toga  uirilis. 

nescio  an:  perhaps  M'ith  an  inclination  toward  the 
negative ;  cf.  i.  15.  3  (Sel.  10)  n.  nescio  an. 

2.  emancipanit :  the  son  could  not  legally  hold  property 
unless  set  free  from  the  absohite  patria  potestas  into  which 
every  child  of  a  Roman  citizen  was  born,  if  born  in  legal 
wedlock.  And  so  long  as  the  father  lived,  and  both  father 
and  son  retained  their  rights  as  citizens,  the  jxUria  potestas 
could  be  terminated  only  i>y  the  voluntary  act  of  the  father, 
thrice  repeated,  in  selling  his  son  to  a  third  party,  who  after 
e<ich  successive  sale  set  him  free,  as  he  might  a  duly  pur- 
chased slave :  cf.  Gains  i.  132 ;  Ulp.  /rag.  x.  1.  The 
theoretical  rieht  of  a  father  to  sell  his  children  at  pleasure 
was  thus  made  use  of,  by  legal  fiction,  to  secure  their  legal 
Independence. 

at  heres  matris  exslsteret :  the  wife  of  Regulus  was  (as 
was  usual  in  marriages  at  this  period)  evidently  not  married 
to  him  in  any  one  of  the  ways  that  brought  her  in  mannm 
marili,  and  so  had  not  forfeited  her  right  to  hold  property. 
And  she  had  desired  to  leave  her  property  directly  to  her  son, 
who  could  1)0  qualified  to  hold  it  in  his  own  right  only  by 
being  duly  emancipated  fwm  the  jxilria  polesULS,  to  which  act 
Regulus  assented  ;  cf.  a  similar  case  in  viii.  18.  4  CurtUius 
MaiU'ia,  peroifus  generum  tninm  .  .  .  sub  ea  condicione  fliam 
eius^  nepiem  ntiam,  institxuera^  fieredem,  si  tastt  manu  patris 
emissa.  Pliny  apparently  wishes  to  convey  the  iutimatiou 
that  the  mother  distrusted  the  father's  good  faith  by  her 
action,  an  inference  that  is  not  warranted  by  the  facts 
presented,  and  is  accordingly  unjust  to  Regulus. 

manclpatum :  with  a  play  on  the  meaning  of  the  word, 
which  is  occasionalh'  usotl  technically  of  deeding  ovor  to 
another  (like  emntiri/ian)^  l»ut  also  meant  *  to  capture '  (tnavn 
cajh-re)  instcjid  of  'to  release/  The  intimation  is  thai  the 
act  of  Regulus  in  freeing  his  son  was  only  a  shrewd  dodge  to 
cement  \wovv  fully  his  influr?ncc  over  the  hul,  now  I>ecome, 
actually  or  pio.s|K;t  lively,  rich  in  his  own  right. 

ex  moribus  hoxninis  :  ««;.  as  a  fortuue-liunter. 


298  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.         30. 2. 

foeda :  especially  because  unnatural ;  for  to  hope  to  be 
made  his  son's  heir  was  to  assume  the  likelihood  and  therefore 
to  conceive  the  desire  of  outliving  liim, — an  ill-omened  thought 
to  the  Romans,  in  whose  epitaphs  parents  occasionally  00  so 
far  as  to  reproach  themselves  for  surviving  the  children  whose 
dcixth  is  commemorated  (cf.  e.g.  Wilmanns  Ex.  Inscr.  Lot, 
608b  CRVDELis  INPIA  MATER,  etc.),  and  not  infrequently 
comment  upon  being  forced  by  fate  or  by  the  angry  gods  to 
do  for  their  children  what  their  children  ought  Co  do  for 
them  (cf.  e.g.  Wilmanns  608  a,  2698 ;  Buecheler  Carm.  IxU, 
Epirjr.  818,  819,  976, 1050).  Cf.  alsoCic.  Sen.  ^^proficiscar  . .  . 
ad  Catonem  meum  .  .  .  cuius  a  me  corp%iA  est  cremcUum^  quod 
contra  decwU  ab  iUo  meum. 

Bimulatione :  but  the  more  natural  theory  would  be,  in 
consideration  of  the  deep  grief  of  Begulus  over  the  death  of 
liis  son,  that  he  was  simply  an  unusually  fond  and  doting 
father. 

captabat :  cf.  11.  20.  7  (Sel.  22)  n.  captare. 

3.  mannulos :  Gallic  ponys,  much  favoured  by  the  Romans 
for  driving. 

et  iunctos  et  solatos,  t?t  pairs  and  sirigle  ;  i.e.  for  driving 
and  for  riding :  cf.  11.  17.  2  (Sel.  21)  iter  iunctispauio  longius, 
eqtu)  hreue. 

luscinias,  etc :  birds  were  common  pets  among  the  Romans 
from  the  earliest  period  ;  so  the  sparrow  {passer  ;  Plant.  Cos. 
138 ;  Cat.  2,  3),  the  dove  {columha ;  Plant.  Cos.  I.e.  ;  Mart.  i. 
7.  1),  the  magpie  {pica;  Mart.  xiv.  76),  the  jackdaw,  duck, 
quail  {monedula,  anas,  cotumix ;  Plant.  Capt.  1002),  and 
others. 

circa  rog^un  tracidauit :  Regulus  was  but  reviving  a  very 
ancient  custom,  and  one  widely  observed  among  very  different 
races  even  down  to  the  present.  The  original  idea  doubtless 
was  that  the  favourite  animals  (or  even  human  beings)  thus 
shiin  accompanied  the  dead  and  served  him  in  the  spirit 
world.  80  Achilles  slew  horses  and  dogs  and  twelve  Trojan 
captives  at  the  funeral  pyre  of  Patroclus,  and  burned  their 
l>odics  with  his  (Hom.  //.  xxiii.  171  ff. ).  And  the  same 
custom  has  prevailed  among  certain  trilxjs  of  Africa,  and  of 
the  North  American  Indians. 

4.  nee  dolor  erat  ille,  etc.  :  7. p..  it  was  too  much  ovcnlnno 
to  1)0  L'onnine  grief. 

cuncti  detestantur,  oderunt :  IMiny's  statement  is  not 
sup|>urted  by  the  facts  he  himself  mentions. 


31. 2.  NOTES.  299 

et :  in  the  sense  of  et  iamen ;  cf.  iii.  1 .  9  (IScl.  28)  n.  oi 
antiqtto. 

in  Regnlo  demerendo,  in  courting  the  favour  of  HeguhM 
(rich  and  now  childless,  and  so  more  open  to  the  attacks  of 
legacy-hunters). 

Regrolum  Imitantur :  who  would  put  himself  to  any 
trouble  to  oblige  one  from  whom  he  hoped  a  legacy ;  cf.  ii. 
20  (Sel.  22). 

5.  trans  Tlberim :  and  so  a  long  distance  to  go  for  a  call. 
The  majority  of  wealthy  Romans  lived  at  this  time,  as  did 
Pliny  himself,  in  the  northeastern  quarter  of  the  city. 

ripam,  etc. :  the  statues  apparently  stood  on  a  wall  that 
boumled  the  gardens  on  the  very  edge  of  the  river,  as  in  the 
case  of  Slime  of  tlie  ancient  and  mediaeval  villas  of  the 
Trastevere  excavated  (and  destroyed)  during  the  recent  im- 
provements of  the  Til)er-bed.  On  the  custom  of  decorating 
gardens  with  statues  cf.  also  viii.  18.  11  td  awjtliHsimos  liortos 
instruxerit  ]du}imis  ct  antiquiisimis  Htatuut. 

6.  uexat :  by  forcing  the  citizens  to  come  so  far  to  pay  him 
formal  calls  of  condolence. 

insalnberrimo  tempore :  probably  in  the  heat  of  mid- 
summer, when  over-exertion  and  exposure  to  the  sun  were 
sources  of  danger. 


31.    (IV.  7.) 

Regulus  mourning  for  his  son. — Catius  Lepidas,  here 
addressed,  is  otherwise  unknown. 

1.  aim,  energy. 

mimm  est  quam  :  cf.  i.  6.  2  (Sel.  5)  n.  miruvi  eat  nl, 
imagines,  bti^Uff. 

facere,  agit,  efi&ngit :    good  examples  of  the  causative 
use  of  verbs. 

offlcinis,  Mtudios. 

2.  de  uita  eius :  .«-uch  piinegyric  cs.«^iys  in  biography  as  a 
tribute  to  «loceastd  friends  were  conunon.  So  AruK-nns 
liu.sticus  an<l  Hrrenniu.s  Scnocio  wrote  (and  donbtles»  r«nl) 
|)ancg\'ric  memorials  of  Thrasea  I'actus  and  Ilcluidius 
IVi.-^cus  (cf.  I.  ').  2,  .3, —Sol.  4);  and  so  Wiuy  composed  an<l 
road  a  similar  p:ino:.'yrir  iijkui  the  son  of  Vestriciiis  Spurinna 
(t*f.  111.  10;  II.  7).  who  died  when  yet  a  young  man. 
Examples  of  ^uch  mcomia  yet  extant  are  the  Agtftitaiui  of 


.Hm  C.  PLINI  KPISTVLAE  8ELECTAE.  31.2. 

Xeiiophoii,  tho  Emviorwi  of  laocratcs.  Mid  the  Agricola  of 
Tacitus. 

redtanlt:  of.  i.  V^,  1  (8cl.  9)  n.  recitarel, 

inUla  :  probiiMy  only  as  iiidicatiug  iudcfinite  multitude : 
cf.  I.  ir>.  2  (Scl.  10)  n.  mitie. 

per  totam  Italiam  pitnrtneUiqiie :  doubtleas  with  similar 
exaggeration  to  that  in  miUej  and  in  other  expressionB  about 
Regulus  in  this  and  the  preceding  letter. 

dlmliit,  hcu  scattertd  hroadctuL 

pubUee,  to  the  corporcUiona :  cf.  v.  7.  5  haec  tgo  seribere 
pnfi/ice  [ar,  to  the  municipal  corporation  directly]  auperaedi 
(and  he  sends  his  messace  through  an  individual  instead) ; 
so  Cicero  to  Ponipey  in  the  Bast,  Fam.  v.  7.  I  ex  liUerU  ttds 
oHtu  pMice  misM  eefn  uolypUiUem,  Notwithatanding 
Pliny's  half-jocose  exaggerations,  Regulus  doubtless  sent 
copies  of  his  encomium,  with  the  request  for  its  public 
roiuling,  only  to  tiioee  towns  with  which  he  had  some  ronnal 
and  personal  connection,  as  patronus  or  otherwisel 

decnzioiiibus :  the  members,  collectively  or  severally,  of 
the  local  'common  council*  of  a  colonia  or  muuicijnum^ 
corresponding  to  the  senate  at  Rome.  The  body  was  also 
oallcfl  senahu%  ordo,  ordo  decurionttm,  curio,  etc.  Cf.  ii.  11. 
23  (Sol.  17)  oniine,  and  Marq.  Staafsi^rw^  i.  pp.  183  ff. 

oooaltiwrinmg,  wkh  a  very  ffood  voice, 

qui  lageret  eum  popnlo :  as  if  it  were  a  public  proclama- 
tion forwarded  from  Rome, 
a.  bonis,  malls :  sc.  hominHms, 

04va6Ca,  etc.,  iijHorance  begets  boldness,  reflection  hesitation'. 
wonls  of  Pericles  in  his  funeral  oration  over  the  dead  at 
Mnnithon  (Thuc.  ii.  40).  So  also  Pope  Esuay  on  Criticism 
III.  OG  For  fouls  rush  in  where  angels  /ear  to  tread ;  Shak- 
spore  Hirh.  III.  act  I.  sc.  3  Tha^  urens  nuike  prey  whrre 
avjlts  dare  not  pt  trh. 

4.  imbedllum  latus,  etc.,  iceak  rhf.st,  thick  utterance^ 
'itammrriiig  tothtw,  s/ow  idtas^  no  memory, — m  /act  nothing 
but  n  f»ert\'rtnl  afttitude  :  cf.  Pliny's  criticism  of  the  speaking 
of  Rogulua  in  vi.  2.  2  (Scl.  41). 

5.  Herennius  Senecio:  cf.  i.  A.  3  (Sol.  4)  n.  FTrmmivm 
Scnecionnn. 

CatonlS:  si\   Vtimi.sifi  I  of.  in.  12.  2  (Si'l   27)  n.  Cofoni. 
iUud  do  oratore :  cf.  (^nint.  \n.  1.  I  sii  omtur  is  quia 
M,    CatoHi  flnititr,    uir    bonus    dictiidi   j/tritus.      The   idea 


32.  1.  NOTES.  801 

])erhaps  goes  back  to  Socrates;  of.  loh.  Sicel.  on  Hermog. 
rhet.  graec.  vi.  395  kal  yap  6  ZwKpdrrjs  €l<b0€t  \^7€t*',  olas  6 
/Jios,  TotoiTO^  Kal  6  \6yos'  oios  6  X670S,  roiavraL  Kai  ai  irpd^ets 
(quoted  by  Cicero  in  Tiuic,  v.  47,  and  often  referred  to  else- 
where). 

6.  municipio  uestro :  the  place  is  unknown,  but  is  surely 
not  Comum,  as  some  have  suggested,  which  would  doubtless 
be  called  nnsti-o. 

circulator :  a  *  juggler,'  or  *  mountebank,*  if  we  may 
trust  the  authoi*s  of  tlie  earlier  empire  who  use  the  word. 
Hut  the  glossaries  suggest  a  public  crier  or  Hyde  Park  orator ; 
cf.  G,0,L.  II.  p.  101.  4  circii/ator  ox^aycryos'  ayvfyrrjs  (=111.  p. 
441.  81);  IV.  p.  34.  S  circulator  qui  famam  adportdt-  jiericttii 
(=v.  p.  276.  55) ;  iv.  p.  318.  34  circulator  qui  famam  portat 
\vd  circuit. 

Irrdpas,  etc.,  lifting  up  his  voice  and  beUoioinfj  his  exulta- 
tion :  of  Aeschines,  whom  Demosthenes  {De  Cor.  291)  charges 
with  rejoicing  over  the  public  woes  and  the  discomfiture  of 
his  rival. 


32.    (IV.  11.) 

The  burying  alive  of  a  Vestal  under  Domitian. — ^To 
Oornelius  ^liniciamis  Pliny  addresses  one  other  letter  (in.  9, 
on  the  prosecution  of  Caecilius  Classicus  in  behalf  of  the 
province  of  Baetica),  and  for  him  he  requests  from  Pompeius 
Falco  a  military  tribunate  (vii.  22),  praising  him  most 
highly,  as  might  be  expected.  An  inscription  from  Bergamo 
{G.I.L.  V.  51*26,  =  Dessau  2722)  shows  that  he  attained  no 
high  honours,  but  survived  Trajan  (flamini  •  divi  •  tkaiaki  • 

MBDIOLAKI). 

1.  audistine :  on  the  introduction  of  the  subject  of  a  letter 
by  a  question  cf.  i.  5.  1  (SeL  4)  n.  uicUstinet  and  the  precise 
similarity  of  opening  in  viii.  8  (SeL  57). 

Valerium  Liciniannm :  otherwise  unknown. 

profiteri,  is  fecwhing  [rhetoric]:  for  this  (post-classical) 
absolute  use  of  the  verb  and  with  reference  to  this  one  pro- 
fession, cf.  §§  2  and  14  of  this  letter,  and  11.  IS.  3  owwex  qui 
pro  fit  en  fur  audiero.  The  word  appears  not  to  l)e  used  of  any 
other  profession  thus  absolutely,  without  a  noun  in  immediate 
connection  to  define  it  precisely.  But  further  citations  are 
desirable.     Cf.  also  prof»  x<or,  as  in  §  2. 

praetorlus  hlc:  Suetonius  (Dom.  8)  in  mentioning  the 
punishmc^nt  omits  the  name,  but  calls  him  jtraetorius  ittr. 


802  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.        32. 1. 


f 


rhetor:  the  school  of  the  rhetor  followed  after  that  of 
the  (jrammaticus  in   the   training  of   the  young,   and  was  % 

designed  to  inculcate  the  principles  and  tlie  practice  of  public 
spoiiking  and  judicial  pleading,  both  by  precept  and  especially 
b}*  example.  Kven  men  of  years  and  experience  might  attend 
the  exercises  of  a  noted  rhetorician,  —as  in  the  earlier  period 
(Cicero  *  gave  lessons  to  *  Hirtius  and  Dolabella  {Fani.  ix.  16. 
7  :  18.  1).  The  rhetor  originally  was  a  Greek,  and  taught  in 
(rreek,  and  the  attempt  of  Latin  rhetores  to  gain  a  foothold 
was  discouraged,  even  by  censorial  order  ((jell.  xv.  11.2,  ui 
liie  year  b.c.  92,  and  Suet,  cited  below).  But  beginning 
with  Cicero's  1>oyhood,  the  use  of  Latin  as  the  instrument  of 
the  rhetor  steadily  grew,  and  in  Pliny's  time  Latin  rlietoren 
(like  Licinianus  here)  were  common  enough  (cf.  e.g.  iii.  3.  3). 
Pliny  gives  a  good  picture  of  a  rhetor  in  his  eulogy  of  Isaeus 
(II.  3).  An  outline  history  of  the  rhetorical  schools  is  given 
by  Suetonius  ;  see  Rell.  Reiff.  pp.  119  ff.  ;  and  cf.  Friedl^der 
Sittenrf.^  I.  pp.  322  flf. 

2.  praefatione  :  cf.  i.  13.  2  (Sel.  9)  n.  praefationem. 

ex  profesBoribus  senatores :  cf.  Suet.  ReU.  p.  121  Reiff. 
pro/tHSonim  ac  doctorum  copia  adeo  floruit  ut  nonmdli  ex 
inflma  fortuna  in  ordinem  senatorium  afque  ad  summos 
hoHores  proce^serint ;  luu.  7.  197  f.  ni  Fortwia  uoUt,  fles  de 
rhetore  consid ;  \  si  uolei  haec  eadem,  fits  de  coMvle  rhetor. 
The  history  of  such  promotions  began  as  early  as  the 
reign  of  Tiberius,  when  Junius  Otho,  a  rhetorician,  became 
praetor  (Tac.  Ann.  iii.  66),  and  other  specific  instances  can 
be  cited,  like  that  of  Quintilian.  The  emperor  Pertinax  was 
once  a  rtrammaticwi  {Vit.  Pert.  1.  4),  and  Eugenius,  emperor 
of  the  West  in  392,  was  a  rhetor ;  on  the  other  hand,  the 
younger  Dionysius,  after  being  ruler  of  Syracuse,  kept  school 
at  Corinth  (Amm.  Marc.  xiv.  11.  30).  On  the  general 
subject  of  the  opening  of  the  imperial  senate  to  all  sorts  of 
people  see  Friedlander  SiUeng.^  i.  pp.  228  ff.,  238  ff. 

professus :  cf .  §  1  n.  proflteri. 

3.  pallio  (Grk.  I/jmtiov):  this  garment,  corresponding  to 
the  Roman  toga  as  an  outer  garment,  worn  over  a  tunic,  was 
an  oblong,  rectangular  piece  of  cloth.  It  was  thrown  over 
the  slioiihler  and  around  the  l>ody,  but  being  much  smaller 
than  the  Roman  toga  of  the  imperial  ]>eriotl,  did  not  lend 
itself  to  such  a  formal  and  elal)orate  system  of  folds. 

intrasset :  the  occasion  was  evidently  that  of  his  first 
public  appearance  as  rhetor. 

togae  iure.  the  privUetjf  oj  the  fo'ja:  that  jealously 
guarded  right  of  Roman  citizens  only  :  cif.  Vinir   Aen.  i.  282 


32. 6.  NOTES.  303 

Romanes,  rerum  dominos,  gentemqw  togatam.  A  foreigner 
had  no  right  to  wear  the  toga  (cf.  Suet.  Clatid.  15),  and  a 
banished  man  (if  deportaltis)  lost  what  rights  he  had  formerly 
possessed  as  a  Roman  citizen,  except  marriage. 

qnibns  aqua  et  igni  interdictam  est:  the  formula  of 
republican  times  for  banishment  (as  in  Cicero's  case).  In 
fact  such  easy  exile  as  the  republican  inter dictio  aquae  et  ignis 
resembled  the  punishment  of  relegcUio  under  the  empire  ;  but 
in  theory  its  pmce  was  taken  by  the  more  severe  deporlcUio  : 
cf   I.  5.  5  (Set.  4)  n.  relegaftis. 

86  composult :  of  settling  the  outer  garment  into  proper 
sha|>e  ;  cf.  the  instructions  of  Quintilian,  xi.  3.  150  aim  index 
.  .  .  ant  praeco  .  .  .  dicere  de  cauna  insserit,  leniter  est 
consnrgendum ;  turn  in  componenda  toga,  ml,  td  necesse  erit, 
t'xam  ex  integro  iniicienda  .  .  .  patdum  commorandnm,  \U  et 
amictus  sit  deceiUior,  et  protinus  aliqnid  spatii  ad  cogitandum ; 
Ou  Met.  IV.  317  ff.  nee  tamen  ante  adiit  .  .  .  |  quam  se 
rom)X>stiit,  quam  circumspexit  amictus,  |  etfinxit  mdtnm. 

Latine :  though,  being  dressed  as  a  Greek,  lie  might  (so 
he  bitterly  implies)  be  taken  to  he  a  Greek  rhetor. 

4  incesti  scelere :  the  Vestal  Virgins  were  regarded  as  the 
daughters  of  the  community,  and  violation  of  chastity  by  or 
with  them  was  considered  as  incest :  cf.  Isid.  Orig.  v.  26.  24 
intesti  indicium  in  uirgines  sacraias  tvel  propinqnas  Mam/uine 
con^titiitum  est. 

6.  oonfessus  est :  the  account  of  Suetonius  says  {Dum,  8), 
cui,  dvbia  etiam  turn  cansa  el  ipcertis  qnaestionihis  atqvA 
lormentis  de  semet  jiro/esso,  exsUium  iitduhit:  but  cf.  §  11 
below 

ingenti  inuidla :  Pliny  apparently  exaggerates  ;  cf.  notes 
below. 

6.  Vestalium :  sc.  Virginum,  as  commonly  (also  Virgo 
alone,  as  in  vii.  19.  1, — Sel.  50).  On  the  origin,  organiza- 
tion, and  duties  of  the  Virgines  Vestales  see  Marquardt 
Slaatsverw.-  ill.  pp.  .S.3G  ff. 

maxUnam  :  the  abl)ess  of  the  community  of  Vestals, 
attaining  that  rank  by  seniority  of  service,  was  called  Virgo 
VcMtaJis  Maxima  (sonic  grammatical  variations  of  title  arc 
found). 

defodere  uiuam :  the  prescrilKHl  punishment  of  a  Vestal 
who  was  convicte<l  of  breaking  her  vow  of  chiistity  was  to  lie 
])Iaced  ui>on  a  bier,  as  if  dead,  solennily  eonducU'd  in  duo 
funeral  procc8«i<»n  throu^ih  the  city  to  a  )»lace  (the  Camfrnx 
S^'thrnfus)  by  the  Porta  Collina,  just  inside  the  Servian  wall. 


304  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.         32. 6. 

and  there  ushered  into  an  underground  tomb  or  cell  of  stone, 
which  was  immediately  covered  with  earth  (cf.  Plut.  Num. 
10 ;  Dionys.  ii.  67).  This  method  of  capital  punishment 
seems  to  have  been  resorted  to  out  of  reverence  for  the 
Vestal's  office,  which  forbade  violent  hands  to  be  laid  upon 
her.  Yet  Dionysius  (i.  78)  says  that  in  the  earlier  days  the 
errant  Vestal  was  beaten  to  death  with  rods  (as  were  her 
paramours  even  in  imperial  times),  and  one  instance  can  be 
cited  (that  of  Vrbinia,  Dionys.  ix.  40)  where  flogging  pre- 
ceded execution  by  burial,  as  in  the  case  of  ordinary  criminals 
flogging  preceded  execution  (see  ii.  11.  8, — Sel.  17, — n.  flura 
/mpplicia).  And  other  lapses  from  duty  on  the  part  of  the 
Vestal  were  punished  by  flogging  at  the  hands  of  the  Pontifex 
Maximus  (Plut.  Num.  10).  Numerous  instances  are  recorded 
of  the  execution  of  Vestals  (see  especially  Brohm  De  iitre 
virginum  uestcUiumy  Thorn,  1835).  It  is  worthy  of  recollec- 
tion that  in  mediaeval  (and  lat«r  ?)  times  the  breach  of  the 
monastic  vow  of  chastity  was  sometimes  similarly  punished  by 
Christians. 

illastrari  eins  modi  exemplis :  the  well-known  efibrt  of 
Domitian  after  the  purification  of  the  Roman  religion  is  little 
understood  bv  the  modem  mind,  and  naturally  Pliny  does 
not  try  to  do  him  justice.  He  had  undertaken  seriously  the 
reform  of  the  morals  of  the  Vestal  community,  wliich  Ves- 
pasian and  Titus  had  neglected,  and  the  indications  are  that 
the  people  in  general  approved  his  action.  Three  Vestals, 
convicted  of  unchastity,  ne  had  allowed  to  commit  suicide, 
and  had  simply  banished  their  paramours  (Suet.  Dom.  8). 
Dio  (lxvii.  3.  4)  says  that  he  prided  himself  (and  doubtless 

I'ustly)  on  his  clemency  in  not  treating  them,  as  he  did  the 
uter  case  of  Cornelia,  more  uUere, 

saeculum,  reign  :  only  here  in  this  sense  in  Books  i.-ix.  of 
Pliny's  letters,  but  five  times  in  the  correspondence  with  Trajan 
(once  from  the  emperor's  own  pen,  x.  97.  2, — SeL  105, — *  the 
spirit  of  our  age ') ;  cf.  x.  1.  2  (Sel.  73) ;  2.  2  (Sel.  74) ;  3a.  2  (Sel. 
7o) ;  23.  2  ;  37.  3  (Sel.  92).  Elsewhere  in  the  letters  the  word 
means  Hhe  ac^e'  (in  the  quotation  from  Martial,  iii.  21.  5, 
*  coming  ages') ;  cf.  I.  o.  11  (Sel.  4)  n.  saeadi.  In  the  Pcun. 
the  more  frequent  meaning  is  *  reign ' ;  cf.  e.g.  Pan.  18,  30, 
40,  46. 

pontiflcis  maxlmi  inre  :  Pliny  expresses  no  doubt  of  the 
legality  of  Domitian's  action,  and  it  is  curious  to  note  that  he 
rests  his  reproaches  more  upon  the  chjiracter  of  Domitian 
himself  than  upon  even  the  antiquate<l  inhumanity  of  the 
penalty. 


t 


32. 6.  NOTES.  306 

reliquos  pontifices :  the  emperor  regularly  succeeded  to 
the  title,  rights,  and  duties  of  the  ponti/ex  maximus  of  repub- 
lican times.  As  head  of  the  state  religion  his  jurisdiction 
over  the  Vestal  Virgins  was  that  of  the  patria  potestcuf^  which 
was  absolute,  even  to  the  infliction  of  a  death  sentence.  But 
as  the  paterfamilias  weis  not  supposed  to  act  as  a  judge  in 
such  serious  matters  without  calling  into  consultation  a 
consilium  of  near  relatives,  or  of  neighbours,  so  apparently 
the  ponti/ex  maximiis  was  not  expected  to  act  without  con- 
sulting the  whole  college  of  pontiffs.  On  the  consilium  of  a 
magistrate  cf.  i.  9.  2  (Sel.  6)  u.  wi  consilitim, 

Regiam :  originally  the  royal  palace,  if  the  tradition  of 
name  can  be  trusted,  and  then  the  office,  if  not  the  actual 
residence,  of  tlie  ponti/ex  majcimuSt  as  the  chief  religious 
successor  of  the  king.  The  building  stood  on  the  Sacra  Via 
to  the  east  of  tlie  temple  of  Julius  Caesar,  and  its  ruins  have 
recently  been  thoroughly  excavated  for  the  first  time  by  Sig. 
Conim.  Boni. 

Albanam  villam  :  the  ^o-called  Arx  Albana^  an  immense 
and  strongly  walled  area,  developed  by  Domitian  out  of  a 
simpler  country -estate  of  the  earlier  emperoi-s,  and  includ- 
ing within  it  not  only  a  magnificent  imperial  residence,  but 
baths,  temple,  theatre,  amphitheatre,  and  quarters  for  a 
large  body  of  troops. — It  is  by  no  means  certain  that  the 
ponti/ex  maximus  could  not  legally  pass  sentence  under  his 
patria  potestas  anywhere,  and  Domitian  was  fond  of  summon- 
ing councils  to  his  AUmnum  (cf.  the  famous  case  of  the  turlK)t 
in  luu.  4). 

absentem  inauditamque  :  Pliny  disregards  the  fact  that 
this  was  not  a  trial,  but  the  mere  passing  of  sentence,  at 
which  the  presence  of  the  defendant  was  not  rec|uired  even 
under  the  forms  of  the  ordinary  procedure,  e.g.  of  the  Roman 
senate.  And  Suetonius  sajrs  (Dom.  8),  Comeliam,  maximam 
uirffineni,  ahsolnfani  olim,  dein  longo  intertmllo  rejuttittnn  at  que 
conuicfam  dp/oili  imjierauitj  implying  no  idea  of  injustice  in 
the  matter,  though  he  is  by  no  means  a  |)artisan  of  llomitian. 
New  evidence  had  very  prolMibly  been  discovered  ;  and  in  a 
case  of  family  discipline,  as  this  theoretically  was,  no  pnnci])le 
about  repeated  jeopardy  for  the  same  offence  could  be  recog- 
nized. 

cum  ipse,  etc.  :  cf.  Suet.  Dom.  22;  Dio  Cass,  i.xvii.  3: 
the  art/nmaitfun  ad  hominem  is  doubtless  rhetoi-ically 
efFective,  but  Pliny  must  have  recognized  its  lack  of  force 
here  lus  against  a  proper  judicial  sentence. 


306  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELEC'L  AE.        32. 7.         f 

7.  missi  pontiflces :  the  ponti/ex  maximus  was  supposed  to         ^ 
officiate  in  person  (Plut.  Nnm.  l.c.)^  but  apparently  did  not 

on  this  occasion,  the  proniofjister  of  the  college  acting  for 
him  ;  cf.  Mommsen  Staatsr,  ii.»  23  ;  Strafr.  929  n.  1. 

qua  sacra  faciente :  the  worship  of  Vesta  was,  as  might 
be  expected  of  a  household  worship,  intimately  connected 
with  the  imperial  family  and  its  welfare ;  and  more  than 
once  on  occasions  of  public  calamity  in  Rome  it  had  been 
found,  on  searching  for  the  cause  of  the  ill-will  of  the  gods, 
that  the  rites  of  Vesta  had  been  conducted  by  a  forsworn 
priestess,  upon  whose  punishment  the  public  evils  duly 
ceased  (cf.  e.g.  the  case  of  Vrbinia,  cited  above,  Dionys.  ix. 
40).  But  as  Domitian  had  had  good  fortune  in  war,  Cornelia 
must  be  chaste. 

uicit,  tritunphaylt :  Domitian  celebrated  two  magnificent 
triumphs,  one  in  a.d.  83,  after  his  victory  over  the  Chatti, 
and  another  in  89,  after  the  Dacian  war. 

8.  blandiens  haec  an  irridens :  Domitian  was  exceedingly 
proud  of  his  military  successes,  but  his  disaffected  subjects 
ridiculed  them  as  mere  shams, — a  not  unintelligible  judgment, 
but  one  for  the  most  part  unjust. 

dixit,  donee,  etc. :  the  culprit  was  tied  to  the  bier  and 
gagged  so  that  she  could  neither  struggle  nor  speak  on  her 
way  to  execution  (Pint.  Num.  l.c.). 

nesclo  an :  cf.  i.  15.  3  (Sel.  10)  n.  ne^cio  an.  No  doubt  of 
her  actual  guilt  is  expressed  by  any  other  writer. 

9.  demitteretnr :  a  flight  of  wooden  steps  was  placed,  lead- 
ing down  into  the  cell,  which  was  furnished  with  a  small 
supply  of  food  and  drink.  The  culprit,  still  gagged,  was 
loosed  from  the  bier  and  placed  upon  the  first  step  (regularly 
by  the  potUi/ex  maximun  himself).  The  assembled  pontificts 
averted  their  faces,  and  she  made  the  descent  unaided  and 
alone.  The  steps. were  immediately  draM'n  up,  and  their 
place  filled  with  earth. 

stola :  the  long,  full,  girded  tunic,  reaching  to  the 
ground,  and  terminating  in  a  <leep  attached  flounce  (the 
insfita),  which  was  the  especial  and  honourable  ganncnt  of 
Koinan  matrons  (Fest.  p.  125.  15  matronas  ap])eIiatHiiU  can 
fere  qitibus  ftfoloH  haJtendi  «tw  erat),  was  also  worn  by  the 
Vestals.  They  wore  as  well  the  ordinary  jxi/ia  as  an  outer 
i^.innent,  and  the  snffihuhim^  an  oblong  piece  of  cloth,  as  u 
draped  hculdrefw ;  sec  the  statues  found  in  the  Atrium 
Vixtrvr.  at  Rome,  and  figured  inttr  aJia  in  Jjanciani  Ancient 
Home  in  tJn-  Litjhf  of  Rertnt  DixeorerieM,  pp.  13S  fl*. 


32. 14.  NOTES.  307 

camifex :  the  public  execationer  apparently  assisted  the 
presiding  pontiff  in  this  Ixist  scene,  doubtless  perfonning  the 
manual  acts  necessai-y. 

Tnamim  daret :  «c.  to  assist  her  from  alx)ve  as  she 
descended,  since  he  saw  her  in  danger  of  stumbling. 

iroXX-^v,  etc. ,  and  took  much  thowjht  to  fall  becomivgly : 
so  Talth3'bius  said  of  Polyxena  in  Eurip.  Hec.  569,  when  she 
was  sacrificed  to  the  shade  of  Achilles ;  cf.  Ou.  Fast,  il. 
S33  f.  (of  Lucretia)  ttmc  quoque,  torn  moriens,  ne  non  procumbat 
honestCy  I  resjncit.    haec  etiam  cura  cadeiitis  erat. 

10.  comitio :  a  small  area  adjoining  the  Forum  Magnum 
on  the  north,  recently  excavated  for  the  first  time.  It  was 
tlie  original  meeting-place  of  the  assembly  of  the  people,  and 
therefore  continued  to  be  the  place  for  certain  judicial  pro- 
cedure. In  the  time  of  Julius  Caesar  it  was  ina<le  a  part  of 
the  Forum,  its  proper  area  being  thereby  much  restricted. 

ulrgis  caederetur :  the  anciently  prescribed  punishment 
of  a  Vestal's  paramours ;  cf.  §  6  n.  de/odere  uhutm.  The 
culprit  was  beaten  to  death  while  hanging  on  a  cross ;  see 
Mommsen  Strafr,  919  f.  Suetonius  speaks  of  more  than  one 
man  as  suffering  with  Celer  {Dovn,  8). 

11.  quod,  etc.  :  this  was  not  the  charge,  but  merely  the 
fact  that  aroused  suspicion  against  Licinianus.  I'lie  frccd- 
woman  had  been  wanted  for  examination  in  the  case  against 
her  mistress. 

12.  Herennios  Senecio :  cf.  i.  5.  3  (Sel.  4)  n.  Herenniuvt 
Sc7iecionem, 

KctTOi  ndrpoicXos,  there  lies  PatrocluM :  spoken  by  Anti- 
lochus  in  Horn.  //.  xviii.  20,  in  his  brief  announcement  to 
Achilles  of  tlic  death  of  his  friend:  cf.  Quint,  x.  1.  49 
iiarrare  uero  qnis  hreuitut  qitani  qiii  mortem  nviUiat  Patrocii  ? 

recessit,  offers  no  defence  :  like  the  plea  of  nolo  contendere 
in  our  criminal  law. 

13.  bona  publicarentur :  the  penalty  of  deftortafio  involved 
the  conHscation  of  the  culprit's  property  ;  that  of  rdetjado 
«lid  not,  unless  so  provided  si>ecihciilly  :  cf.  I.  r>.  f»  (Sol.  4)  n. 
rf'/etja/us:  and  on  publicarentur,  i.  1.  1  (Sel.  1)  n.  /niUicnrrm. 

molle :  not  in  itself,  but  in  comparison  with  death  by 
flogging. 

14.  dementia  dlui  Neruae:  Ncrva  rcc4ille<l  the  e.xiles  of 
l)()initian's  reign  who  h.ul  suHere<l  unjn.<«tly  (cf.  i.  T».  10, — 
Sel.  4),  an<l  his  reason  for  not  recalling  Licinianns  must  have 
Imh'u    that    public   .sentiment    Ix^lieved    his   punishment   not 


306  a  PLINI  EPISTVLAR  8ELBCTAS.       8ft  14 

unjust,  or  else  that,  having  pleaded  gniltgr»  be  ooald  aofc 
properly  Ijo  panlonea. 

dlul:  Julius  Caesar,  in  addition  to  the  reoeptjon  of 
certain  oseudo-diviue  honours  during  his  lifetime,  vas  after 
his  death  formally  enrolled  among  the  gods  of  the  RooMa 
pantheon,  vrith  the  title  of  diuMB,  l^  decree  of  the  aaiiate  and 
people.  Autfustas  and  a  large  nnmher  of  later  empsrete 
were  similarly  honoured  (not,  however,  oertein  onpopolu' 
rulers  like  Tiberius,  Nero,  and  Dmaitian) ;  and  the  fotmal 
style  of  reference  to  a  deceased  emperor  who  had  '  ' 
Olympus  was  by  his  divine  title,  as  in  the  text. 

translatns  eet  in  Sleiliam :  t.e.  the  place  of  hie  4   . 
was  changed  for  the  better.     Or  it  may  be  that  the  MBti 
of  dtpcrtatio  was  commuted  to  that  of  rdtgalia, 

profltetor,  pxaefatlonltms :  cf.  S§  1, 2  nn. 
16.  altins  repetam :  see  ii.  6.  1  (SeL  16)  n.  (Miu  repeUn. 

relegatum:  *  subject  of  the  infinitive*  and  esm  omitted, 
as  not  infrequently  in  Pliuy  :  of.  iv.  13.  1  (SeL  33)  n.  nsm'tss. 
.  16.  non  minus  hmga:  so  in  ii.  11.  25  (SeL  17)  Pliny 
demands  an  equally  long  letter  in  reply  ;  cf.  note  there. 

uersus,  lines. 

Sa    (IV.  18.) 

The  establishment  of  a  rhetor  at  Comum. — On  Tacitna,  to 
whom  this  letter  is  addressed,  cf.  introd.  note  to  I.  6  (Sel.  5). 
1.  uenlsse:  Pliny  not  infrequently  omits  the  'subject  of 
the  infinitive' ;  cf.  e.g,  iv.  11.  15  (SeL  32)  releyeUvm;  iv.  19. 
1  (Sel.  34)  euadere :  iv.  22.  6  (SeL  35)  pasntr^imfuU^e ;  and 
Kr-iut  pp.  9  ff.  With  the  epaualeptic  opening  of  the  sentence 
{uenisse  gaud^o.  ueniati  aittem)  cf.  i.  1 .  1  (SeL  1 )  n.  coUiffertm 
puhlicaremque.  coUegi;  and  §  10  below,  ^noct  tntttii^  ininnffo 
aiUem. 

paucnlis  diebns  :  with  this  ablative  of  extent  of  time  cf. 
II.  11.  14  (ScL  17)  n.  hortM ;  in.  5.  19  (Sel.  24)  «Ha  «tVa. 

in  Tusculano  {hc.  pmedio,  as  usual) :  mentioned  once 
tifffiin  in  v.  6.  45  hdhfiH  caunoM  rur  etfo  l^iiscos  tucoh  THitntiautM^ 
Tibartimn^  l^ratntntinisqw.  prufponam. 

in  manibus  :  cf.  i.  2.  G  (Scl.  2)  n.  in  manibtis. 

a.  quasi  praecursoria :  cf.  iv.  9.  23  hahc.biM  banc  interim 

fpinhifam  vt  irpddpofjLov.     The  Roman  mu^Mmtc  ha<l  a  immlicr 

<»f  fmiexurxortH  tc»  go  liefore  him  when  he  went  abroad,  l>oth 

to  clear  the  way,  and  to  announce  by  their  presence  the 


33. 5.  NOTES.  g^g 

approach  of  a  person  of  dignity  :  cf.  Sen.  Ej>.  123.  7  •  Din 
XXXII.  99.  5 ;  Pan.  7(5  ut  Ulum  mdliis  2*^'aecur8oruvi  tumultus 
detineret  (of  Trajan's  unassuming  liabits). 

3.  pataria  mea  :  so.  Nouum  Coimim  ;  see  Introd.  p.  xv. 

salutandum  :  in  the  usual  morning  scUutatio  ;  of.  m.  7.  4 
(Sel.  25)  n.  saliUabatur. 

praetextatus  :  i.e.  not  yet  of  sufficient  age  to  assume  the 
toga  uirili^,  on  which  cf.  i.  9.  2  (Sel.  6)  n.  officio  iogae  uirilis. 

studes,  do  you  go  to  school  ? 

etiam,  yex :  but  more  frequently  used  in  an  affirmative 
answer  to  a  question  (even  in  the  colloquial  language  of 
comedy)  when  there  is  an  appearance  of  the  question  arousing 
a  dormant  recollection ;  cf.  e.g.  Plant.  Most.  999  f.  Th. 
numquid  prucemit  ad  forwin  hodie  noui?  |  Si.  etiam.  Th. 
quvi  tandem?  ;  Cic.  Qu,  Fr.  iii.  1.  24  quid praeterea ?  quid? 
etiam !  OabiniuSy  etc.  But  in  Pliny  cf.  11.  3.  9 ;  v.  3.  7 
(Sel.  36)  ;  vi.  2.  S  (Sel.  41) ;  vi.  28.  3 ;  vii.  17.  5,  in  all  of 
which  cases  it  concedes  a  point  (*  granted  *),  but  only  to  follow 
the  concession  by  a  limitation  (aed,  «n,  si  ucro). 

Mediolani:  Mediolanium  (Milan)  is  about  forty  kilo- 
metres, or  twenty-five  miles  (£ngli8h),  distant  from  Como  in 
a  straight  line.  It  was  the  chief  city  of  the  Insubres,  and 
had  attained  great  prosperity  under  Roman  rule  by  the 
time  of  Augustus  (Strab.  213),  which  good  fortune  went  on 
increasing  in  later  centuries,  when  it  became  an  imperial 
residence  of  the  West. 

praeceptores :  the  reference  is  not  to  the  so-called 
litteralores  and  grammcUicit  who  successively  carried  the 
instruction  of  children  throueh  the  onlinary  branches  of 
learning,  including  the  encyclopaedic  study  of  works  of 
literature,  but  to  the  rhetorcs,  on  whom  cf.  iv.  11.  1  (.Sel. 
32)  n.  rhetor, 

4.  intererat :  the  imperfect  indicative  (with  a  subject- 
infinitive)  of  a  state  of  things  existing  in  |ia.«;t  time,  and 
continuing  into  the  present,  without  tlie  fulfilin<?nt  in  fact  of 
the  condition  indicatetl  by  the  dcficndcnt  infinitive. 

5.  nondtixn  liberos  habeo :  Pliny's  marriage  to  Calpurnia 
was  apparently  between  alwut  102  an<l  104  a.i».  (cf.  x.  2.  2, 
— Sel.  74,— n.  matrimonii^),  and  the  present  reference  might 
indicate  that  this  letter  M-as  written  not  more  than  a  year  or 
two  after  that  ev<»nt.  Pliny's  hojM;  of  chiMrcn  was  once 
frustnitotl  (vm.  10,  11),  and  there  i.s  no  indication  that  any 
were  later  born  to  him. 


310  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE         33. 6. 

6.  amUta  comunperetur,  ahoidd  he  mismanaged  in  accord- 
ance ivith  private  ends :  for  such  a  gift  would  be  invested  in 
some  way  (cf.  vii.  18)  that  would  put  it  under  the  control  of 
the  decuriones,  who  might  indeed  manage  the  fund  well 
enough,  but  might  not  select  the  worthiest  teachers  to  enjoy 
its  proceeds. 

publice,  by  the  local  government.  The  first  recorded 
engagement  and  payment  of  rhetores  by  the  state  is  under 
Vespasian,  who  engaged  both  Latin  and  Greek  rhetores  to 
teacn  at  Rome  (first  among  these  the  famous  Quintilian),  and 
paid  them  salaries  from  the^cu^.  Under  later  emperors  the 
custom  of  establishing  such  public  schools  at  government 
expense  spread  to  the  provinces,  and  covered  the  lower  class 
of  grammoUici  and  the  higher  of  philoaophi,  as  well  as  also 
physicians  {medici).  Cf.  on  the  general  subject  Marquardt 
Staatsveno.^  n.  pp.  106  flF.  ;  Friedlander  SiUeng.^  i.  pp.  315  ff. 

7.  parentibus  soils,  etc.  :  Pliny's  proposition,  then,  con- 
templated no  public  school  managed  by  the  municipal 
government,  but  a  private  venture  of  a  joint-stock  sort. 

religio,  conscientious  duly, 

8.  ne ...  [non]iii8i  digniu  acdpiat :  non  is  rightly  bracketed 
by  Gesner  and  others  after  ne,  which  supplies  the  necessaiy 
negative  with  nisi ;  cf.  i.  10.  4  (Sel.  7)  n.  nisi  sapiens  non 
potest  perspicere  sapientem, 

10.  altius  repetenda :  see  ii.  6.  1  (Sel.  16)  n.  oMius  repetere. 

ad  te :  Tacitus  appears  here,  as  indeed  thus  far  in  the 
letters,  as  a  distinguished  orator  and  statesman,  rather  than 
as  a  historian:  cf.,  however,  vi.  16.  1,  etc.  (Sel.  45);  vii. 
33.  1  awjuror,  nee  me  fodlit  auguriuiUy  historian  tuas  immoriales 
fiUwus. 

fldem  meam  obstringam,  hind  mysdj. 

nil  iadicent,  1111  eligant :  the  candidate  apparently  must 
bring  recommendations,  and  then  give  a  sample  lecture  or 
dcc-laniation  before  the  electors  to  prove  his  ability,  as  can- 
«lidatcs  for  curtain  university  professorships  in  England  do  to 
the  present  day  :  cf.  tlic  case  of  such  a  trial  lecture  described 
in  Gell.  xvi.  6.  1. 

11.  ut  nllill :  for  the  ne  quid  more  common  in  final  clauses, 
as  also  Pliny  sometimes  introcluccs  by  ne  final  clauses  that 
convey  a  suijgestion  of  result;  of  this  latter  sort  ill.  1.  6 
(Sel.  23)  furnishes  an  example  ;  see  also  Kraut  p.  33. 


r 


34.1.  NOTES.  311 

34.  (IV.  19.) 
The  good  qualities  of  Pliny's  wif e.  — Calpumia  HispiiUa, 
to  whom  this  letter  is  addressed,  was  the  daughter  of 
Calpurnius  Fabatus  (of.  §  1  n.  auo)y  and  paternal  aunt  of 
Pliny's  wife,  Calpurnia.  She  had  taken  the  place  of  an  early 
lost  mother  to  her  brother's  daughter,  who  was  apparently 
the  only  grandchild  of  the  family  (viii.  10.  2).  References 
to  her  are  numerous  in  the  letters,  and  Pliny  addresses  to 
her  directly  one  other  epistle,  in  which  he  speaks  of  his  wife's 
prospective  recovery  from  a  sudden  and  critical  illness  (viii. 
11).  Hispulla  apparently  remained  the  typical  maiden  aunt 
throughout  her  life,  living  with  her  father  at  Comum,  and 
surviving  him  (x.  120,  121,— Sel.  108,  109),  as  well  as, 
probably,  Pliny  himself. 

On  Pliny's  marriages  see  x.  2.  2  (Sel.  74)  n.  diiobus  mafri- 
moniis.  On  his  warm  attachment  to  Calpurnia  cf.  his  letters 
to  her,  VI.  4,  7 ;  vii.  5  (Sel.  42,  43,  48).  This  letter  was 
apparently  written  not  many  months  after  the  marriage. 

1.  amita:  a  father's  sister,  a  mother's  sister  being 
nicUertera. 

patrls  amissl :  he  had  been  dead  for  some  time  when  v. 
1 1  was  written  (cf.  note  on  aiu)  below),  but  whether  he  died 
before  Pliny's  marriage  to  his  daughter  is  entirely  uncertain. 
It  is  strange  that  Pliny  refers  here  only  to  Calpurnia's  fatlier, 
and  not  to  her  mother,  whose  place  in  the  education  of  the 
orphan  Hispulla  had  taken. 

adfectom :  entirely  post-classical  in  the  sense  of  *  affec- 
tion '  as  a  synonym  for  love. 

non  dubito  . . .  fore :  the  construction  of  non  duhifo  with 
an  infinitive-clause  occurs  in  Nepos,  and  becomes  common  in 
Livy  and  later  writers.  PI.  uses  mni  duh.  only  once  with 
quin  (Pan.  14). 

auo:  8C,  L.  (?)  Calpurnius  L.  f.  Fabatus,  who  is  known  from  a 
single  reference  in  Tacitus  (Ann.  xvi.  8)  to  his  danger  under 
Nero  in  connection  with  the  affair  of  Silaiius,  from  a  numlier 
of  references  in  Pliny's  letters,  and  from  a  single  inscription 
now  preserved  at  Comum  (cf.  text  in  Monnnsen  Htwlc,  j).  Sfl; 
C.I.L.  V.  5267).  He  was  9,\\  eq^i-s^  who  h;ul  served  asy/ztic- 
ffiCtufi  /aJntim,  tribuniiM  militum^  and  jtrafft  rtua  rohtrtis^  but 
had  pursued  public  life  no  further.  At  Comum,  his  native 
place  and  his  home,  he  had  filled  the  highest  offices  in  the 
municipality,  and  was  ffnm*'v  di»i  Avfffis/i.  He  ownc<l  estates 
in  different  parts  of  Italy  (vi.  .30.  2  ;  vin.  20.  .S,— Sel.  r.O).  and 
gave  the  municiimlity  of  Comum  a  fwrtico  in  memory  of  his 
dead  son  and  of  himself  (v.  11).     He  himself  died  about  110 


31>  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.         34.  1. 

or  112  A.  1).  (X.  120,— Sel.  108,  and  cf.  intr.  n.  to  x.  15,— Sel. 
81)  at  a  ripe  old  age  (vii.  23.  1  ;  viii.  10.  2). 

euadere  :  on  the  omission  of  the  demonstrative  subject 
see  IV.  13.  1  (Sel.  ;I3)  n.  tienisse, 

2.  acumen :  as  joined  with  frtufcdita%  probably  referring 
not  so  much  to  high  intellectual  qualities  (which  are  covered 
by  later  specifications)  as  to  general  *  ability'  to  manage  a 
household. 

frugalitas:  one  of  the  traditional  virtues  of  a  true 
Roman  matron;  cf.  Columella  R,R.  xii.  praef.  apud  Romanos 
usque  in  patrum  nostrorum  memoriam  .  .  .  erat  summa 
reuerentia  cum  concordia  et  dUigentia  mixta,  flagrahatque 
mulier  piUcherrima  diligentiae  aemvJtatione,  studens  negotia 
uiri  cura  sua  maiora  atque  meliora  reddere,  etc.  ;  and  the 
epitaph  in  Wilmanns  Exevi.  Inscr.  La>t.  549  (Orelli  4848)  .  .  . 
suom  mareilum  corde  delexit  souo  .  .  .  domum  seruauitf 
lanam  fecit. 

meos  111)61108  habet,  etc.  :  cf.  vi.  7.  1  (Sel.  43). 

3.  adsensum,  clamores:  on  applause  in  courts  cf.  ii.  14 
(8el.  20)  nn. 

redto :  on  the  public,  or  semi-public,  reading  by  an 
author  of  his  own  works  cf.  i.  13.  1  (Sel.  9)  n.  recitaret. 

In  proximo  discreta  nelo  sedet:  for  Pliny's  readings 
would  be  given  in  his  own  house  (cf.  viii.  21.  2),  and  the 
curtain  would  cover  the  doonvay  to  the  room  where  Cal- 
pumia  sat. 

4.  uersos  meos  :  on  Pliny's  writing  of  verses  see  v.  3.  2 
(SeL  36)  n.  ^acio  ueraictUos. 

cantat  formatque  dthara,  singsy  setting  them  to  an  accom- 
jianiinent  on  the  tithara :  in  vii.  17.  3  (cf.  also  v.  17.  3). 
Pliny  refers  to  lyric  poetry  as  recited,  and  yet  non  lectorem 
sed  chorum  et  lyram  poacunt  (cf.  also  vii.  4.  9, — Sel.  47, — also 
of  his  verses  as  sung  to  accompaniment  on  the  cithara  and 
the  fyra), 

amore,  qui  magister  est  optimus :  but  in  i.  20.  12  (Sel.  13) 
he  calls  wnus  ('experience')  viagister  egregiu-%  and  in  vi.  29.  4 
promotes  it  in  honour  to  the  first  rank,  but  as  a  teacher  of 
oratory,  not  of  music, — vec  me  jiraefcrit  nsum  et  esse  et  haheri 
optimum  dicendi  ma^jistrum. 

5.  his  ex  causls  :  cf.  i.  2.  6  (Sel.  2)  n.  ex  caiiMs. 
aetatem  meam  :  Pliny  apparently  thinks  of  himself  still 

as  in  the  very  bloom  of  youth,  though  he  must  have  been 
somewhere  about  forty  years  or  more  old.     Calpuinia,  on  the 


r 

I 


36.  1.  NOTES.  313 

other  hand,  must  have  been  very  young,  as  in  viii.  10,  11 
(doubtless  several  years  later  than  this  letter)  he  speaks  of 
her  still  as  a  mere  girl. 

7.  parentis  loco  uerereris:  one  may  guess,  then,  from  this 
phrase,  in  connection  with  what  follows,  that  HispuUa  was 
related  in  age  to  Pliny  about  as  an  elder  sister  might  be. 

8.  in  uicem,  the  one /or  the  other  ;  by  a  somewhat  striking 
extension  of  the  reciprocal  sense  of  the  phrase  which  is  common 
to  Pliny  with  the  other  writers  of  the  silver  and  later  ages. 
With  this  sort  of  dative  use  of  in  uicem  cf.  its  accusative  use 
in  VII.  20.  7  (Sel.  51),  and  iii.  7.  15  n.  (Sel.  25). 

36.  (IV.  22.) 

The  boldness  of  lunius  Mauricus. — Sempronius  Rufus,  the 
pei-son  addressed,  appears  not  to  be  mentioned  elsewhere. 

1.  princlpis  optimi :  sc,  Trajan,  as  is  shown  by  the 
added  reference  to  Nerva  in  §  4.  The  title  oioptimtiH  in  con- 
junction with  princeps  is  commonly  applied  by  Pliny  to 
Trajan,  and  occurs  also  on  the  reverse  of  coins  as  early  as 
105  A.D.  (e.g.  s  •  p  •  Q  •  R  •  optimo  •  pbincipi)  ;  but  Trajan  did 
not  accept  the  designation  as  one  of  the  formal  imperial  titles 
to  be  appended  to  his  name  until  114  a.  d.,  from  which  time 
it  appears  regularly  in  inscriptions  and  on  coins  immediately 
following  TRAIANVS  and  preceding  avgvstvs.  Chronological 
exceptions  {e.g.  C.LL.  vi.  961;  viii.  10117)  are  easily  ex- 
plicable. Yet  Pliny  himself  teaches  us  that  the  cognomen 
optirnxL-f  was  decreed  to  Trajan  as  early  as  100  a.  d.,  the  date 
of  the  Paiiegyriciis  ;  cf .  Pan.  2  tUud  additum  a  ncim  jpptimi 
cognomen ;  88  iustisne  de  causvt  senalus  poptUtuque  Bomanua 
optimi  tibi  cognomen  adiecit  ? 

cognitioiii:  see  x.  96.  1  (Sel.  104)  n.  cognitUmihua, 
Ordinary  provincial  matters  were  settled  in  the  pro- 
vince itselt,  the  less  important  by  the  local  courts  or  by 
the  delegates  of  the  governor,  the  more  important  by  the 
governor  himself,  to  whom  an  appeal  lay  from  lielow. 
Appeals  from  the  governor's  decision  might  be  carried  to 
Rome,  in  the  case  of  senatorial  provinces  (in  which  class  was 
this  province  of  Narbonensis)  theoretically  to  the  senate,  in 
the  case  of  imperial  provinces  directly  to  the  empei-or.  But 
even  from  senatorial  provinces  appeals  were  often  lodged 
directly  with  tin*  emperor,  whose  imjxrhim  maivt*  gave  him 
authority  to  intervene  practically  wherever  he  chose  in  pro- 
vincial affairs.  The  pr<»vincial  govenuir,  whether  procownU 
or  iegatwt  Augwtiy  might  further  of  his  own  motion  refer 


314  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  8RLECTAE.         3S.  i. 

cases  of  gravity  to  the  emperor,  as  Pliny  constantly  did  in  his 
administration  of  Bithynia  (see  x.  paMtm).  The  baas  on 
wliicli  the  present  rotjnUio  was  held  is  not  determinable. 

conillium:  cf.  i.  9.  2  (SeL  6)  n.  in  conniinm.  Bat 
whereas  the  ordinary  presidins  magistrate  was  bound  to 
<lecide  in  acconlancc  with  the  advice  of  his  conmiwm,  and  the 
consul  (in  a  senatorial  cotinitio)  in  accordance  with  the  vote 
of  the  senate,  the  emperor  might  follow  the  advice  of  his 
ronailiuiUf  or  disregard  it,  as  he  chose. 

gymnions  aeon*,  the  Greek  athletic  exercises  (running, 
wrestling,  l)oxing,  the  pentathlou,  and  the  pankraium^— or 
some  of  them)  were  introduced  first  in  Rome,  with  Greek 
pur  formers,  by  M.  Fulviiis  Nobilior  in  186  B.C.,  but  were  not 
taken  up  by  the  Romans  with  the  greatest  enthusiasm,  nor  at 
all  as  n  part  of  the  actual  training  of  their  youth,  in  spite  of 
the  favour  shown  them  by  vaiious  emperors,  especially  Nero. 
The  moralist  and  the  simple  old-fashioned  Koman  alike 
objected  to  them  on  tlie  i;round  that  they  had  no  practical 
value,  but  simply  enticed  people  to  waste  valuable  time,  that 
the  nakedness  of  the  athletes  was  shameful,  and  that  all  sorts 
of  Greek  corruption  might  follow  in  their  train  (cf.  e,g.  Sen. 
ICp.  15.  3 ;  Tac.  Ann.  xiv.  20).  Even  Pliny  himself  regrets 
{Pan,  13)  that  Greek  athletic  exercises  should  take  the  pUkce 
of  the  old  military  drill.  Gf.  on  the  whole  subject  Fricd- 
liinder  Sitteng.^  ii.  pp.  477  ff. 

^ennenses :  of  Vienne,  a  former  town  of  the  AUobroffes, 
situated  on  the  Rhone  in  the  senatorial  province  of  Nar- 
bonensis. 

ex  cuiusdam  testamento :  such  public  legacies,  providing 
for  the  annual  celebration  of  these  or  other  games  on  a  set 
date,  were  not  uncommon. 

Trebonius  Ruflnus :  otherwise  unknown. 

uir  egregiiis :  later  the  formal  title  of  an  ef/ut*^ — at  least 
of  one  who  had  entered  upon  the  equestrian  rttr«w  honorum^ — 
us  Mi>  ciariiHimuJi  was  of  a  senator  (cf.  ix.  IH.  19, — Sel.  64)  ; 
but  doubtless  used  here,  as  apparently  everywhere  else  in 
l*liny,  as  a  merely  complimentary  phrase  (cf.  especially  ii.  11. 
19, — Sel.  17,— where  it  is  applied  to  a  consul-designate). 

in  daumuiratu :  the  dumnviri  or  duotnH  hire  dicnndo 
were  the  highest  othcials  of  the  municipality  or  colony,  corre- 
sponding to  the  consuls  at  Rome. 

negabatur :  prol)al)1y  to  he  taken  in  the  personal  con- 
struction ;  cf.  III.  7.  1  (Sel.  25)  n.  mmtiahm  est. 

ex  auctoritate  publica :  it  is  difficult  to  tell  upon  what 


35. 5.  NOTES.  315 

law  his  action  was  based.    He  probably  acted  in  general  under 
his  censorial  authority. 

2.  mature  et  grauiter,  in  a  weU-connidered  and  dignified 
way ;  cf.  Macr.  v.  1.  16  'iunt  pra^terea  stUi  dicendi  duo  .  .  . 
unus  est  malurus  et  ffrauis,  qucUiH  Crasso  assignatnr  .  .  .  alter 
huic  contraHivs  ardens  et  erectiia  et  in/enmis,  qnaXi  v^gus  eat 
Antonixis. 

3.  sententiae :  sc.  of  tlie  members  of  the  ccmsHmm.  Perro- 
fjaOo  sententiarum  was  the  technical  phrase  used  of  the  consul 
requesting  the  senators  in  order  to  speak  their  minds  upon 
the  question  at  issue. 

lunius  Mauricus :  cf.  i.  5.  10  (Sel.  4)  n.  Alauricum. 

4.  constanter  et  fortiter,  [•<2X)ken]  with  courage  and  bold- 
ne^fs :  for  Nero,  Vespasian,  and  Domitian  had  done  much  to 
favour  Greek  athletics  in  Rome,  and  the  worse  classes  of  the 
Roman  populace  were  devoted  to  that  amusement.  Moreover 
the  remark  of  Mauricus  might  be  viewed  as  an  impertinent 
suggestion  to  the  emperor  about  a  matter  of  his  own  duty. 

Veiento :  A.  Fabricius  Veiento  had  been  praetor  in  55 
A.  D. ,  when  his  chief  distinction  seems  to  have  been  that  by 
running  dogs  instead  of  horses  he  defied  a  combination  of  the 
contractors  for  the  factumes  of  the  circus  (see  ix.  6.  2, — 
Sel.  61, — n.  panno)  to  force  up  the  prices  for  their  teams  (Dio. 
Cass.  LXi.  6).  In  an  unguarded  moment  of  62  A.D.  he  went 
too  far  and  was  banished  for  slandering  high  officials  and 
trafficking  in  appointments  to  office  {Tsuc,  Ann,  xiv.  50). 
After  his  recall  he  conducted  himself  with  greater  discretion, 
was  advanced  to  the  consulsliip  by  Domitian,  and  became 
one  of  his  bosom-friends  and  favourite  delatores  (Aur.  Vict. 
Ep.  12).  Pliny  mentions  him  as  sitting  and  speakins  in  the 
senate  when  he  assailed  Publicius  Certus  (ix.  13, — Sel.  64). 

proximus  atque  etiam  in  sinu:  Nerva,  as  host,  would 
doubtless  occupy  the  lociu  innnnnis  in  lecto  imo  (cf.,  on  th« 
ordering  of  places  at  a  Roman  dinner-table,  Marquardt 
Priraft.'^  pp.  303  ff.).  Veiento,  then,  occupied  the  lonis 
mediuH  on  the  same  couch,  and  apparently  lay  close  to  hi» 
imperial  host,  as  an  especial  iiitimatc  might  do  (cf.  St.  John's 
place  at  the  Last  Supper,  Enang.  Joh.  13.  23  ei'af  ert/ii 
recumhens  umm  ex  diicipulis  tiuf  in  sinu  /f«w,  queni  dirigeUtt 
lesus). 

rectunbebat :  cf.  ii.  6.  3  (Sel.  16)  n.  recumhebat. 

5.  Catullo  Messalino :  L.  Valerius  Catullus  Messalinus, 
«>nc  of  the  most  notorious  of  the  informers  under  Domitian, 
had  been  cotunU  ordinarius  in  73  A.  D. ,  and  was  living  in  93 


316  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.         35. 6. 

(cf .  Tac.  Agr,  45),  but  apparently  died  before  Nerva*8  accession. 
He  is  linked  with  Veiento  in  Juvenars  satire,  and  is  most 
bitterly  characterized  even  in  his  blindness :  4.  1 13  ff.  crim 
morli/ero  jnrwlens  Veiento  Cat%dlo^  \  quinunqiuun  uisae  flagrxihat 
arnore  pueUae^  |  grande.  et  conspicuum  twstro  quoque  tempore 
monatrunif  etc. 

6.  sententiis:  t.e.  speeches  in  the  senate,  by  which  body 
the  infamous  purposes  of  Domitian  were  decreed  (cf.  Tac. 
Agr.  45  nostrae  diixere  Heluulium  in  carcerem  nianus ;  nos 
Maurici  Rusticique  uvntSt  noa  innocenti  sanguine  Senecio 
perfudit). 

super  cenam :  cf.  the  same  phrase  in  iii.  5.  1 1  (SeL  24), 
and  IX.  33.  1  (Sel.  69). 

passurom  foisse  :  on  the  omission  of  the  *  subject  of  the 
inBuitive '  cf.  iv.  13.  1  (Sel.  33)  n.  uenisae. 

noblscuni  cenaret :  Nerva's  reluctance  (after  the  very  first 
of  his  reign;  see  ix.  13.  4,— Sel,  64, — n.  postidauerdt)  to  allow 
the  prosecution  of  informers  of  the  preceding  reign  was 
unwelcome  to  the  party  so  long  *  in  opposition'  (Dio  lxviii. 
1.  3)  and  is  commonly  ascribed  by  modem  writers  to  a  false 
idea  of  the  value  of  'peace  at  any  price,'  or  to  a  ueneral 
tendency  toward  inactivity.  But  it  may  well  be  that  ne  had 
read  to  good  effect  the  past  history  of  his  country,  and  with 
good  reason  (especially  after  the  caustic  remark  of  Catius 
Fronto,  on  which  see  n.  11.  3, — Sel.  17, — n.  Fronto  Catius) 
meant  to  prevent  a  second  reign  of  terror.  Trajan,  after 
Nerva's  death,  was  forced  to  yield  to  clamorous  outcry,  and 
sanction  further  prosecutions  for  the  sake  of  vengeance 
{Pan.  34). 

7.  libens  :  t.e.  of  set  purpose,  and  not  accidentally. 


LIBER   V. 

36.  (V.  3.) 

A  defence  of  his  verses  and  of  his  recitations  of  them. — 
Titius  Aristo,  to  whom  this  letter  and  viii.  14  arc  addressed, 
is  extravagantly  lauded  by  Pliny  in  i.  22  as  endowed  with  all 
wisdom  and  virtues.  Both  there,  and  in  viii.  22,  in  wliich 
Pliny  refers  to  him  a  knotty  ([uestion  of  parliamentary  law, 
he  is  spoken  of  as  especially  conversant  with  law,  and  lit- 
is   frequently    cited    (especially    by    Pomponius)    in    Jus- 


? 


36. 2.  NOTEa  317 

tiniaii's   Digest.     These  citatious  show  him  to  have  hecn  a 
pupil  of  C.  Cassias  (cos.  30  a.d.),  and  a  counsellor  of  Trajan. 

1.  scripta  ipsa  non  improbarent :  i.e.  tliey  do  not  censure 
the  verses  on  the  ground  that  they  are  somewhat  t'isqudH.  In 
IV.  14  Pliny  defends  himself  against  blame  on  this  ground,  as 
he  does  in  this  letter :  of.  Introd.  pp.  xxxiii  ff. 

amice  simplidterque,  with  the  fi-anhiess  of  friendship. 

me  reprelienderent  quod,  etc.  :  i.i,  they  are  not  too 
exacting  in  their  moral  notions  about  verso  in  general,  but 
yet,  when  it  comes  to  the  pei-sonal  ciuestion,  they  do  not  like 
to  have  Pliny  write  and  read  publicly  such  erotic  verse. 

2.  ut  augeam  meam  colpam :  hc,  by  defence  instead  of 
penitence. 

facio  uersiculos :  on  the  fact  see  also  iv.  14 ;  vii.  4 
(Sel.  47);  iv.  19.  4  (Sel.  34);  v.  10.  1  ;  v.  16.  1  ;  ix.  10.  2 
(Sel.  62)  ;  ix.  34.  1.  Samples  of  his  vei-ses  (which  do  not 
accord  with  his  report  of  their  reputation  for  excellence)  are 
preserved  in  vii.  4.  6  (Sel.  47)  and  vii.  9.  11  (Sel.  4i»).  See 
also  Introd.  pp.  xxxiL  ff. 

seueros  parum,  not  particularly  Mricl :  9C.  such  verses  on 
amatory  themes  as  he  calls  in  iv.  14.  4  paido  pettUantiora,  and 
defends  himself  for  writing  by  saying,  erit  eruditionia  (ttae 
cof/itare  nummos  illoH  et  tfranvtsimos  uiron  t/ui  talia  scrijtfientnf 
non  modo  lasciuia  rerum  sed  ne  iitrbin  quidem  nudis  abMinuinse  ; 
qnoue  nos  refugimus,  non  quia  setteriares  {unde  enim  ?)  ted  quia 
timuliores  sumus,  and  by  quoting  Catullus  16.  5*8. 

mimos  :  comedy  farces,  akin  in  general  character  to  the 
Atellanae,  but  dealing  rather  with  caiUrffempa  of  town -life, 
and  especially  with  erotic  situations.  Their  loose  character 
and  bad  infifuence  were  proverbial,  but  thev  formed  the 
favourite  and  h&sting  stage-diversion  of  the  Romans  of  the 
empire,  and  drove  legitimate  tnu^edy  and  oomed]^  from  the 
Ijoards.  Much  of  the  objection  of  the  early  Christian  writers 
U>  the  the.itre  is  Ixiscd  upon  the  character  of  these  plays  :  cf. 
I'rifdLinder  Sittentj.'^  ii.  pp.  436  ff.  Cf,  also  on  j/antotnimi 
VII.  24  4  n-  (Sel.  52). 

lyricos  :  the  word  seems  almr>et  to  hav»  1>cen  afmrO' 
priute<l  to  mean  ef^pccially  erf>tic  verse,  an  ha<l  hndfrfmyltahi: 
cf.  Quint.  I.  8.  6  c/-e(/iVi  Hero,  vtiqtie  qua  amfi/,  el  htmUea- 
ttyllabi,  qui  >mnt  romma/a  SoiadeorHtn  (nam  de  Sotadtis  ne 
j>rfurifa*  iidiim  quitb^iii  ftf)^  otnowanlur,  Mtjffri  poitni. 

Sotadicos  :  «r.  iifrxiiM.  S^ita^les  was  a  (Irask  |K»et  of  iIm; 
third  century,  wlicise  ventes,  vxemamvcXy  uliscetie  in  mattif 


818  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELKCTAE.         38.  2L 

Mill  «uffgettively  so  even  in   form,  fnrnuhed  »  deteatable 
model  tor  later  ages. 

Intalleffo,  aftprtt-iate, 

aliqwuido,  occaMoncUly :  aa  in  vii.  4.  3  (SeL  47). 

homo  sum :  cf.  the  similar  proverbial  erprasaion  in 
Potron.  75  htmiiniM  mmua  non  det,  where,  howe%'or,  aa  in 
Tetron.  130  nam  et  homo  sum,  and  in  the  frequent  kamwU  eni 
nrare  (Cic.  Phii.  12.  2.  5),  the  point  ii  «oraewbat  different. 

8.  neo  neio,  etc.,  btU  I  cannot /eel  badly  thai  their  opivian 
of  my  character  is  to  high  that  they  wonder  at  my  ttfriUng  suck 
f-erses,  wh^n  thfy  are  not  axcare  that  the  most  learned  and  mdait 
awl  upright  of  men  have  written  them.  On  «uietlnliiUM  cf. 
III.  1.  7  n.  lyrica  docdssima;  mira  iUis  .  .  .  hilaritaa^  euims 
gratiam  cumtUat  sanctitas  scribentis, 

4.  errare  me,  sed  cum  illla :  perhaps  with  a  reminisoence 
of  Cic.  Tiisc.  I.  39  errare  mehereule  malo  cum  Platone  .  .  . 
qitam  CH/n  istis  uera  stntii'e. 

exprlmere,  to  reproduce  :  a  favourite  word  with  Pliny, 

especially  m  the  sense  of  *  to  express,'  with  or  without  uertns. 

6.  an  ego  uerear:  cf.  i.   10.  9  (Sel.  7)  n.  an;  l   16.  8 

(Sel.  1 1 )  n.  an ;  and  on  the  subjunctive  present  without  an 

in  similar  use,  iii.  16.  9  (Sel.  28)  n.  ego  audiam, 

Karcum  Tallinm,  etc. :  Pliny  is  careful  to  cite  only  men 
who  were  senators  and  orators  as  well  as  poets  {t.g.  he 
mentions  Caluus,  but  not  Catullus,  who  is  his  tnulitional 
mate).  It  has  Iwjcn  suggested  (Teuffel-Schwabe  31.  1)  that 
Pliny  culled  his  list  of  names  from  an  erotic  anthology  of  his 
diiy.  Ovid  defends  himself  in  similar  case  by  citing  a  long 
list  of  Greek  and  Koman  writers  of  erotic  verses  {Trist,  ii. 
361  ff.).  An  epigramma  of  Cicero  (whether  genuine  or  not 
may  be  a  grave  question)  is  cited  by  Pliny  in  vii.  4  (Sel.  47), 
another  is  quotea  by  Quintilian  (viii.  6.  73),  and  other  writers 
refer  to  a  collection  of  miscellaneous  verses  from  his  pen,  in 
addition  to  his  better  known  poems. 

C.  rLicinium  Macnim)  Caluum :  cf.  i.  16.  5  (Sel.  11)  n. 
CnfiifhiM  ant  CahnM.  Only  a  score  of  brief  fragments  of  hi» 
verses  are  preserved ;  sec  Uaehrens  Frag.  Poet.  Lnt.  p.  320. 

Asinium  Polllonem :  C.  Asinius  Pollio  (76  d.c— 5  a.d.)  in 
not  elsewhere  mentioned  as  a  writer  of  amatory  verse,  and  only 
throe  words  of  this  sort  from  his  pen  have  survived  (  Wveris 
avtist'itn  Ctipris,  in  (.Miarisius).  He  was  well-known  as  a 
writer  of  trage<lie«,  Imt  those  have  utterly  perished. 

M.  MessaUam;  M.  Valerius  Messalla  ConiinuR(<U  n.r.— 


36. 5.  NOTES.  319 

8  A.D.)  is  praised  for  his  Greek  bucolics  by  the  writer  of 
Verg.  CcUal.  11,  but  nothing  more  is  known  of  his  poetry. 

Q.  Hortenslum  :  Q.  Hortensius  Hortalus  (114-o0  n.c), 
Cicero's  great  rival  in  oratory,  is  mentioned  as  a  writer  of 
amatory  verse  by  Catullus  (95.  3),  Varro  {L.L.  viii.  14;  x. 
78),  Gellius  (xix.  9.  7),  and  Ovid  (Trist.  ii.  441  vec  minus 
Horiensi,  nee  suiU  mijuis  imprcha  Serui  \  tar^nina).  Just  one 
word  of  his  poems  is  preserved  (cerui.v,  for  the  earlier  plural 
cet-uices)^  if  we  except  a  mere  title  {Zmi/nia),  but  they  were 
criticized  as  intteiuista  (Cell.  I.e.). 

M.  Bratum  :  verses  by  M.  lunius  Brutus  (79-42  B.C.),  the 
murderer  of  Caesar,  are  mentioned  elsewhere  only  by  Tacitus, 
and  that  in  no  complimentary  manner ;  Dial,  21  [Itditis 
Caesar  et  M.  BnUiislfecerunt  enim  et  cm-viina  et  in  hibliothecas 
rettiUerwUt  non  melius  quam  Cicero,  sed  /elicitis,  quia  illos 
fecisse  paticiores  aciiint. 

L.  Sullam:  a  single  epigram,  in  Greek,  of  Cornelius  Sulla, 
the  dictator  (138-78  B.C.),  is  preserved  in  Appian  B.C.  i.  97, 
and  he  is  said  (in  Atheuaeus  vi.  p.  201  c),  perhaps  mistakenly, 
to  have  composed  *  satiric  comedies '  in  Latin.  Nothing  more 
is  known  of  nis  versification. 

Q.  Catalnm :  two  composedly  amatory  epigrams  of  Lutatius 
Catulus  (152-87  b.c.)  are  preserved  to  us,  one  in  Gell.  xix.  9. 
14,  and  the  other  in  Cic.  N.V.  i.  79. 

Q.  Scaeuolam  :  as  Pliny  is  citing  onlv  senators  and 
statesmen,  this  Q.  Mucins  Scaeuola  can  hardly  be  (as  Haupt, 
Tcuffel,  and  others  Iiave  surmised)  the  son  of  the  famous 
auffur,  but  is  probably  the  amjur  himself  (rtrc.  159-87  B.C.). 
He  was  a  man  of  geniiil  temperament  (Cic.  De  Or.  i.  35,  234), 
and  even  given  to  jollity  (Cic.  Au.  iv.  16.  3). 

Ser.  Snlpiciain:  for  the  reason  before  specified  this 
Sulpicius  may  be  identified  with  the  Sulpicius  Rufns  who 
was  Cicero's  friend  (cos.  51  b.c.,  died  43  A.D.),  rather  than 
with  the  later  person  of  that  name,  perhaps  his  son  :  cf.  Ou. 
TriMt.  cited  al>ove  on  Horftnsium. 

Varronem :  doubtless  M.  Terentius  Vurro  Rcatinus 
(11(5— after  :W  n.<".),  whoso  activity  in  verse  as  in  prose  is 
well  known,  though  little  of  his  verse  has  lieen  preserved 
except  the  fragments  of  his  M(aHp|)can  satires. 

Torqnatos :  probably  the  \j.  Manlius  Torqnatns  who  was 
cos.  in  65  B.C..  and  his  .son,  who  was  praetor  in  49  and  died 
in  Africa  in  47.     Nothing  is  known  of  thcni  as  poets. 

C.  Memmium  :  praetor  in  5S  n  r.,  dying  in  exile  in  f  ■recce 
in  49.     Cicen»  {/hiif.  '141)  s|ieaks  of  him  as  an  agreeable  bnt 


320  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.         20, «. 

lazy  speaker,  .iiid  as  particularly  accomplished  in  Greek 
letters,  and  Ovid  {Trial,  ii.  433)  cites  him  in  his  defeusive 
list  of  erotic  poets. 

Lentnlain :  Gd.  Lentulus  Gaetulicus  (cos.  26  A.D.,  put  to 
death  by  Caligula  39  a.  D.)  is  meutioneil  as  a  poet  by  Martial, 
Sidonius,  and  Probua,  tliough  the  three  hexameters  of  his 
preservetl  in  Probus  (on  Oeorg.  i.  227)  appear  to  be  from  a 
historical  epic. 

Annaeum  Senecam:  L.,  the  philosopher,  son  of  the 
rhetorician,  (c.  4—65  a.d.).  A  few  epigrams  from  his  pen 
are  preserved  in  the  AiUJtologia  LcUina^  and  others  are  with 
probability  ascribed  to  hinu 

Vergininm  Raftun:  cf.  ii.  1  (Sel.  16).  He  is  not  cited 
elsewhere  as  a  writer  of  erotic  verse,  and  the  only  vene  of 
his  preserved  is  the  epigram  in  vi.  10.  4  (Sel.  44)  and  ix.  19. 
1  (Sel.  65). 

priuata :  cf.  ix  23.  3  (Sel.  14)  n.  prhuUum. 

dluum  lolium :  Caesar  is  known  as  a  verse-writer  also 
through  Tac.  Dial.  21  (cited  above  on  Jf.  Bmtum)  and  Suet. 
lul.  56,  which  latter  writer  remarks  that  Augustus  forbade 
the  publication  of  his  earlier  poems.  A  fragment  of  six 
hexameters  on  Terence  is  preserved  in  the  Suetonian  life  of 
that  author  (Reiff.  Suet.  Rell,  p.  34.  7).— On  dlnnm  see  iv. 
11.  14  (Sel.  32)  n.  dim, 

dluum  Auflrnstum:  Suetonius  tells  us  {Atig.  85)  that 
Augustus  wrote  epigrammafu,  as  well  as  other  poetry,  and 
one  of  these  epigrams  is  unfortunately  preserved  to  us  by 
Martial.  He  also  composed  some  ueraua  Fescennini  against 
a  certain  PoUio. 

dluum  Neruam :  Nero  called  Nerva  the  Tibullus  of  his 
time  (Mart.  viii.  70.  7),  but  there  is  no  other  mention  of  his 
poetry. 

Tlberlum  Oaesarem:  Suetonius  {Tib.  70)  mentions  that 
Til)eriu3  composed  a  Latin  elegy  on  the  death  of  L.  Caesar, 
and  (Jreek  jwcms  in  imitation  of  Euphorion,  Rhianus,  and 
Piirthcnius.  Suidas  says  he  wrote  epigrams.  But  none  of 
his  poems  are  extant. 

6.  Neronem:  Nero's  zeal  as  a  poet  is  well  known  (Suet. 
A'cr.  52;  Tac.  Ann.  xiii.  3;  xiv.  16),  and  Martial  (ix.  26.  9) 
mentions  poems  such  as  Pliny  has  in  mind. 

P.  Vergllius  :  one  mii^ht  justly  suppose  Pliny  to  have  in 
minil  the  yet  extant  *  minor  poems '  ascribcMl  to  Vergil  with 
varying  dcgn-os  of  proltability  by  later  writers ;  but  it  is 
worthy  of  note  tiiat  Ovid  mm  cite  as  erotic  writings  of  Vergil 


37.  1.  NOTES.  321 

only  some  of  the  Bucolics,  and  part  of  Aen.  iv.  (Ou.  Trist.  ii. 
533  ff.).  ^ 

Cornelius  Nepos :  this  is  apparently  the  only  reference 
to  him  as  a  writer  of  verse. 

Ennius :  the  reference  may  be  to  some  passages  of  his 
(lost)  comedies,  or  to  his  tragedies.  The  extant  fragments 
of  his  naturae  show  no  indication  that  Pliny  might  have 
these  in  mind. 

Accius:  perhaps  in  passages  of  his  tragedies, — though 
some  of  his  non-dramatic  works  may  be  meant. 

non  quidem,  etc.  :  a  delicious  example  of  Pliny's 
innocent  snobbishness ;  cf.  Introd.  p.  xxxvi,  8.  Jin, 

ordinibos :  knights  and  senators,  as  distinct  from  the 
common  herd. 

7.  an...ne8Cio:  apparently  undecided,  as  the  later 
poierant  (*they  might  well')  shows:  cf.  i.  15.  3  (Sel.  10) 
n.  nescio  an. 

etiam :  cf.  iv.  13.  3  (Sel.  33)  n.  eiiam, 

miM  modestlor  constantia  est :  the  phrase  illustrates  the 
increasing  tendency  to  the  use  of  abstract  nouns  in  the  place 
of  simple  adjectives  modifying  the  personal  subject. 

3.  ex  consllii  sententia  statoit:  cf.  i.  9.  2  (Sel.  6)  n.  in 
consilium.     On  the  reasons  for  reciting  cf.  also  v.  12.  1. 

9.  marmnre :  sc.  of  applause,  not  of  disapprobation :  cf. 
IX.  34.  2  quae  pronuntiabtt  murmure,  ocvlis^  manu  proseqitar, 

iudiduxn  ab  humanitate  discemunt,  discriminate  judg- 
ment from  friendliness  :  which  latter  quality  might  lead  them 
to  try  to  conceal  their  real  sentiments. 

10.  quamuis :  this  particle  begins  to  be  used  with  the  sub- 
junctive even  in  classical  times  to  express,  as  here,  a  subjec- 
tive possibility.  But  it  is  only  in  the  silver  age  that  it  is 
freely  used  with  the  subjunctive  of  an  actual  fact,  as  in  e,g, 
III.  1.  6  (Sel.  23) ;  v.  5.  3  (Sel.  37). 


37.     (V.  5.) 

The  death  of  C.  Fannius.— To  Nonius  Maximus  is  addrcsse<l 
also  IV.  20  (on  some  of  his  writings),  but  he  is  otherwise  un- 
known. To  an  indeterminate  *  Maximus'  are  addressed 
various  other  letters  ;  see  intr.  note  to  ii.  14  (Sel.  20). 

1.  nontiatum  est :  cf.  the  personal  construction  nuudahis 
est  in  III.  7.  1  (Sel.  25)  and  n. 

X 


822  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.         S7, 1. 

C.  Fannlum :  otherwiso  unknown.  He  does  not  appear 
to  have  been  closely  related  to  P.  Fannius  Thrasea  Paetna,  on 
whom  SCO  III.  16.  10  (Sel.  28). 

confUdlt :  cf.  the  same  figure  in  i.  22.  12  erit  eo^futicni 
mem'  non  mtdiorrc  aoiacium, 

neritate  promptissimfis :  so  in  v.  12.  1  Pliny  aays  that  he 
read  a  ccrtuin  R|}ecch  to  a  few  friends  ut  nerum  audirtm. 

2.  super :  not  unroininon  in  silver-age  Latinity  in  the 
sense  of  pniettr ;  cf.  viii.  4.  2,  7  (Sel.  56) ;  X.  100  «.  mag- 
noM  jifurimanque.  virhifen;  Pan.  lb  n,  ea;  and  phrases  after 
the  nimlel  of  aJia  nuper  alia  in  vii.  8.  1 ;  x.  88  (Sel.  102) ; 
Pan.  14.  Here,  however,  it  may  retain  somewliat  of  the 
force  of  preeminence,  *over  and  above  these  considerations.' 

prosecutus  est,  honoured  (sc.  legato) ;  cf.  viii.  18.  2 
jjroHe.r.nfiUi  ent  nepotes  plurimis  iuatttdisMimitqtte  leffcUu/ ;  iil  21. 
2  (Sel.  29)  n.  prosecutus  eram  uiatico ;  and  even  such  further 
extrn.sions  of  meaning  as  in.  10.  3  fifieffo  memonam  pronetpii : 
X.  S,")  pronirfitorcm  tottimonio  proscquor ;  8G.  1  pitwjectum 
nolo  ft.  Hiijl'i-atjio  j^roHeqtuor. 

utcumque :  cf.  i.  12.  2  (Sel.  8)  n.  vtaimque, 

3.  quamnls :  cf.  v.  3.  10  (Sel.  36)  n.  quamuis. 

Latinos:  i.e.  perfect  in  purity  of  language  and  con- 
struction ;  cf.  Cic.  De  Or.  i.  144  tw  [orafione]  praecipilur 
primum  nl  pure  et  Latine  loquamur^  deinde  ut  plane  et  dUtLctde^ 
turn  ut  omtfte,  pout  ad  rerum  dignitatem  apte  et  quasi  deeore, 

inter  sermonem  historiamque  medics :  the  conversational 
style  is  frc<|uently  distinguished  from  that  of  poetry,  for 
example  (see  Hor.  5*0^.  i.  4.  .*J9ff.);  and  Pliny  distinguishes 
the  grandiloquent  stateliness  of  history  from  oratory  in  v.  8. 
9,  10. 

hi  lectitabantur :  like  other  works,  including  P1iny*s 
own  letters,  the  memoirs  of  Fannius  were  published  in 
detachments. 

4.  acerba  :  originally  descriptive  of  the  sourness  or  acridity 
of  unripe  fniit,  and  therefore  a  strict  synonym  for  inwinfnra. 
The  woril  was  traditif>nally  used  by  tlie  Koman.s  of  an  earlj' 
death  :  (;f.  iv.  21.  1  trisirm  cf  art  r} mm  rasinn  (of  tlie  death  of 
two  young  mothers) ;  v.  10.  6  (Sel.  39)  o  trinte  jilane  acer- 
btimqtu:  funitM. 

in  diem  uiuunt :  a  proverbial  expression  ;  cf.  Cic.  De  Or. 
If.  169  ftnrhnrontm  est  in  diem  uiH€.rt\  noxttxi  nmxilia  Mtm- 
piterintm  tnnpus  sprrtarr.  dcJtenf. 

uiuendi  causas  cotidie  flniunt:    cf.   luu.   8.  84  propter 


38.  1.  NOTES.  323 

uitam  uiuendi  perdere  causas ;  and  i.  12.  3  (Sel.  8)  n.  uiuendi 
causas. 

memoriam  sui  operibus  eztendunt :  cf.  iii.  7.  14  (Sel.  25) 
n.  relinqtiamtiH  cUiqnid  [fx  studils]  quo  nos  vixisse  testenmr, 

5.  uisus  est  sibi  iacere  :  cf.  the  same  phrase  of  a  dream  in 
VII.  27.  12  (Sel.  n4)  uiius  est  sihi  cemere. 

scrinium :  otlierwise  called  capm,  a  cylindrical  box,  like 
a  bandbox,  in  which  a  niunber  of  MS.  rolls  {noluviina)  could 
be  kept,  standing  on  end. 

reuoluisse :  of  the  ms.  roll  of  pap5^rus,  which  was  un- 
rolled by  the  riglit  hand,  and  roUecl  up  with  the  left,  as  the 
reading  proceeded. 

6.  sic  interpretatus :  on  the  belief  in  dreams  see  i.  18.  1 
(Sel.  12)  n.  807)11110. 

7.  quod  me  recordantem  miseratio  subit:   cf.  the  same 
words  in  iir.  7.  10  (Sel.  25). 

inter  manus  :  cf.  the  same  phrase  in  ii.  5.  2 ;  Verg.  Aen. 
XI.  311  ante  ocniof!  interqne  mamiA  tmnt  omnia  uestras.  The 
more  frequent  expression  is  in  manibus  (habere^  e.wc) ;  cf.  I.  2. 
6  (Sel.  2)  n.  in  manibus. 


38.     (V.  14.) 

The  virtues  of  Comutus  TertuUus. — To  Pontius  are  ad- 
dressed two  other  letters,  vi.  28  and  vii.  4  (Sel.   47),  but 
nothing  further  is  known  of  him.     His  gtniiticinm  only  is 
given  in  the  last  two  letters  (the  mss.  of  Books  vi.-ix.  have 
preserved  only  single  names  of  the  persons  addressed),  and 
in  this  letter  the  cognomen  occurs  only  in  the  index  of  the 
Beauvais    ctdex.      Allifae   (whence  Allifauus)   was  a  well- 
known  town  of  Samnium  near  the  Volturnus,  reckoned  as 
Campanian  by  the  elder  Pliny  (X.H.  iii.  63). 
1.  secesseram  :  sc.  ex  vrfe,  as  frequently, 
municipium  :    ^r.   doubtles.*;  tneum. — that  is,  Comuni, — 
where  his  wife's  grandfather  and  aunt  (see  §  8)  live<l. 
nuntiatnm  est :  cf.  in.  7.  1  (Sel.  25)  n.  nuntiatns  est. 
Comutum  Tertullum:  see  ii.  11.  19  (Sel.  17)  n.  Conmtvs 
TertxdliiA. 

Aemiliae  uiae  curam :  his  title  was  c\niATOR  .  viae  • 
AEMii.iAK.  The  imiwrtancc  of  the  greater  roads  that  radiated 
from  Kome  led  the  early  em|)er<»r8  to  entrust  the  special 
charge  of  each  to  an  ex -consul,  who  was  res]K>nsible  for  its 


»4  r.  PLDn  EPISTVLAE  SSLBCTAE.         88.  L 

proper  oaintcBaBoe.  and  sometiaies  for  the  cmtu  alimaUormm 
of  the  region  throo|rli  vhich  it  pawed.     The  na  Aemulia  was 
theoootinuatioD  of  the  km  Ptaaumia  from  Arinuniun  (Runini) 
straight  to  MetiioUniam  <Milao)  throi^  Bonooia  (Bologiia) 
Matina  (Modena),  Parma,  and  Plaoentia  (Piaoen^).  ' 


9.  maadatam  miU  ofllriWH :  fhiai  about  105  to  about  107 
A.D.  Pliny  was  «.-vilatok  •  alvu  .  tbbus  •  et  •  riparvm  • 
ET  .  riji>ArARVM  -  vKBis(see  the  inscription  in  Introd.  p.  xL), 
another  of  the  high  local  adminiatratiTe  functions  entrusted 
to  an  ex-consni.  The  constant  need  of  dredging,  and  the 
danger  from  overflows  in  the  winter  freshets»  made  the  «iflloe 
no  sin«Knire. 

8.  QHld  smctiBs,  etc  :  so  he^waks  of  Spnrinna*s  aniigmias 
and  sattrtiia^  in  iii.  I.  6. 7  (Sel.  23) :  so  he  caUs  EmciusClarus 
(II.  9.  4)  Kir  mmetHA,  aatignuA;  and  Veiginius  (ii.  1.  7, — 8eL 
15)  exemplar  aetti  primrU. 

ad  exemplar  astiqiiitatls :  cf.  vr.  21.  2  atmoediam  ad 
exemfJar  n^ttri*  i'omofdine  ^tcriptam  tarn  bene  Hi  es^^e  qnando- 
que  pomt  exemplar. 

4.  una  diUgimns,  una  dflezlmns  omnes:  cited  by  the 
okler  commentators  as  an  (accidental)  dactylic  hexameter, 
which  it  might  be  if  t-he  final  syllable  of  diiigimtu  wero 
regarded  as  'lengthened  in  thesis.'  A  number  of  such 
accidental  hexameters  have  been  noted  in  prose  writing. 
The  ancient  rhetoricians  properly  considered  them  Uemishea : 
cf.  Quint.  IX.  4.  72  uermm  tu  orafkmt  fieri  mnlio  Jbedismmmm 
e$t  Mftm,  9etl  ftiam  in  parte  de/orme, 

6.  in ...  ftilt,  fult  et  in  ... :  on  the  chiastic  repetition  of  the 
verb  see  i.  12.  12  (8el.  8)  n.  morte  dofeo.— On  the  prefecture 
of  the  treasury  of  Saturn  see  ix.  13.  II  (Sel.  64)  n.  prae/ectum 
aerariit  and  Introd.  p.  xxv. 

seqaarer :  Pliny  was  the  junior  in  office  as  in  age  of  the 
two  colleagues. 

ut  parentem :  on  the  diflerence  in  age  lietween  the  two 
men  nee  ii.  II.  10  (Sel.  17)  n.  Comvtw  Terftd/us. 

uererer:  nn  Pliny  miyh  of  Miiiicius  Acilianus  (i.  14.  3), 
me  vf  iiitirniH  inuencm  *  {fj*t  tnim  minor  /Kinnditt  annis) 
Jamil uirMmt  ditiffift  nwrrfnr  ut  nr.uem. 

6.  his  ex  causii :  rcc  t.  2.  0  (Sel.  2)  n.  ex  canxit, 
neo  priuatim  magli  quam  publlce:  cf.  ii.  I.  7  (Sel.  15) 
n.  non  ifoinm  /wWi»**». 

•.  eram,  etc.  :   an  unupunlly  lon>?  oxainplr  of  as^-ndetic 
clftttsM.  rrpHHlwdng  rvidrntly  tlio  manner  <if  a  aix-ech. 


39. 2.  NOTES.  325 

prosocero  meo:  Calpurnius  Fabatus»  grandfather  of 
Calpuniia,  Pliny's  wife  ;  see  iv.  19.  1  (Sel.  34)  n.  ano. 

amita :  Calpuruia  Hispulla ;  see  introd.  note  to  iv.  19 
(Sel.  34). 

drcumibam  agellos,  etc. :  landed  estates  among  the 
Romans  were  viewed  not  merely  as  pleasant  country  resi- 
dences, but  as  farms  to  produce  income.  Each  was  regularly 
put  under  the  char>re  of  a  manager  (uiliciis)^  usually  a  slave, 
and  was  worked  by  slave  labour.  Over  the  vilicun  a 
procurator  might  serve,  in  charge  of  the  accounts,  or  the 
uUicua  might  keep  the  accounts  himself,  the  owner  inspecting 
them  whenever  he  visited  the  estate.  Some  of  the  land 
might  be  rented  to  free  tenants  {coloni)^  who  either  paid  a 
fixed  amount  annually,  or  a  certain  share  of  the  produce,  the 
uiliciis  in  the  latter  case  beine  empowered  to  compel  them  to 
work  their  holdings  properly.  Complaints  from  tenants 
were  frequent,  either  on  account  of  overbearing  supervision, 
or  of  poverty  from  *  bad  years ' ;  of.  ix.  36.  6  (Sel.  70) ;  x.  8. 
5  (Sel.  77). 

inoitus,  etc.  :  everything  shows  Pliny  to  have  been  an 
excellent  man  of  business  in  all  directions,  quite  after  the 
old  Roman  ideaL  He  is  here  but  affecting  carelessness,  if 
not  reluctance. 

9.  angnstiis  commeatus,  by  the  brevity  of  my  leave  of 
absence  :  sc.  from  the  duties  of  his  curatorship  (see  §  2  above). 
Such  leaves  of  absence  apparently  had  to  be  obtained  from 
the  emperor ;  of.  x.  8.  4  (Sel.  77). 

Campania  tua :  see  introd.  note  to  this  letter. 

39.    (V.  16.) 

The  death  of  Minicia  Marcella. — To  Marcellinus  was 
written  also  viii.  23  (on  the  death  of  lunius  Auitus),  bat  he 
is  otherwise  unknown.  The  local  cognomen  Aefulanus  is 
found  only  in  the  index  of  the  Bejiuvais  codex.  Aefulac 
was  an  old  town  on  the  edge  of  the  Stibine  mountains,  a  few 
miles  south  of  Tibur.  A  M.  Aefulanus  was  proconsul  of 
Asia  in  Nero's  time,  and  may  have  been  a  connection  of 
Marcellinus. 

1.  Fondani :  on  C.  Minicius  Fundanus  see  introd.  note  to 
I.  9  (Sel.  6). 

festiuius,  morf  ckarmhuj. 

2.  nondum  annos  tredecim  impleuerat:  the  tomb  of  the 
family  was  discovered  on  Monte  Mario,  about  three  uiiles 


aiyrsii  -«c  Ri«e.  aUxke  l^ftR.  aad  witkia  it  «  i  ■■■■■ij  «n  of 
aiuf-L<  31  u«  itirm  ^  a  ^/"iw  «itli  tile  OMeniMMHi  D  •  11 1 
UIMCIAE  MAia:EIXAKnnrNT>AXI  -  F  fV-i  -  xii . 
u  \:  .  Ml.  L<..  iw  MwaMw  Jiitieimt  JlmrtrUme^  Fkm- 
UiM  i-Mu  risi:  Mm»i»  xiL.  wtemtOmi  jei. ,  diehm*  fuL  (aee  H. 
IV^f«iifti  a  Ssu.  /«.  Omr.  JrdL  1**I,  n.  15;  Cf.^^  vl 
&«S3l :  LVhu  !•»>'.    tW  app<»  ii  aov  u  the  JTuw  f^dfe 


«^  prunlnnM ;  che  iratj  jiUtvi  wfcwt  cspeci»!  duty  it 
VM  CO  JccmpMir  ckikirm  u>  ami  ham  mekotd  ;  tk»  aci^ 


abXXSMT  isKlicum  that  d»  was 
fMaii.x  : jmb  waa  dinovcfcd  a  m 
nxMi'TLZJk,  vkMh  Mar  kave  bem  i 


t:  cf.  L  l^L  3  (SeL  S)  [aMrAoi] 


:  c£.  V.  3^  4  (SeL  37>  a. 
arwl:  cf.  L   liL  6  (SeL  &) 

fctffdAflrf:  aoooniiai!  to  Roaaai  antean  ba- 
trochal  might  take  pUee  vhila  the  afciiclea  vaa  sUlI  a  yomi^ 
child,  bat  «he  vas  coDndered  aianiaceable  fron  tha  ocmu- 
pictioa  of  the  t««ifth  jear,  vhile  the  actaU  Me  cf  bar 
marrb^  «a<  uaaaSkj  frm  the  completion  of  the  mnttaeuth 
>-i»r.  Vet  giris  were  soaMtimes  marrM^l  even  wheo  onder 
tmclre  veAia  of  age.  Oq  the  statistics  of  the  sabject  aae 
FriedLioder  S*::€ng.*  L  pp.  963ff. 

7.  tas  ct  aBpobenta  at  odona  :  incense  of  varions  sorta  waa 
homed  aitrnml  the  body  as  it  lay  in  state,  and  also  oo  the 
fanecal  pyre»  and  peif nined  oils  and  essences  were  asetl  about 
the  body,  and  eren  disposed  in  open  flasks  in  the  tcunb. 
Extra v-4'^nt  sonis  weie  often  thus  e&iKU«lcil,  and  the  xii. 
tables  prcscrihed  limitations  (Talk.  x.  ap.  Brans  /bnfes^* 
p.  36).     2)ee  FrieJlauder  SUitHg.^  in.  p.  127  f. 

8.  pietatls  totas,  trkofijf  a^«oWf '/  m  hi*  [f>af(rnal]  '/•  roCioa : 
on  the  lenitive  with  this  a<lji.x-tivc  cf.  Tcr.  Kum.  l<MO./rnfri« 
igiiMr  Thais  icfoM;  Cic  Fat»,  ii.  1.^  2  we  PomptiitolHm  (j»« 
W«:  VaL  Flac,  i.  207  t^fn^  dti  yfofi*M*\  Liv.  in.  96.  7 
hominnm^  non  can^rnm^  ti*lt  trattt  ;  ami  Later  writers»  itnM*im. 

9.  quid  amiaeiit.  amisit  enim  :  with  ibe  cpiiiialcptic  open- 
ing of  the  sentence  cf.  I.  I.  I  («Sel.  1)  n.  coiliycrtm  pMicartm- 


40. 2.  NOTES.  327 

que.  collegi ;  with  the  mouriifiil  repetition  of  the  vcrl)  cf.  i. 
12.  12  (Sel.  8)  ainisi  enim  amisi. 

10.  multum  faciei  medii  temporis  spatium  :  cf.  viii.  5.  3 
dum  admittere  aduocamenta  et  cicalricevi  pati  /tosfiit,  quam 
nihil  aeque  ac  nereMitas  ip.sa  et  dies  lomja  et  ^cUiefas  dolor  is 
inducit  ;  Menander  fr.  077  Kock  travruv  iarpos  twv  dvayKaiwy 
KaKuv  x/x^^os  €<ttIv  ;  Cic.  Fam.  v.  16.  5  diufni'iiitaSy  quae 
maximos  luctus  iu!ttistafe  tollit;  «o  also  Cic.  /awi.  vii.  28.  3; 
IV.  5.  6;  Alt.  III.   15.  2;  xii.    10;   Tusc.  in.  53;   Ou.  Pont. 

I.  3.  15 ;  lUm.  Am.  131  ;  Sen.  Agam.  i:iO ;  Marc.  Cans.  8.  1 ; 
Ep.  63.  13  ;  Auson.  xv.  11.  11  Sch.  ;  Ter.  Nfant.  421  f.  quod 
uolgo  audio  \  did,  diem  adimere  aegritudintm  hoininibua ; 
Byron  Childe  Harold  iv.  130  O  Time!  the  haulijier  of  the 
dead,  \  adorner  of  tlie  ruin,  comforter  |  and  only  healer  wfien 
the  heart  hath  Med. 

11.  ut  enim  crudum,  et-c.:  cf.  Sen.  Helu.  Cons.  3.  1  quern 
ad  modum  tirones  leuiter  saucii  tavien  ttocifcrantur  et  manus 
medirorum  viaijis  quam  fer^tim  horrent,  at  uelvrani  quaimiis 
confosdi  paticnter  ac  sine  gemitu  uelut  aliena  corjwra  exsaniari 
patiuntur,  ita  tu  nunc  dehes  fortiter  praeiux  te  curatimii. 

40.     (V.  19.) 

The  illness  of  Pliny's  freedman,  Zosimus.  — On  the  subject- 
matter  may  he  compared  viii.  1  (on  the  illness  of  another 
favourite)  and  viii.  16  (Sel.  58).  To  Valerius  Paulinus  is 
addressed  also  iv.  16  (on  the  crowd  that  listened  to  a  plea  of 
Pliny's  Ijefore  the  centumuii'i).  To  a  Paulinus  are  inscnbed 
three  other  letters,  ii.  2,  ix.  3,  and  ix.  37,  mIio  may  or  may 
not  be  this  Valerius  Paulinus.  *  Paulinus'  was  just  al)out  to 
enter  upon  the  consulship  in  i\.  37,  and  was  dead  before  the 
writing  of  x.  104,  105.  Valerius  Paulinus  Mas  a  senator  at 
the  time  of  the  trial  of  lulius  Bassus  (iv.  9.  20,  21 ).  He  is  not 
otherwise  known. 

1.  tuoB,  meos:  cf.  ii.  17.  7  (Sel.  21)  n.  meorum, 

2.  iraTTJp,  etc.  :  said  first  by  Tclcniachns  and  then  by 
Mentor  of  Odysseus  in  his  rule  over  the  Ithacans  (Horn.  Od. 

II.  47,  2;«). 

pater  familiae  (or,  with  the  archaic  form  of  the  genitive, 
paftrfamilias):  the  formal  iin<l  legal  dosignaticm  of  the  head 
of  the  Roman  household.  The  fam  ilia  included  slaves  and 
free<lmen  as  well  as  wife,  children.  grandcluMren,  etc. 

frangreret  me  inflrmitas  liberti  mei :  cf.  \  in.  16.  1  (Sel. 
68)  conftcernnt  me  infirmitatM  mtornm  ;  3  dtbilitor  etfrangor 
.  .  .  non  ideo  tamen  uelim  duriorjitri. 


3S8  C.  PLINI  EPI8TVLAE  8ELBCTAE.        M.  1 

•.  littenttu :  fay  no  means  an  annsnal  qomlity,  e«ii 
in  Greek  slaves.  One  may  remember  Gioero's  freedman  i 
friend.  Tiro,  and  the  specially  trained  daves  of  Attlona  (Neou 
.4//.  13.  3).  Cf.  abo  IX.  36.  4  (8el.  70)  cum  mew  amdnio, 
quorum  in  ntanero  naU  truditu 

inscriptio,  label  i  a  tag  {tUtdus)  was  suspended  from  the 
neck  of  each  slave  exposed  for  sale  in  the  market,  on  whieh 
was  stated,  with  other  information»  his  especial  aptitude  and 
training :  cf.  Saet.  Bell.  p.  103  Keiffi  apud  maiort»  ait  [Or(»- 
/i'im],  eum  familia  alicuitu  uenalis  produeertiHr,  nam  temen 
quern  lideratum  in  tUtdo  sect  liUeratarem  inseribi  solitum  este. 
quasi  turn  per/eehim  liUerie  sect  indnUwn ;  Prop.  v.  5.  51  ami 
quorum  litultu  per  barbara  coUa  pependit.  But  the  peculiar 
word  with  qwui  suggests  a  playful  reference  to  the  branding 
{in9cribere)t  especially  of  a  runaway  slave,  on  forehead  or  hand. 
See  Marquardt  PrivaOeben*  pp.  172,  nn.  4,  5;  184,  n.  4. 

comoedns  :  see  l  15.  2  (SeL  10)  n.  oomoedum. 

pronuntiat,  speaks :  cf.  §  6  below. 

dthara:  see  iv.  19.  4  (Sel.  34)  n.  cantat/ontuUquedthara; 
I.  15.  2  (Sel.  10)  n.  lyristen. 

orationes  et  historlas  et  carmina  l«git :  see  i.  15.  2  (8eL 
10)  n.  ledarem ;  vm.  1.  2. 

6.  non  semel,  not  the  first  time :  cf.  n.  11.  11  (SeL  17)  n. 
non  semel ;  vi.  16.  18  (Sel.  45)  n.  semel  atque  iierum. 

m.  dam  Intenta  initantarque  pronuntiat,  while  readiMg  with 
viffour  and  emp/uuis. 

sangninem  reiedt,  'spat  blood.' 

ob  hoc  in  Aegsrptum  missus :  the  long  sea-journey  to 
Egypt,  and  a  stay  there,  seenis  to  have  been  a  common  pre- 
scription for  phthisical  patients  ;  cf .  Gels.  iii.  22  «t  .  .  .  uera 
phtnitis  eslf  .  .  .  opus  esl^  si  uires  pa^iurUur,  lomga  nauiga- 
tiofie^  cadi  mutatione^  sic  ut  densius  quam  id  est  ex  quo  diaoulit 
aeger  petatur :  ideoijtte  aptissime  AUxandriam  ex  Italia  itwr ; 
IV.  10  utilis  etiam  in  omni  tussi  est  peregrination  nauigcUio 
lontfa,  loca  9>iari^»ma,  natationes ;  PI.  N.H,  xx\iii.  54  u/i/m- 
sima  phthtsi  fiauigatio ;  xxxi.  62  f.  priitcijtalis  [hsus]  nero 
iiauitjawii  phthisi  ad/ectis,  at  dixinuut,  attt  sajiguine  egesto  ; .  . . 
vequt  euim  Aegyfttus  propter  se  petitur^  sed  propter  louginqm- 
tatem  nauigandi, 

7.  Foro  lull :  the  modern  Fr^jus,  situated  on  the  coast  of 
southern  France,  about  halfway  between  Nice  and  Toulon. 
Its  name  came  from  a  colony  planted  there  by  Julius  Caesar 
in  46  B.C.  It  attained  some  importance  as  a  naval  station  in 
the  early  empire,  but  is  now  a  small  village. 


41.  2.  NOTES.  329 

aera  salubrem:  the  same  coast,  extending  eastward 
through  the  Riviera,  has  retained  its  reputation  as  a  health- 
resort  for  consumptives. 

lac  eius  modi  curationibus  accommodatissixnnm :  so 
Celsus  declared  ;  see  Cels.  m.  22  lac  quftqiie  .  .  .  in  ^^/t^Awt 
.  .  .  rede  dari  potest  (cf.  Hipp.  Aph.  v.  64) ;  Plin.  If,H. 
XXVIII.  125  tjuni8  lactis  ad  fauces^  pulmones,  ut  in  Arcadia 
huhulum  \Uic]  hiberent  pluhinici  dtximvs.  It  is  interesting 
to  notice  that  the  milk-cure  has  not  yet  passed  entirely  out 
of  vogue. 

8.  tuis :  see  §  1  n.  tvjos. 
iiilla,  the  estate  ;  domus,  the  house. 
exit ;  exit  autem :  on  the  epanalepsis  see  iv.  13.  1  (Sel.  33) 
n.  uenisse. 


LIBER  VI. 

41.     (VI.  2.) 

The  death  of  Regulus. — On  (Maturus)  Arrianus,  to  whom 
this  letter  is  addressed,  see  introd.  note  to  i.  2  (Sel.  2). 

1.  quaerere,  to /eel  the  loss  of;  desiderare,  to  deplore  it. 
n.  Begnlnm :  see  i.  5.  1  (Sel.  4)  n.  M,  Regvlo. 

2.  habebat    studiis   honorem,   he    held    his  profession  in 
reverence. 

pallebat :  with  the  paleness  of  anxiety  about  the  success 
of  his  pleas,  not  the  *pale  cast  of  thought':  cf.  i.  5.  13 
(SeL  4)  quamuis  paileat  semper. 

Bcribebat :  in  contradistinction  from  the  careless  lawyers 
of  the  day,  who  trusted  to  extemporaneous  inspiration. 

qnamois :  with  the  subjunctive  of  an  actual  fact ;  cf.  v. 
3.  10  (Sel.  36)  n.  quamuis. 

non  posset  ediscere :  and  so  his  speeches  lacked  tlie 
finish  that  Pliny  affected  :  cf.  his  criticism  of  tlie  speaking  of 
Regulus  in  iv.  7.  4  (Sel.  31). 

drcttxnllnebat,  used  to  paint  a  line  around  :  the  reason  is 
unknown ;  perhaps  it  was  simply  like  the  make-up  of  an 
actor,  to  set  off  the  eye,  on  the  expression  of  wliich  so  much 
dei)ended  (Quint,  xi.  3.  72,  75  dominaZur  maanme  uultus  .  .  . 
in  ipso  uuitu  plurimum  ualent  oculi). 


am  t\  PLIXI  EPISTVLAE  SEf.ECTAK         41.  a 

a  pctttore.  f*jr  fke  idaiutifi  a  p  omiioi  m^,fcT  ike  d^endwU, 
Hie  couiiwl  ii>r  the  pUintilT  stood  od  the  rijfirht  aide,  for  tiw 
(lefc-n-it!it  t'D  the  Mt  siile  nf  the  trihnnaL  Regnlus  'made 
u(« '  i.iAi  *ide  of  hU  face  only  that  «"as  to  be  towartl  the  jury. 

s|il«iilam.  /yi/'*A  :  nf  various  shapes,  worn  by  the  fops  of 
the  «Uy.  a«  by  the  Ijcaus  and  belles  of  centuries  more  im- 
mediately prcccliii^  ours,  to  set  off  the  beauty  of  the 
complexion.  But  the  patch  vom  by  Regnloa  was  white,  as 
a  colour  of  g>ioil  omen. 

baruspioes  consalebat:  Resulus  was  more  like  the 
women  of  the  day  than  the  men  in  pa3'ini;  so  great  attention 
to  chAriiu  and  omens :  cf.  alM  IL  20.  -^  13  <SeL  22). 

a  nimla  supentttioiM :  in  the  case  of  the  '  make  up '  and 
the  patcli  the  superstition  seems  to  have  dmsisted  m  the 
belief  iliat  the  one-siiied  tinish  was  essential  to  success. 

8.  una  dioentilnia:  «r.  his  adversaries  in  the  case:  cf.  n. 
14.  2  fSel.  *20)  fH:r/>anci  mm  quibut  iHMOt  diccre. 

libera  tempora,  nnlimiud  lime  :  on  the  limitation  of  the 
time  of  pleas  see  ii.  11.  14(ScL  17)  n.  dtp^dri*. 

aaditnros  conrogabat:  as  if  he  were  going  to  give  a 
private  recitation ;  it.  however  Pliny's  complaint  about  the 
fashion  of  hiring  an  audience  in  ii.  14.  4  (Sel.  20). 

quam  diu  uelis  :  on  Pliny's  likiug  for  i»ng  pleas  see  i.  20 
(Sel.  13). 

quasi  deprehensum,  oa  if  tah-n  by  mrpi-ise :  nr.  by  the 
size  of  the  audience,  and  therefore  subject  to  all  allowances 
for  embarrassment  and  timidity. 

eommode  dloere,  to  speak  tcell:  and  win  greater  praise 
because  of  the  professed  embarrassment. 

4.  utcnmque  :  see  i.  12.  2  (Sel.  8)  n.  utcumqwt. 

bene  fecit,  etc. :  cf.  Shakspere  J/ac6.  i.  4,  nothing  in  his 
lijK  Inrame  him  lik"  the  h.arint/  if  ;  and  from  the  epitaph 
attributed  to  the  Conite  do  Maurcpas  on  Fleury,  n^ayant  cecu 
7«c  pour  lui-mcme^  \  momnit  jtour  It  hiai  de  VhJat. 

sine  malo  publico  :  with  rcferciu-c  U*  his  leputatiou  under 
Nero  and  Domitian  :  cf.  i.  5.  1  (Sel.  4). 

eo  principe :  sc.  Trajan. 

6.  postqtuun  oblit  ille :  Roguhis  cannot  have  l)een  lon^ 
dead,  but  the  date  of  his  death  is  unknown,  except  in  8o  far 
as  it  can  be  dctemiinod  from  the  date  of  the  letters  in  general 
of  this  book,  on  which  see  lutrod.  pp.  xxxvii.  tf. 


42.  NOTES.  331 

clepsydras  :  the  usual  |icriod  of  a  depsydt-a  in  the  courts 
was  about  fifteen  minutes :  see  ii.  11.  14  (Sel.  17)  n.  depsydris. 

et  dandi  et  petendi :  it  was  not  merely  the  court  that 
wished  to  abbreviate  the  pleas,  but  even  the  pleaders  them- 
selves. 

tanta  irreuerentia,  etc.  :  cf.  ii.  14.  3  (Sel.  20)  taiUa 
ueiwratione  jiiddie^Timum  o/mH  colebatur, 

6.  comperendinationes,  adjournments :  probably  with  refer- 
ence not  to  the  term  as  used  in  actions  at  the  civil  law,  but 
to  the  earlier  provisions  regarding  criminal  prosecutions, 
which  required  that  the  case  be  considered  at  three  several 
sessions  of  the  court  besides  the  one  at  which  the  defendant 
was  formally  arraigned,  and  that  between  snch  successive 
sessions  at  least  one  free  day  should  intervene.  In  case  of 
appeal  a  fifth  day  was  added.  (For  details  see  Pauly-Wissowa 
Recd'Eucyd.  iv.  c.  788). 

7.  ambiUone,  ad f- seeking. 

omnibus,  paucissimi  :  sc.  of  the  jurors.  To  an  advocate 
who  desires  time  that  he  may  do  justice  to  his  case  (ftdei) 
they  decline  to  grant  it ;  to  Regulus  they  used  to  grant  it 
regularly,  though  his  motives  in  asking  it  were  purely  selfish. 

indico,  serve  en  a  jury :  cf.  i.  20.  12  (Sel.  13)  n.  iudicauu 

8.  etlam,  granted :  cf.  iv.  13.  3  (Sel.  33)  n.  etiam, 
satins  est,  etc.  :  with  the  sentiment  cf.  i.  20.  2  (Sel.  13) 

praeuaricatio  est  transire  diceiida,  etc. 

9.  an :  cf.  I.  18.  5  (Sel.  12)  n.  an, 

communlum,  the  common  weal :  but  the  word  in  this 
sense  is  perhaps  unique. 

emendarl,  corrigere  :  the  words  do  not  differ  in  emphasis, 
as  many  critics  have  thought,  but  are  traditionally  coupled  ; 
cf.  Cic'  Leg.  iii.  30  [tota  duifaft]  emendari  et  corrigi  [Holit] ; 
Quint.  II.  2.  7  in  emendando  quae  corrigencUi  erunl,  n<m 
acerhns  [praece]^or\ 

10.  leuiora  incommoda  quod  adsueui :  cf.  Hor.  Carni.  i. 
24.  19  leniiiA  Jit  ftatifvtia  I  tjuicquid  corrigere  eat  ne/as ;  Ou. 
.4m.  I.  2.  10  /cM€  ///  gitod  Ittne  Jertur  omut ;  and  the  citations 
in  V.  10.  lU(Sel.>J)  n. 


42.     (VI.  4.) 

To  his  wife,  absent  for  her  health. — On  Calpurnia  see  iv. 
19  (Sel.  34),  an  1  intr.  note  thereto.  To  her  are  addressed 
two  uther  letters,  vi.  7  (Sel.  43),  and  vil.  5  (Sel.  48). 


»2  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAfe  SRLECTAK,         i2. 

1.  prosequi,   to  faeort:  originally  of  tlie  ooDnptimtintary 
attendance  upon  a  friend  or  prominent  person  oiiLy  tus  far  aa 
the  city  ^tee,  or  a  short  stage  in  ]\in  Joui iiey  ;  but  iiere  of 
accompaniment  all  the  way;  <3.  ul  t^K  2  (Sel.  29)  n. 
e  uestigio  (sc.  teniporis),  immMatdy, 

9.  capielMua :  epistolary  imperfect,  &a  not  very  commonly 
in  Pliny. 

secessus  nolnptates,  the  pleoM^nB  qf  fhtzt  reirmt :  the 
Campanian  coast,  with  its  gentle  clitn^te  and  wouderful 
beauty,  was  a  great  society  resort  of  the  Romiiua,  and  perhaps 
hardly  afforded  the  quiet  needed  by  an  inviilid.  Of  the  same 
shore,  cf.  luu.  3.  4  f .  grcUwn  lUtu  amGeui  ]  secesji^t». 

regionis  atwmdantlam  :  Campania  was  eape^^iaUy  fertile, 
and  the  great  fruit-garden  of  Italy. 

inoffensa  tnuismitterst,  pou  are  c»dnri'ii{i  witAotU  harm  z 
for  the  only  disadvantages  of  Campania  as  a  healtli  resort 
were  those  connected  with  diet  and  ^ivith  tlie  diNtractiona  of 
fashionable  society.  Other  things  were  bui-b  to  be  fav  on  table. 
With  the  idiom  d  L  22.  7  u<  incredibiiofn  fibrititn  ardoi^ein 
immotua  traitftmiUcU, 

6.  cotidie  binis  epistolls:  it  seeina  nnlikely  that  'two 
mails  a  day'  could  have  been  arranged  between  Campania 
and  Rome,  whether  by  Pliny's  private  me^enger»^  or  by 
those  of  his  friends  or  business  aoquainU\no«^fl  p^i^lng  thut 
way,  or  of  the  state.  But  at  any  rate  a  diary,  even  thoagh 
irregular  in  delivery,  was  both  longer  and  more  satisfaebory 
than  an  occasional  letter. 


43.    (VI,  7.) 

To  the  same,  during  the  same  absence. 

1.  Ubellos  meos :  cf.  iv.  19.  2  (Sel  34)  Hbdim  «i^oji  hnlfti, 
lectUcU,  edi9cU  etiam. 

teneas,  embrace, 

in  uestigio  meo,  in  my  place  :  xc.  on  the  couch  beside  her. 

2.  his  fomentis  adquiescis:  with  the  phrase  cf.  iv.  21.  4 
magiio  foinento  dolor  metu  adquicsceU 

in  uicem,  in  my  turn  (as  in  vi.  20.  4, — Sel.  46) :  an  unusual 
variety  of  the  usual  meaning  ( =  vUer  se)  in  Pliny  and  other 
writers  of  his  age ;  cf.  also  in.  7.  15  (Sel.  25) ;  iv.  19.  8  (Sel. 
34) ;  VII.  20.  7  (Sel.  51),  and  nn. 

3.  litterae:  the  word  is  apparently  plural   in  meaning, 
being   precisely   synonymous    with    episttUan   above.      The 


44. 2.  NOTES.  333 

plurality  of  the  idea  is  further  indicated  by  the  plural 
serinonilnis  in  connection  with  it ;  cf.  also  the  plural  meaning 
in  I.  10.  9(Sel.  7);  m.  20.  11. 

ita  me  delectet  ut  torqueat,  may  fiU  me  with  both  delight 
and  aiifjuish :  the  time-worn  theme  of  the  poets  about  *  love's 
pleasing  pain  *  fits  well  with  Pliny's  liking  for  oxymoron. 


44.     (VL  10.) 

On  the  tomb  of  Verginius  Rufus. — The  Albinus  addressed 
may  be  the  Lucceius  Albinus  whose  intimate  friendship  with 
Pliny  dated  from  their  partnership  in  the  prosecution  of 
Classicus  (cf.  iii.  9.  7).  Albinus  was  Pliny's  associate  also 
in  the  defence  of  lulius  Bassus  in  103  or  104  a.d.  (cf.  iv. 
9.  13).  He  may  be  the  son  of  the  Lucceius  Albinus  whose 
death  is  recorded  in  Tac.  Hist.  ii.  58,  59,  but  he  is  otherwise 
un  mentioned. 

1.  socrus  meae :  sc.  Pompeia  Olerina,  the  mother  of  a  former 
wife  of  Pliny,  but  whether  of  the  first  or  second  cannot  be 
determined  (see  x.  2.  2, — Sel.  74, — n.  duobwt  matrtmoniis). 
In  the  latter  case  she  must  have  been  by  a  second  marriage 
the  wife  of  Vettius  Proculus  (see  ix.  13.  13  n.— Sel.  64).  She 
seems  to  have  been  rich,  for  she  owned  villas  also  at  Ocri- 
culum,  Namia,  Carsulum,  and  Perusia  (i.  4.  1).  Pliny  was 
on  the  best  of  terms  with  her  {Le.  and  iii.  19.  8),  visiting  at 
her  country-seats,  and  using  her  means  as  his  own. 

Alsiensem :  Alsium  was  a  very  ancient  Etruscan  town 
on  the  sea-coast  near  Caere,  noted  chiefly  in  later  republican 
and  in  imperial  times  for  the  luxury  of  its  villas,  of  which 
striking  ruins  yet  remain  near  the  present  Palo. 

Run  Vergini :  see  ii.  1.  1  (Sel.  15)  n.  Verf/ini  Rufi.  The 
inversion  in  the  order  of  nomen  and  cognomen  is  common 
from  Livy  downward. 

incolere  secessum :  so  Pliny  of  his  Liiurentine  villa  in 
II.  17.  20  (Sel.  21)  iurolere^  inhahitare,  dih'gere  seretwum. 

senectntis  suae  nidnlnin:  cf.  Au.s.  ^foH,  449  nidum 
smectae ;  Hor.  Carm.  1 1.  6.  6  [Tibur]  Ktf  meae  sedfn  uiinam 
ftfnecfni\ 

2.  contulissem :  on  the  mood  and  tenve  see  i.  12.  7  (Sel.  8) 
n.  qtiotie-nR  iutrastef. 

ilium  animus  ilium  ocoli  requirelumt :  cf.  On.  ^fet.  iv. 
129  iniunein  orufiM  avimoquf  r^qnirif  ;  Tac.  Agr.  45  decide- 
rauere  aJh/uid  ocnJi  fui. 


S84  C.  PLTNI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  44.  «L 

et :  in  the  nonse  of  et  tamen ;  cf.  ill.  1.  9  (8el.  23)  n.  ti 
anliquo. 

3.  in  cansa  :  rare  for  the  simple  appositive  or  dative,  but 
occurring  elsewhere  in  Fliny  (vii.  5.  l,---8eL  48  ;  vi.  1.  2),  and 
once  each  even  in  Cicero  and  Livy  (Cic.  FtMtn.  I.  1.  1  ;  Liu. 
xu  2«.  6). 

eius:  doubtless  the  heir,  who,  having  sold  the  estate, 
had  neglected  even  the  tomb.  Verginius  left  no  sons  (cf.  ii. 
I.  »,— Scl.  If)). 

■ubit  Indlgnatlo  cnm  miseratione :  cf.  m.  7.  10  (Sel.  25); 
V.  o.  7  (Sel.  37)  qitod  me  recordantem  miseratio  mbil, 

post  decimaxn  mortis  annum  :  Vei^iius  died  toward  the 
end  of  97  A.D.  ;  see  intr.  note  to  ii.  1  (SeL  15). 

titulo,  imcription :  this  technical  word  applies  to  other 
formal  inscriptions  than  (as  here)  an  *  epitaph. 

cuius  memoria,  etc.  :  cf.  the  same  sentiment  in  ii.  I.  11 
(Sel.  1.-)). 

4.  illud  factum  :  see  ii.  1.  1  (Sel.  15)  n.  triginia  camis. 
uersibus :  metrical  epitaphs,  or  prose  tituli  concluded  by 

verses,  were  as  common  among  the  Romans  as  in  a  previous 
generation  among  us.  The  epitaph  is  quoted  again  m  nc  19 
(Sel.  65),  where  this  letter  is  referred  to.  The  monument 
was  perhaps  finished  later,  for  Dio  Cassius  (lxviii.  2.  4), 
speaking  of  Verginius,  says,  ^0'  oG  rif  fuHjfiiiTt  reXevnljacufTos 
iwty f>d<l>7i  Sri  rtin^af  'OvbfdiKa  r6  Kpdrot  odx  iavrtp  «-epcevoci^aro 
dXXA  tJ  waTpidi. 

imperium  adseruit,  etc.  :  cf.  lustin.  (vi.  8.  5)  of  Epami- 
nondas,  imperium  semjyer  non  ftibi  sed  jxitriae  qita^uit. 

6.  rara  in  amicitia  fides :  but  Liu.  xi».  46.  12  utUgatum  iUnd 
in  proHerhinm  nenit^  amiriticM  immorfafe^,  morial&i  inimirititM 
fMMe  (lebere  ;  cf.  Cic.  Amir.  32  tume  amicitiw.  sempifemae  aunt ; 
etal. 

45.     (VI.  16.) 

On  the  eruption  of  Vesuvius,  and  the  death  of  Pliny  the 
EMcr. — This  great  volcanic  outburst,  which  ovorwhchn»  d 
Hiirculau'iuni,  Pompeii,  and  the  surrounding  country,  an  I 
literally  (thangcd  the  faco  of  nature,  is  uicntioi\ed  by  a 
number  of  writers,  but  Pliny's  two  letters  (vi.  16  and  20, — 
Sel.  4.')  and  46)  pivo  the  l>e8t  impression  of  the  scene.  The 
only  other  extant  account  of  any  length  is  in  the  abridgment 
of  bio  Ciissius  by  Xiphilinus  (i.xvi.  2l-2;{).  —  With  the  phe- 
nomena cited  may  be  com|Mired  in  det^iil  those  re|)orte<l  fi*om 


^ii.'i  NOTES.  335 

f      J;,.'--       •     '  •    •"  -        •■    ■  .  ■  • 

the  terrific  eruption  of  Mont  Pel^  in  Martinique  in  May, 
\1902.— On  Tacitus  see  intr.  note  to  i.  6  (Sel.  5). 

1.  auunculi  mel:  on  Pliny  the  Elder  see  iii.  5  (Sel.  24) 
and  nn. 

mortl . . .  immortalem  :  another  instance  of  Plin3''s  fond- 
ness for  oxymoron,  as  in  §2  uiclurus  occiderit. 

2.  quamuis :  cf.  v.  3.  10  (Sel.  36)  n.  q^uxmnin. 

ut  populi,  ut  urbes  (so.  occidenint)  :  not  with  reference 
to  the  specific  cities  destroyed  in  this  eruption,  but  to  the 
historic  past.  Individual  men  niav  die  and  no  note  be  taken 
of  their  fate ;  but  the  downfall  of  nal  ions  ipopnli)  and  even 
of  whole  cities,  cannot  be  forgotten.  So  a  death  like  that  of 
Pliny,  connected  as  it  was  with  a  marvellous  phenomenon, 
would  secure  him  immortality. 

plurixna  opera  et  mansura:  for  the  list  see  iii.  5.  2-6 
(Sel.  24).     Only  the  Natural  History  remains. 

scriptorum  tuorum  aetemitas:  cf.  vii.  33.  1  (also  to 
Tacitus)  auf/ftrorj  Jier  me  /all  it  avtjurunny  hist  arias  ttias 
immortales  futuras.  But  the  part  of  the  Hisloriae  of  Tacitus 
which  covered  this  period  has  l>een  lost. 

3.  datum  est :  cf.  iii.  1.  1  (Sel.  23)  n.  datum  est. 

4.  Miseni :  two  of  the  Roman  fleets  were  regarded  as 
under  the  immediate  command  of  the  emperor,  and  hence 
were  called  classes  pra^toiiae.  Of  these  one  was  stationed  at 
Misenum  {cl,  pr.  Misenensis)  and  the  other  at  Ravenna  {cl. 
pr.  Raxiennas  or  Rauennatium).  The  emperor's  command 
was  exercised  through  prae/ecti  of  equestrian  rank.  The 
other  imperial  fleets  were  similarly  governed,  but  were  not 
ranked  as  highly  as  these. 

imperio :  the  word  denoted  in  earlier  times  the  supreme 
authority  of  the  community  in  all  matters  of  administration 
as  vested  in  the  higher  officers  of  state  (king,  dictator,  consul, 
praetor),  but  was  more  loosely  applied  to  the  supreme  mili- 
tary authority  alone.  In  the  time  of  the  em])ire  the  impenuni 
of  the  emperor  so  far  overshadowed  that  of  other  officials  as 
to  make  the  conception,  nn<l  the  word,  one  of  comparatively 
little  importance.  The  emperor's  imjterimn  was  exercised  not 
merely  personally,  but  also  through  the  oflicials  who  repre- 
sented him  in  otiierwise  independent  military  commands,  as 
doubtless  through  the  prefects  of  the  praetorian  fleets  ;  but 
the  word  is  almost  otiose,  or  at  least  purely  formal,  here  in 
conjunction  with  rffjtftat. 

praesens :  specified  in  view  of  the  fact  that  tlie  prefecture 
of  the  fleet  was  for  the  most  part  a  bureaucratic  office,  and  its 


n»  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELBOTAR        4ft  4. 


incatnbent  spent  mach  of  hii  time  in  desk-woric  at  RonM ;  «1 
III.  5.  9  (Sel.  24)  n.  ddtgatwn  mti  o/Ldmrn. 

BOBuni  mo.  StplMiilixM :  the  namenJ  would  imnl^  be 
written  ix.,  and  eo  written  would  commonly  be  read  wmm" 
(tc.  dit  anU),    Some  have  niggeeted  that  Pliny  wrote  «.  4L 
nonum  or  a.  d,  ix.,  bat  quite  at  likely,  when  the  munenl 
stands  alone  immediately  before  the  terminal  day,  it  ahoaU 
be  read  as  an  accusative,  with  oiiie  dkm  sapplied  betee  It^ 
instead  of  as  an  ablative,  with  dU  anU  snpplied  alter  it.~- 
The  year  was  79  A.D.     There  has  been  donbt  waantrnd 
occasionally  as  to  whether  the  month  is  oorreotly  giTcn,  or 
else  whether  this  eruption  oould  have  been  the  one  wUcb 
destroyed  PompeiL    The  last  serious  attempt  in  this  direotk» 
was  upon  the  discovery  at  Pomj^ii  in  1889  (see  Nctvm  dL 
Scavi^  1889,  p.  407)  of  the  remams  of  a  laurel  tree  in  fill 
fruit,  which  varietv  of  laurel  does  not  mature  its  firait  befon 
November.     But  the  supposed  fruit  turned  out  to  be  "lytf**"^ 
but  lanilli  from  the  eruption,  and  the  argument  fell  to  the 
ground.  * 

6.  nsns  ille  sole,  etc. :  on  his  habits  at  this  time  of  dear 
see  III.  5.  11  (Sel.  24),  and  on  the  sun-bath  ni.  l  8  (Sel.  2S) 
and  nn. 

fliglda  (so.  aqwx) :  of.  §  18  and  m.  5.  II  (8eL  24)  a. 
frifjida, 

ioleas,  mmd4jdH :  like  our  slippers,  easier  to  the  feet»  and 
more  easily  put  on,  than  the  shoes  {caleti)  which  were  the 
ordinary  footgear  of  the  Romans  out-of-doors.  At  home, 
when  not  moving  around  much,  they  went  barefooted,  as 
Pliny  here. 

incertum  ex  quo  moate  :  Vesuvius  is  some  18  mUes 
distant  from  Misenum,  with  the  more  distant  Apennines 
behind  it.  Moreover,  the  heights  of  Posilipo  lay  almost  in 
line  between  Misenum  and  Vesuvius,  about  6  miles  distant 
from  the  former. 

Vesuuium:  the  so-called  Monte  Somma  (a  lower,  out- 
lying ridge)  was  then  the  hiehest  part  of  the  mountain,  the 
present  cone  having  arisen  from  this  and  succeeding  erup- 
tions. Vesuvius  had  been  quiescent  since  before  numan 
record,  though  not  before  human  tradition  (cf.  Vitruv.  ii.  6. 
2;  Diod.  iv.  21).  Yet  the  name  of  tlie  mountain  itself,  and 
that  of  the  region  around  it,  point  to  a  time  of  earlier  vol- 
canic activity.  And  warning  of  this  great  eruption  had  been 
given  by  earthquakes,  one,  on  Feb.  5,  63  a.d.,  fairl3'  wreck- 
ing a  good  part  of  Pompeii  and  of  Herculaneum  (see  Sen. 
Nat.  QuoMt,  VI.  1  ff.). 


45.  9.  NOTES.  337 

pinus  :  not  the  *  white  pine '  of  the  eastern  United  States, 

with  its  conical  shape,  tapering  to  a  point  upward,  thus, 

^,  but  an  *  umbrella  pine,'  which  frequently  has  an  outline 

•  that  can  be  diagrammed  thus,  "7^   The  cloud  of  vapour  from 

even  a  small  eruption  often  shows  the  same  form. 

6.  nam  longisslmo,  etc., /or  it  rose  on  hUjh  loilh,  as  it  xoere, 
a  very  tail  trunl\  and  spread  otU  into  a  sort  of  branches, — 
because,  1 8uj)po9€t  a  vigorous  Uast  of  air  impelled  it  upivard, 
but  when  this  impulse  failed  and  ceased,  or  the  weight  of  the 
vapour  preijailedy  it  trailed  a\oay  laterally.  The  grammatical 
construction  is  clear,  but  Pliny's  style  labours  greatly  when- 
ever he  attempts  to  describe  learnedly  the  phaenomena  of- 
nature :  cf.  also  vi.  20.  9  (Sel.  46). 

7.  libumicaxn  (sc.  nauem) :  a  light  galley,  the  model  of 
which  was  adopted  from  that  of  the  swift  pirate  craft  of  the 
eastern  Adriatic. 

stndere  me  malle  :  the  reply  is  a  good  commentary  upon 
the  characteristics  of  the  man  to  whose  estate  this  \x)y  of 
seventeen  grew. 

8.  egrediebator  ...  acdpit...  orabat:  the  asyndetic  para- 
taxis is  noticeable  ;  cf.  vi.  20.  14  (Sel.  46)  n.  uix  consideramv^ 
et. 

codicillos,  a  note:  see  i.  6.  1  (Sel.  5)  n.  stilus  et 
pugillares. 

Tasci:  sc.  uxor;  cf.  ii.  20.  2  (Sel.  22)  n.  Verania 
Pisonis. 

subiacebat:  probably  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Hercu- 
laneum ;  cf.  also  §  12  diremptus  sinu  medio. 

nee  Vila  nisi  nanibni  ftiga :  probably  ia  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  mountain  the  ashes  were  already  falling  thickly 
enough  to  block  the  roads,  or  at  least  to  stop  travel  by  them. 
(A  slight  fall  of  snow  will  completely  paralyze  traffic  in  a  city 
unaccustomed  to  snow. )  Perhaps  also  streams  of  mud  (ashes 
mixed  with  rain,  or  an  ejection  from  the  volcano  like  that 
from  a  *  mud-geyser ')  had  already  run  so  far  down  the  slo]>es 
of  the  mountain  about  Herculancum  as  to  render  transit  by 
the  single  coast  road  actually  impossible.— The  gctieral 
opinion  of  scientists  has  been  that  Vesuvius  could  not  have 
poured  out  actual  streams  of  mud,  but  the  as  3*et  uncorrected 
reports  of  the  explosive  eruption  in  Martinique  might  indicate 
otherwise. 

9.  quod,  etc.,  irhat  he  had  Itetptn  trith  the  spirit  of  a  scholar 
he  carries  oiU  trith  the  sj*irit  of  a  hero.  « 

V 


338  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAR        4S.  Ml 

10.  gnbemaeiila,  helm:  the  ancient  ship  was  oominoi^j 
steered  hy  two  sweeps  with  very  broad  blades,  which  pro- 
jectiMl  one  on  each  side  of  the  stem,  and  were  oonnected 
aliovu  so  as  to  be  managed  b}'  a  single  helmsman. 

dictarvt :  ac  to  his  amanuensis. 

enotaret :  either  the  verb  is  used  in  the  causative  flense 
(sc.  jKr  votarium),  as  perhaps  in  iii.  &  10  (8eL  24)  aebioiabatf 
etc. — cf.  III.  5.  15 — or  to  miss  no  details  Pliny  dictated 
some  notes,  and  wrote  others  himself  at  the  same  time. 

11.  lam  ...  iam  ...  iam  :  of  particulars  succeeding  one 
anotlier  rapidly ;  cf.  an  extension  of  the  same  use  in  viii.  8. 
3  (»Sel.  57)/o)M  cidhw  et  iam  amplMgimumJlumen, 

lapides :  examination  of  the  strata  about  PomfMii  ahowa 
tliat  the  first  shower  was  of  fragments  of  puraioe-atoiie, 
averaging  not  more  than  an  incli  or  two  in  aiameter,  and 
falling  to  a  depth  of  eight  or  ten  feet.  This  was  ihe  shower 
into  which  the  galleys  now  ran,  and  which  continued  at 
intervals  till  the  next  day.  It  did  not  reach  Misennm, 
though  the  following  shower  of  vulcanic  ash  did  (see  vx.  20. 
13,  16, — 8el.  46).  This  shower  of  ashes,  mixed  with  rain, 
fell  on  Pompeii  and  Stabiae  to  the  depth  of  six  or  seven  feet, 
and  was  accompanied  by  earth<]^uake  shocks,  and  apparently 
by  electric  phenomena,  or  explosive  blasts  of  gases  or  of  super- 
hcateil  steam  like  those  reported  from  Martinique. 

uadum  snbitnin :  cau8e<l,  not,  as  Pliny  thought,  by  the 
accumulation  of  volcanic  debris  in  the  water,  but  by  the 
seismic  elevation  of  the  bottom,  such  as  often  produces  *  tidal 
waves '  in  connection  with  etirthciuakes ;  see  also  vi.  20.  9 
(Scl.  46). 

an  retro  flecteret :  of  course  because  of  the  impossibility 
of  reaching  the  shore  on  account  of  the  shoaling  of  the  water  ; 
on  this  use  of  an  see  i.  18.  5  (Sel.  12)  n.  a^i. 

fortes  fortona  iuoat :  the  proverb,  in  one  or  another 
form,  is  found  in  both  Greek  and  Latin  literature :  cf.  «.;/. 
Menand.  ap.  a/KW/.  13.  36"  ov  roh  olOu/khs  ^  tuxv  trvWafifidtfci ; 
Enn.  ap.  Macrob.  vi.  1.  G2  fort  ihxm  ent  fort  una  mrin  data; 
Tev.  Phor:  2XXi  fortes  fort  nvn  atfiuufit ;  and  frec|uently  later. 
'  Among  both  Greeks  an<l  I^itins  rAw-*  (6  Of  6s),  or  in  the  amatory 
writers  even  VemiM^  Homctiines  Uikcs  the  place  oiforinna. 

Pomponianum :  otherwise  unknown,  as  is  the  fate  of 
Rectina. 

12.  Stabiis :  Stabiae  lay  on  the  coast  ncrof^s  the  river 
Sanuis  (Sarno)  from  PomiMMi,  under  the  height;;  of  Monte  S. 
Angclo,  and  watt  also  overwhehnud  with  ashes.    Castellamare 


Li 


46.  14.  NOTES.  339 

is  its  modern  representative,  but  stands  some>Yhat  to  the 
south  westward  of  the  ancient  site. 

sinu  medio :  not  the  Bay  of  Naples,  but  the  part  of  it 
called  the  siniift  Slahianus,  the  curve  of  which  has  been  much 
obliterated  by  the  pushing  out  of  the  shore  about  the  mouth 
of  the  Sarnus. 

quanquam,  etc. :  apparently  the  cloud  of  falling  pumice- 
stone  had  not  yet  reached  Stabiae,  but  its  advance  was 
momentarily  expected,  and  when  it  did  so  advance  (aim 
cresceret  [jTeriaUtim])  the  peril  of  the  inhabitants  would  be 
immediate  and  pressing  (proximo). — Pliny's  fondness  for  the 
use  of  qwiuquam  with  other  constructions  than  those  of  Unite 
verbs  (cf.  i.  12.  3,— Sel.  8, — n.  qxianqtuam)  leads  him  to  employ 
it  occasionally,  as  here,  even  with  the  ablative  absolute ;  c{. 
also  X.  33.  1  (Sel.  88)  qnanquam  uia  inici-taceiUe ;  81.  C  qiian- 
qnam  plwrimi^i  diehua  exftpectatis. — The  clause  cum  cresceret 
takes  the  place  of  a  protasis,  of  which  the  apodosis  is  ex- 
pressed by  [periculo]  proximo. 

contrarios  uentus  :  the  vessels  of  the  ancients  were  very 
poor  at  beating  against  the  wind,  and  the  getting  off  from  a 
lee  shore  added  to  the  difficulty. 

deferri,  to  be  taken, 

accubat :  cf.  ii.  6.  3  (Sel.  16)  n.  rectimhehat^  and  the  same 
collocation  in  iii.  1.  8  (Sel.  23)  fotus  acculxiL  The  time  must 
have  been  late  in  the  afternoon. 

13.  relictos:  sc.  instead  of  being  put  out  when  the 
occupants  left  their  huts  of  thatch. 

uillas,  /armJioiises. 

quleuit  uerissimo  somno :  Pliny's  ability  to  command 
sleep  at  will  is  referred  to  also  in  iit.  5.  8  (Sel.  24). 

meatus  anlmae,  qui  ...  sonantior  erat :  i.e.  Pliny  was  fat 
and  snored. 

qui  limini  obnersalMUitur :  his  Ixxly-sbives,  whose  post 
wouM  l>e  just  outside  their  master's  door,  rather  than  the 
other  and  more  wakeful  occupants  of  the  house. 

14.  diaeta,  ajmrtment :  perhaps  consist inir  of  a  bedroom, 
and  an  anteroom  (in-oroeton)  witl»  small  ah-ove  or  room  for  the 
attendant's  l»c<l ;  cf.  such  an  apartment  in  the  so-called  villa 
of  Piomcd,  (mtsido  the  Herculanean  gate  of  Pon))>eii,  and  a 
more  elal)oratc  ri/ae^a  in  Pliny's  LN-iurentine  villa  (ii.  17.  2001, 
—Sel.  21). 

mora  (sc.  eHsH) :  another  instance  of  Pliny's  free  ellipsis 
of  verbs,  even  in  the  subjunctive  iuckmI  ;  cf.  111.  1.  o  (Sel.  23) 
n.  libtr^  stT^no. 


840  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.       45.  ML 

16.  ceruiealia:  either  'pillows'  or  'cushions,'  as  ^ 
may  be  either  '  napkins*  (handkerchiefs)  or  *  towels,'  or  1 
more  generally  '  cloths.' 

17.  eoquid  lam  mars  admitterst:  «c  in  the  lannchinff  of 
vessels ;  cf.  §  12  contrartus  iientns,  etc  The  coast  road  to 
Surrentiim  (Son*ento)  doubtless  appeared  impassable ;  cf.  |8  n. 
nee  ulta  tmi  nauibua/ugct. 

uastum  et  aduersnm,  toild  and  tempestwma, 

18.  abisotom,  discarded, 

lintenm :  possibly,  as  has  been  often  sugsosted,  a  worn- 
out  sail  that  had  been  thrown  away  on  the  beach ;  bat 
linleum  is  a  word  of  general  meaning ;  cf.  §  16  n.  centieaiug, 

reoubans:  he  was  doubtless  already  suffering  from 
dyspnoea. 

semel  atque  itemm:  as  indefinite  in  meaning  as  our 
'once  and  again/  with  the  same  tei^lency  toward  the  meaning 
of  indefinite  plurality.  In  iv.  .3.  1  seuiel  atqm  itenim  conaia 
fuisti  (the  onlv  other  place  where  Pliuy  uses  the  phrase)  it 
may  be  politely  indefinite  in  meaning, — but  as  to  the  fact, 
Antoninus  can  hardly  have  been  consul  more  than  twice. 
The  phrase  occurs  with  similar  wavering  in  meaning  between 
*  twice '  and  '  repeatedly  *  in  writers  from  Caesar  and  Cicero 
onward.    Cf.  also  ii.  11.  11  (Sel.  17)  n.  non  semel. 

fHgidam  (sc.  aquam) :  as  often  in  colloquial  use :  see  in. 
5.  ll(SeL24)n./r^i(2a. 

flammae:  perhaps,  though  at  a  distance,  such  bursts 
of  exploding  gases  as  are  rei>orted  to  have  formed  the  most 
deadly  force  at  Martinique. 

excitant,  arouse :  he  was  apparently  sinking  into  coma. 

19.  concidit:  either  dead  on  the  spot,  or  unconscious,  and 
dying  within  a  few  minutes.  The  frightened  slaves  either 
thought  him  dead  or  dying,  or  despaired  of  their  own  safety 
in  case  they  had  to  assist  their  bulky  and  at  least  half- 
unconscious  master  along.  At  all  events  they  fled  at  once, 
and  the  story  of  these  lost  moments  rested  only  on  their 
account. 

crassiore  caligine :  Pliny  may  have  died  like  the  many 
victims  in  and  about  St.  Pierre,  who  wei-e  suffocated  by  the 
dense,  low-rolline  cloud  of  super-heated  vapours  laden  with 
hot  volcanic  sana. 

stomacho :  of  course  Pliny  confuses  the  oesophagus  and 
the  trachea. 

aestuans,  inflamed  :  he  perhaps  suffered  from  asthma. 

ev.nL  «-t-^i--^^ '^^S'- ^'""^' f'"""^  '/ •     '"•  '^''  ^'^^ 


46. 4.  NOTES.  341 

20.  dies  :  almost  the  *  light  of  day  * ;  cf.  vi.  20.  6  (Sel.  46) 
n.  adhtic  . . .  dies. 

quern  nouissime  uiderat :  sc.  the  day  the  eruption  began ; 
for  on  the  day  of  his  death  no  daylight  was  visible  (see  §  17). 

tertius  :  sc.  according  to  the  Roman  fashion  of  reckoning 
both  the  starting  and  the  stopping  point  in  an  ordinsu 
series, — *  the  next  but  one  *  (Aug.  26).  Cf.  from  the  Apostles* 
Creed,  *  the  third  day  He  rose  again  from  the  dead.' 

integ^rum,  etc.  :  thus  supporting  the  statement  of  the 
slaves,  who  might  be  suspected  of  abandoning  their  master 
in  his  hurried  flight,  or  even  of  murdering  him,  that  they 
might  secure  their  own  escape  ;  cf.  also  Suet.  Hell.  p.  93 
Reiff.  [Plinius  Secundtts]  periit  clade  Campaniae  ;  ctim  enini 
Misenensi  classi  jnueesset,  et  flagrante  Vesiitdo  ad  explorandas 
propius  causae  Libuiniica  pertendijtset,  nee  adueraanttbus  uentis 
remeare  posset,  tU  pulueHs  ac  fauilla^e  oppressus  est,  uel,  tU 
quidam  exUlimant,  a  sertio  sno  occisus,  qtt£m  a^tu  deficiens 
tU  necem  sibi  maturaret  orauerit. 

22.  finem  erg^o  faciam.     unum  adidam  :  cf.  Cic.  Fam.  iv. 
5.  6  si  hoc  unuvi  proposuero,  Ji7ieni  faciam  scrihendi. 


46.     (VI.  20.) 

On  the  eruption  of  Vesuvius  (continued  from  vi.  16, — 
SeL45). 

1.  *  qoanquam  ...  indpiam' :  the  words  of  Aeneas  to  Dido 
in  Verg.  Aen.  ii.  12,  13. 

2.  reliquum  tempus  Btudils  impend! :  the  implication  is 
that  he  did  not  once  look  in  the  direction  of  Vesuvius  to  see 
how  the  phaenonienon  was  progressing,  even  though  he  knew 
the  danger  of  Rectina  and  others  ! 

remanseram :  cf.  vi.  16.  7  (Sel.  45). 
mox,  then :  cf.  vii.  4.  3  (Sel.  47)  n.  wio.t\ 

3.  inualult :  cf.  vi.  16.  15  (Sel.  45)  of  the  same  night  at 
Stiibiae. 

4.  in  uicem  :  cf.  vi.  7.  2  (Sel.  43)  n.  im  vicem. 

area  quae  ...  diuidetuit:  the  house,  doubtless  with  its 
complex  of  courts,  gardens,  and  apartments  like  those  of  the 
younger  Pliny's  villa  at  I^urentum,  also  like  it  was  built 
close  to  the  shore  (cf.  ii.  17.  5, — Sel.  21,— n.  in  litiut  exairrii). 
In  the  narrow  (§  6)  open  space  between  the  house  and  the  sea 
they  now  sought  refuge. 


^42  C,  PUNI  EPISTVLAE  SELECl'AK.         40.  i. 

5.  mgetam  dttodeniceniimwiii  ammni :  the  year  of  Pliny't 
birth  is  (leteniiine<l  f roin  this  remark.  He  wa»  bom  between 
Aug.'24,  61  A.D.  and  Aug.  24,  62  a.d. 

ezcerpo :  tlie  elder  Pliny  was  training  the  yoonger  to  his 
own  habiu ;  cf.  iii.  5.  10  (SeL  24)  u.  exctrpeffoL 

ex  Hispania :  where  the  elder  Pliny  had  served  as  pro- 
carator ;  see  ill.  5.  17  (SeL  24)  n.  cum  procurarH  m 
HtHjxinia. 

6.  hora  diei  prima :  about  six  o'clock  at  that  time  of  year 
in  Gainpnnia,  when  the  sun  should  have  been  dear  above  the 
horizon  ia  all  the  brightness  of  a  summer  clay  in  a  climate 
where  not  even  clouds  are  expected  in  August. 

adhuc  daUas  et  quasi  laogoidns  dies,  the  light  wa»  Mi 
strngff/iug  and  €u  it  were  sicliy.  In  Stabiac  it  was  dark  as 
Egypt  (cf.  VI.  16.  17,-Sel.  45).  With  dies  for  «day-Iight* 
cf .  §  16 ;  V.  6.  33 ;  vi.  16.  20  (Sel.  45) ;  vii.  27.  13  (SeL  54) ; 
IX.  36.  2  (Sel.  70)  die  admis^to. 

quanqoam ...  tamen :  cf.  the  siiiiiW  structure  of  the 
phrase  in  vi.  16.  12  (Sel  45).  On  qnanquam  cf.  i.  12.  3 
(Sel.  8)  n.  quanqwun, 

7.  exoedere  oppido:  the  admind's  residence  probably  lay 
toward    the   extreme   end    of    the    narrow   promontoi^   A  ■ 
Misenum,  just  beyond  the  town,  the  single  street  through 
which  was  the  only  path  to  the  mainland  beyond. 

seqnltnr  aiilgiu  atfeonltiun :  for  the  admiral's  ftimily 
were  the  great  people  of  the  place,  and  they  had  to  pass 
through  the  town  to  escape. 

8.  tecta  :  the  buildings  of  the  town. 

prodnoi  :  in  case  further  flight  seemed  necessary. 

9.  mare  in  se  resorberi,  etc. :  see  vi.  16.  11  (Sel.  45)  n. 
iiadum  mhitum. 

ab  altero  latere :  i.e.  the  opposite  side  from  the  shore ;  for 
they  had  passed  through  the  srhitfa  armaturarvm  south  of  the 
iiiiier  port  (*  Mare  Morto  *)  aloncj  the  *  Spiaggia  di  Miniscoln,' 
so  that  the  southwest  shore  of  the  peninsula  lay  imme<liatcly 
at  their  left,  and  Vesuvius  in  tlie  distance  t(»  their  right. 

nubes  ...  dehiscebat,  a  hfark  and  atr/ul  clovdy  rirew  hif 
jaijtjed^  dartiwj  rushes  o/flamiiitj  rajwur,  icat  spiittiutj  into  long 
fiery  shapes.  This  was  perhaps  the  renewal  of  the  outburst 
at  the  time  of  the  elder  Pliny's  death  (cf.  vi.  16.  18,— Sel.  45). 
11.  proripit  se.  etc.,  h*:  hnrri^^H  oJToh  the  full  run  and  flees 
thf'  peril :  and  Pliny  and  his  mother  a  short  time  later  yielded 
to  the  same  tendency. 


46.  15.  NOTES.  343 

illanubes  :  from  this  cloud  the  ashes  fell  that  coinpletetl 
the  entombinent  of  the  dooiiied  towns  (see  vi.  IG.  11, — Sel. 
45, — n.  lapidtn).  The  shower  apparently  did  not  begin  till 
after  Pliny's  death.  Before  that  time  pumice-stone  had  been 
falling  (cf.  VI.  IG,  11,  14,  lC,--Sel.  45). 

Capreas:  as  they  looked  backward  toward  an<l  beyond 
Misenum,  the  towering  island  of  Capri  lay  directly  in  their 
line  of  vision  across  the  bay  of  Naples  to  the  southward. 

Miseni  quod  procurrit:  i.e.  the  lofty  promontory  that 
tips  the  cape  ;  there  lay  the  house  they  had  recently  left. 

12.  corpora  grauem:  she  was  apparently  of  the  same 
bodily  habit  as  her  brother. 

14.  uix  consideramus  et :  Pliny  has  a  liking  for  the  para- 
tactic  construction  in  vivid  narrative,  et  stands  for  an  ex- 
pected cum ;  cf.  also  the  cases  where  neither  cum  nor  et  is 
used,  e.g.  yi.  IG.  8  (Sol.  45);  ix.  13.  11  (Sel.  64);  in.  14.  2 
lauahalur  in  uilla  Formiatia  ;  txpente  tvm  nerui  circumsiHtunt. 
The  construction  with  el  (or  -que)  for  cum  is  even  Vergilian  ; 
cf.  Aeit.  II.  G92 ;  in.  8  f. 

erant  qui  metu  mortig  mortem  precarentur :  cf.  Lucr. 
III.  79  f.  mortif  /ormidine  ntae  j  ptrcipit  humauon  idium 
lucbiqxie  uidendae  ;  Sen.  Breu,  VU.l^,  2  moitem  vatpe  ideo 
optant  quia  timent.        *      .    I    .  y*^  *  .  >.  ,. 

16.  nusquam  iam  deos  uUob  :  i.e.  even  the  gods  ako  had 
perished ;  cf.  Sen.  Ben,  vl  22  iynvi  cuncta  ftofuddeat,  quern 
deinde  pigra  nox  occvpett  et  profunda  uorayo  tot  deos  aorbcat. 

aetemam  illam,  etc.  :  Xiphilinus  preserves  a  vigorous 
passage  from  l^io,  lAVl.  23  pv^  tc  ovv  i^  ijntpas  «cat  ckotos  4k 
i/Xitrits  iydvero'  Kal  idoKov»  oi  fiiv  roin  yiyavras  tTraviaraadai 
(iroXXd  yap  koI  t&tc  itSuXa  aCfTwv  iv  ri}  Kairvtf  dt€<f>alv€TOy  Kal 
vpoairi  koX  ea\iriyyu)v  rts  /So?;  ij/coiVro),  ol  hk  Kai  «j  x^***  ^ 
Kal  irvp  rh»  Kbcfiov  Tdpra  dvaXlffKeffOai.  /cat  oid  ravra  iipvyop^ 
K.T.\. — The  final  destruction  of  the  world  by  fire  is  a  belief 
more  common  among  southern  races,  while  that  of  its  end 
in  a  nij,dit  of  eternal  darkness  and  frost  is  moie  common 
among  northern  races,  to  whom  warmth  is  a  ])lcasiint  concep- 
ti<m  (cf.  the  (iiitterdammerung  of  the  Scandinavian  and 
(lermanic  mythology).  Hut  among  all  nations  alike,  east 
and  west,  north  and  .south  (even  now  aniong  the  Chinese, 
African  tribes,  and  the  like),  the  unusual  obscuration  of 
the  sun  (as  by  an  eclipse)  arousefl  a  fear  that  it  might  have 
ceased  forever  its  shining :  cf.  Verg.  (>'*oy.  I.  4(i6  (f.  [sol] 
etiam  ex^tiucto  miMcixLtun  Ccumare  Uomam^  \  rum  caput  ohncxira 
nitidum /erntgine  texit  \  impiaque  aetemam  timtttrunt  ttaecula 


9H  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SKLBCTAE.       4e.  1& 

tuxrl^m ;  Sen.  Thyt^.  S30  tt.  trtpkUmi^  ir^ndoMt  pectara  magnc 
I  percu§9a  nuUn,  ne  /aiali  \  euneia  ruma  qucumMia  kibaU,  I 
iUrum  UrroA  tt  mart  ti  iffme$  \  ti  waga  picii  sidera  mttntU  \ 
neuura  UgoM,  Uerumque  dtM  j  hcmtmesque  premai  drfwwut 
choM  (cf.  a.  Ben.  vl  22) ;  Lucl  Phtm.  v.  d34  ff.  extimuU 
nalMra  choM:  rupism  wtdentwr  \  ecmcardeM  tiememta  jnomc, 
mrvtwTMc   rtdirt  \  nox  numa  mixiura  deU, 

16.  di«t :  see  §  6  n.  die». 

dnifl:  Dio  (lxti.  23.  4)  aajrs  that  the  aahes  from  the 
eruption  were  carried  at  far  as  Africa,  Syria,  and  Egjrpt ; 
and  that  at  Rome  they  filled  the  air  and  ODBcnied  the  San. 

17.  me  com  mniillww,  etc. :  a  commonplace  of  practical 
philosophy  from  much  earlier  times;  cf.  sen.  Nat.  QuataL 
VI.  2.  9  «i  eadendum  eM,  cadam  arhe  conauBO,  non  quia/as  eU 
optart  pubiicam  ctadem,  md  quia  ingeng  mortU  milaeium  eti 
terram  quoqut  uidtrt  mortaUm;  MedL  426  f.  noia  e&i  qui€8\ 
mecum  ruina  cuncta  «i  uideo  obniia ;  Tro.  1016  f.  /erre  queuH 
Bortem^paliuHfur  omnes  \  nemo  rtcusat. 

18.  dies  nems :  the  afternoon  of  the  26th.  They  returned 
to  Misenum  in  time  for  the  usual  bath  and  dmner  (see 
below). 

X9,  ntcimuiue,  tu  bui  we  could:  see  i.  12.  2  (SeL  8)  n. 
utcumque, 

lympbati :  many  people  were  similarly  affected  at  the 
time  of  the  great  earthquake  of  63  A.D. ;  cf.  Sen.  NtU.  QuaetL 
VI.  1.  3  molae  pott  hoc  mentie  aliqttos  atque  impotenies  aui 
frroMt ;  ibid.  vi.  29.  1  ubi  [mt(iui\  ptiblice  terret,  ubi  ccuiunt 
urbeSf  populi  opprimunlur,  terra  conaititur^  quid  mirum  est 
animoe  inter  dolorem  et  melum  destitulos  aberraeaef  non  est 
facile  inter  magna  mala  non  desipere. 

20.  de  auuncolo  nontias :  the  elder  Pliny's  body  had  been 
recovered  on  the  morning  of  the  previous  day  (Aug.  26),  but 
in  the  confusion  and  terror  of  the  time  no  news  had  yet 
reached  Misenum  from  Stabiae. 


LIBER  VII. 

47.    (VII.  4.) 

The     history     of     Pliny's     verse-writing. — On     Pontins 
(AUifanus)  sec  introd.   note  to  v.    14  (8e1.  38). 


47. 3.  NOTES.  345 

1.  hendecasyllabos  meos :  erotic  poems  in  the  Phalaecean 
metre,  best  known  in  Latin  from  its  use  by  Catullus.  The 
book  is  specially  referred  to  in  iv.  14  (cf.  also  v.  3.  2, — 
Sel.  36, — n.  /acto  uersiculoa). 

alUus  repetam :  see  ii.  6.  1  (Sel.  16)  n.  odtius  repetere. 
3.  mox,  later  (rather  than  *soon*),  as  frequently  in  this 
period  ;  cf.  I.  5.  8  (Sel.  4)  n.  mox. 

e  militia  rediens :  from  liis  service  as  trihuiuis  militum 
laticlauius  in  Syria;  see  iii.  11.  5  (Sel.  26),  and  Introd. 
p.  xxL 

Icaria  (mod.  Nikaria) :  one  of  the  Sporades,  just  west  of 
Samos. 

elegos :  poems  in  the  'elegiac'  rhythm,  dactylic  hexa- 
meters alternating  with  dactylic  pentameters. 

aliquando,  occasionally  (=  nonnumquam) :  as  in  v.  3.  2 
(Sel.  36). 

heroo  :  i.e.  epic  (of  course  in  dactylic  hexameters). 

hie,  haec :  of  the  following,  instead  of  the  preceding, 
particular,  as  occasionally  in  Pliny ;  cf.  also  i.  20.  21  (Sel.  13) 
n.  iUud,  hoc. 

natalis,  the  origin:  in  this  sense  not  unusual  (in  the 
plural)  of  persons  (cf.  iii.  20.  6;  vi.  23.  3;  viii.  18.  8; 
X.  72,  73) ;  but  in  the  singular  apparently  confined  elsewhere 
to  juristic  and  ecclesiastical  Latin,  and  of  persons  only  (?). 

Asini  Galli :  not  the  Asinins  Gallus  to  whom  Pliny 
addresses  ii.  17  (Sel.  21),  iv.  17,  and  viii.  20,  but  the  son  of 
the  renowned  Asinius  PoUio.  Gallus  was  bom  in  41  B.C., 
and  on  his  birth  (probably)  Vergil  wrote  his  fourth  eclogue. 
He  was  a  great  favourite  of  Augustus,  and  held  the  high 
offices  of  state  under  him.  But  he  married  Vipsania 
Aerippina,  the  divorced  wife  of  Tiberius,  and  for  this  and 
other  reasons  was  jealously  regarded  by  that  Emperor. 
Long  spared,  he  was  finally  condemned  to  death  by  an 
obse<iuious  senate,  but  suffered  close  imprisonment  for  three 
years  after  his  sentence,  when  he  died  of  hunger  (33  a.d.), 
whether  voluntarily  or  not  is  imknowu.  His  lost  work  in 
several  books  on  the  comparison  of  his  father  with  Cicero 
was  apparently,  like  most  such  works  of  the  day,  a  virulent 
personal  invective  against  the  greater  onitor,  M'hose  style 
was  so  very  different  from  the  fantastic  archaizing  of  Polfio, 
and  who  stood  on  the  opposite  political  side  from  his  thirty 
years  younger  contemporary.  The  work  is  referred  to  by 
Quintifian  (xii.  1.  22),  and  by  Gellius  (xvii.  1.  1).  It  may 
well  be  doubted  whether  the  'epigram'  Gallus  quoted  was 


94»  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECl'AE.         47.1 

from  the  |)cii  of  Cicero,  whose  personal  character  in  hit 
relations  M-ith  his  friend  and  freedinaii.  Tiro,  as  with  all 
others,  in  |>cTfi>otly  well  known  and  above  auapicioii.  Gf 
V.  3.  5  (Sol.  ;W)  n.  M,  TuUitun, 

epigramma :  uny  short  personal  address  in  vena  was 
■o  called,  whether  fricndl}'  in  tone  or  otherwise. 

4.  meridie  dormitoros:  see  iii.  5.  11  (Sel.  24)  n.  danmebai 
nUHtmuni. 

•rat  enim  aestas :  in  the  winter  Pliny  did  not  take  the 
siesta ;  cf.  ix.  36.  3  (Scl.  70)  jxivlitm  redormio  with  ix.  40. 
1,  2  (SeL  72)  hienie  .  .  .  tHtruUaniui  wmnna  eximiiar» 

mazimoa  oratores,  etc. :  cf.  v.  3.  5  (Sel.  36)  no.  :  vn. 
9.  12  (Sel.  49). 

5.  ezaraui :  the  M-ord  is  appropriate  to  the  scratches  made 
hy  the  stylus  in  the  wax  tablets,  but  comes  to  be  used  in 
later  ages  as  a  true  synonym  for  serif >ere, 

9.  quoque :  cf.  i.  10.  5  (Sel.  7)  n.  quoqnt. 

quos  ...  docuit :  the  Greek  was  ever  wily;  they  may 
have  told  Pliny  that  they  learned  Latin  to  eiij^y  more 
perfectly  his  book. 

dtbara,  lyxa:  see  iv.  19.  4  (Sel.  34)  n.  canlat  fotituUuHt 
cithara.  Each  instrument  had  normally  seven  strinm,  with 
the  compass  of  an  octave,  but  the  iyra  was  made  with  a  full 
resonant  base  (feMtuclo),  and  when  played  usually  rested  on 
the  ground,  while  the  cUhara  was  held  free  in  the  left  haiid, 
or  rested  on  the  knee  of  the  player.  The  Iyra  must  have  had, 
aceonlingly,  a  fuller  tone,  and  have  been  best  adapted,  as  an 
accompanying  instrument,  to  strong  voices,  or  to  choruses. 

10.  tarn  gloriose :  Cicero  remarks  {Twc.  v.  6:)),  in  hoc 
genert  Mf^cio  quo  pacto  magU  quam  in  alii^t  «uiim  cuique 
pHfchrnm  CJtt,  atlluic  iiemiiiem  cognoui  pott  am  {el  mihi  fuii 
CHm  AoHtHio  amieitia)  qui  nihi  fio»  optumm  uidtrtiur,  Cicero 
himself  seems  to  have  thought  more  of  his  own  poor  poems 
than  of  his  oratory. 

fUrsre:  Plato  said  {Phofdr.  245a)  |K)cts  wei-c  madmen, 
and  many  other  writers  recognize  the  alHatus  of  the  gix]  in 
all  Iruo  |Mwts  (cf.  l)enu>critus  ap.  Cic.  Dinin.  i.  80 ;  Dt.  Or. 
II,  HM  ;  Aivh,  IS;  11  or.  A.P,  200;  even  i\i|)e's  *gi*eat  wits 
ai>»suiv  to  madness  close allicil*) :  and  Pliny  luiinorously  twists 
this  notion  of  inspiration  into  the  service  of  his  enthusiastic 
iNikvin)*«  aliout  not  some  divine  theme  but  himself. 

aoa  dt  meo  ted,  etc  :  cf.  the  similar  ending  in  ix.  2;i.  6 
^S^").  tl7)  «K^N<*  tnim  nertor  ne  iactaniior  uidear,  cum  dt  me 
^Afis^Him  «WioiinM  no»  uuitm  prqfsro. 


49.  NOTES.  347 

ut  poster!  errent  similiter :  so  at  the  end  of  i.  2  (Sel.  2) 
of  the  booksellei'ii,  nisi  hiaiidiuntur, — sed  satie  blandiantur 
dmn,  etc. 

48.     (VII.  6.) 

To  his  absent  wife. — The  separation  of  this  letter  from  the 
former  ones  on  a  similar  thcine  makes  it  likely  that  tlic 
absence  referred  to  is  not  the  same  in  all  (cf.  vi.  4,  7, — Sel. 
42,  43).  With  the  charming  avowal  of  liis  loneliness  may 
be  compared  Shakspere's  Sonnets  27,  where,  however,  lb  was 
the  (K>et  who  was  on  a  journey. 

1.  in  causa :  cf.  vi.  10.  3  (Sel.  44)  n.  m  causa. 

in  imaerine  tua :  i.e.  in  conjuring  you  up  before  my 
imagination  ;  so  Thomas  Gray  writes  to  Bonstetten,  *  My  life 
now  is  but  a  conversation  with  your  shadow' ;  and  Shakspere 
Sonmt-^Tl  {oi  the  uiglit),  'nij' soul's  imaginary  sight  |  presents 
thy  shadow  to  my  sightless  view.* 

ut  dicitur  :  cf.  the  same  pro\'erbial  expression  in  Theocr. 
13.  70  q.  Tr65€s  S,yov.  ix<^p€i  {id.  14.  42  ;  Liician  Htmiot.  28) ; 
Hor.  Epod.  16.  21  ire  pedes  qtioctimqne  fereut  (also  Camu  iii. 
11.  49) ;  Verg.  Ed.  9.  1  quo  te,  Moeri,  pedes  1  Phaedr.  A]ip, 
18.  15  alfire  destinaui  quo  tuleritU  pedes;  Varr.  R,  R.  ii. 
proem.  6  te  axlducnnl  j^edet. 

Bimllis  exduso  :  the  woes  of  the  lover  turned  away  from 
his  mistress*  door  are  set  forth  in  frequent  and  poignant 
detail  by  the  elegiasts. 

tormentis :  cf.  also  vi.  1.  2,  where  his  desideritim  for  an 
absent  male  friend  is  also  toiinentnm,  and,  as  here,  his  own 
presence  in  the  place  where  the^  had  been  together  is  an 
added  pang.  The  lover  protests,  if  not  too  much,  at  least  too 
often  in  too  similar  tones  of  anguish  to  too  many  different 
people.  Yet  this  letter  is  an  admirable  model,  and  in- 
numerable lovers  since  Pliny's  day  have  made  the  same 
professions  in  similar  if  less  neatly  turned  phrases. 


49.     (VIL  9.) 

On  proper  vacation  studies. — Cn.  Pedantus  Fuscus  Salinjitor 
is  praisca  by  Pliny  in  vi.  2G,  where  mentitm  i.s  made  of  his 
betrothal  to  a  daughter  of  Julius  Seruianus.  His  appearance 
as  an  advocate  gives  another  occasion  for  panegyric  in  vi.  11. 
He  was  cos.  milinariuH  in  118  a. i>.,  in  which  3*ear  a  son  was  bom 
to  him,  who  wtis  put  to  death  by  Hadrian  with  Servianus  in 
136  A.D.  on  the  suspicion  of  aspiring  to  the  throne  (Dio  LXIX. 


UA  C.  PUXI  EPISTVLAE  SELBCTAE.  4a 

i:  .    Stat:,   ff^tir.  23l     To  Finciu  Pliny  wrote  two  oChar 
\e^WT^    t\.  91  40.— Sd.  70.  72),  in  wiiich  he  dewmlm  Ui 

'^M.\    ^:.r.«r  cC  life  in  racatioo  time. 


a  asm  pnedptnt :  ct  especially  Quiutilijin  (x.  &  2ff ), 
wis.-  ::-.<4  L  Cnaiu  (ap.  Cic  Dt  Or.  i.  155),  Cioero,  and 
MtfSfiuU.  And  «imports  his  siviiinent  in  detail  much  as  doM 
Pliny.  «  ho  «ionbiJeBB  leanicd  his  letson  from  Qnintilian. 

qaas  Iscwtsm  MUttnant,  etc:  cf.  Qnint.  x.  &  8 
•*.::  ■-.  Moxisu  mc  didi^eMtM  cog»o§amiHr.  turn  enim  tcrifilm 
Uezi^ymt  itrmra  frvMcarrtauM,  md  traetamnM  mmgnia  ei  «erw- 
mrui  %  *Tr*\*picimuUy  et  qmmtUM  mirtntit  habeani  met  hoe  ipm 
cc^c^-i-^^,  qyod  imiiari  mtm  poummuu.  The  condition  it 
one  *  contrary  to  fact,*  the  place  of  the  protaaia  being  takon 
by  the  present  participle;  cf.  Cic.  Arch.  25  SwUla  .... 
CTfrio,  Khmc  peteniem  rtpmiiivmU. 

•.  BihU  oniflitt:  the  'sobiiincti%-e  of  modest  assertion.' 
often  called  the  '  potential  snbjmictive ' ;  cf.  vin.  8.  4  (SeL 
57    ztr^antrit. 


hacteam  at...tsnsst,  efc. :  i.e.  to  read  so  much  only  of 
the  work  at  one  time  as  yoa  can  carry  in  mind  in  its  t<»pic 
and  outline  of  treatment»  and  then,  following  the  aamo 
skekton,  write  it  ont  in  yoor  own  words,  and  oompare  it 
with  the  originaL  Cf.  Cic.  2>e  Or.  L  154  oraXiime  aiiqwrn 
lecta  €ui  turn  j^mem  qmem  memoria  posnem  comprehendert^  eoni 
real  ipmm  ficaai  Itgiimm  marhU  aliU  quam  maximie  jioiiiiai 
leetis  pnmMMtiaraiL 

tensas :  sc  memoria,  as  in  i.  22.  2 ;  iii.  21.  4  (SeL  29) ; 
vii.  25.  4;  VIII.  14.  3;  ix.  36.  2  (Sel.  70);  but  vi.  33.  11 
memoriter  tents. 

ta...ills:  with  ellipsis  of  the  verb,  even  in  the  sab- 
janctive ;  cf.  in.  1.  5  (SeL  23)  n.  liber,  sermo;  and  si  tu  ...si 
ille  immediately  below. 

e.  nooa  memhra  peracto  oorporl  Intexers  nee  tamen  priora 
tortMLie :  the  figure  is  curiously  portentous ;  with  membra  in 
this  meaning  cf.  viiL  4.  7  (Sel.*  56). 

7.  pugnacem  hone  et  quasi  bellatoriom  stilom :  similarly 
Quintilian  of  a  lawyer's  life  (x.  5.  16),  i/mc  ille  mncro  ingenn 
cotiiliana  pugna  reitindatur;  id.  x.  i.  29  nos  vero  [oraiores'] 
armatos  stare  ta  ode  el  «ummiH  de  reltm  decernere  et  ad  itictoriam 
nitu 

uarils  mntatisqiie  seminibus :  the  rotation  of  crops. 

8.  non  historlea  mode  sed  props  poetics,  etc. :  cf.  ii.  5.  5 
descriptiones  loeorum,  quae  in  hoc  lihro  [a^itionis]  /re^iientiorts 
enmtf  non  AiVorice  tantum  sed  prope  poetice  prosequi  fas  est. 


50,  1.  NOTES.  349 

pressus  sermo  ...  petitur  :  cf.  i.  10.  6  (Sel.  11)  n.  PlaiUum 
uel  'J'erentium. 

0.  carmine  remitti :  cf.  Quint,  x.  5.  15  ne  carmine  quidem 
Itidere  contrarium  fuerit ;  sicnt  athletae,  remisita  quibusdam 
temporihus  cibornm  atqive  ex<-rcitationmn  cert  a  necessitate,  otio 
et  incumliorihus  eduliis  refichnitnr.  With  the  sentiment  of 
this  and  the  following  sections  may  be  compared  Cicero's 
well-known  defence  of  poetry  in  his  speech  for  Archias,  as 
also  Sir  Philip  Sidney's  An  Apofogie  /or  Poetries  as  well  as 
many  other  writings  of  different  men. 

11.  cerae,  etc.  :  the  figure  is  ancient  and  common  ;  cf.  e.fj. 
Hor.  A.  P.  16.3  [iuuenis^  cerevA  in  tiitimn  flecti ;  Pers.  5.  39  f. 
prerittur  ratione  animus  uinciqne  laJH)rat  \  artijicemque  tno 
ducit  sitb  poUice  miltum ;  luu.  7.  237  f.  ut  mores  teneros  cen 
poUice  divcai,  \  ut  si  quis  cera  volt  urn  facit, 

saeri  fontes :  see  viii.  8.  2  (Sel.  57)  n.  iactas  stipes. 
prataiuuant:  cf.  Ou.  A. A.  i.^liuuantHnisaruaimhrilms. 

12.  sumini  oratores,  etc.  :  cf.  vii.  4.  4  (Sel.  47) ;  v.  3.  5 
(Sel.  36)  nn. 

13.  mirum  est  ut  animus  intendatur :  cf.  i.  6.  2  (Sel.  5)  n. 
minim  est  %U  animus  excitetur. 

redpiunt  enim  amores,  et<:. :  cf.  iv.  14.  3  his  iocamuTf 
ludimusy  amamus,  dtdemiis,  qutnmur,  iraacimnr,  descrihimus 
aliquid,  etc. 

14.  metri  necessitate  denincti,  after  having  been  bound 
toith  the  confinements  o/ metre.  With  the  phrase  cf.  Cic.  Fat. 
20  mentem  hominis  necessitate  fati  deuinciunt. 

15.  quanquam :  cf.  iii.  7.  12  (Sel.  25)  n.  quanquam, 
aiunt  enim  multum,  etc.  :  cf .  Quint,  x.  1 .  59  multa  magis 

quam  midtorum  lertione  formanda  mens,  Doring  quotes 
Luther,  *  Viel  Biicher  machen  nicht  gelchrt,  viel  Lesen  auch 
nicht,  sondern  gut  Ding,  und  offt  lesen,  wie  wenig  sein  ist, 
das  macht  gelehrt.' 

16.  qui  sint  hi,  etc.  :  but  Quintilian  gives  an  interesting 
list,  with  interesting;  comments,  in  x.  1.  4()  ff. 

pugiUares :  cf.  i.  6.  1  (Sel.  6)  n.  pugillares. 


50.     (VIL  19.) 

The  illness  of  Fannia. — On  Priscus  sec  introd.  note  to  ii.  13 
(Sel.  19). 

1.  Fanniae :  granddau;:htcr  of  Cacciiia  l*aetnR  and  Arria 
{major)^  daughter  of  Thrasea  Paetus  and  Arria  {minor),  wife 


360  C.  PUNI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.         60. 1. 

of  Heluidius  Priscus.  Our  fullest  knowledge  of  her  comes 
from  this  letter,  and  from  a  few  references  elsewhere  in 
Pliny;  see  especially  iii.  11.  3  (SeL  26)  nn.,  and  the  alemina 
there  given. 

lunlae :  othermse  unknown. 

T^gini :  sc.  Veslcdi,  as  commonly.  The  adjective  is  also 
frequently  used  alone,  as  in  iv.  II.  6  (Sel.  32),  q,  «.  with 
notes. 

sponte :  see  i.  12.  I  (Sel.  8)  n.  sponte. 

pontiflcnm:  under  whose  charge  the  worship  of  Vesta 
was  conducted  by  the  Virgines ;  see  iv.  11.  6  (Sel.  32)  nn. 

a.  atrio  Vestae :  the  house  of  the  community  of  Vestals, 
closely  adjacent  to  the  temple  of  Vesta  and  to  the  B^ia,  and 
lying  just  southeast  of  the  limits  of  the  Forum  Romanum, 
under  the  northern  corner  of  the  Palatine  Hill.  It  was 
excavated  in  1883,  and  some  accessoiy  investigations  have 
recently  been  carried  on. 

3.  insident  febres,  the  fever-attacks  have  etitahlished  them- 
Helves :  i.e,  there  is  continuous,  and  not  intermittent  fever ; 
cf .  Celsus  n.  6  neqite  is  seruari  potest  .  .  .  ati  sirmd  et  contimta 
fehris  et  uUima  corporis  injlrmitas  est.     Cf.  the  plural  ako  in 

this  sense  in  I.  22.  7  ineredibUem  /ebrium  ardorem, 

Heluidio  marito :  see  iii.  11.  3  (Sel.  26)  n.  Heluidio, 
Tlirasea  patre :  see  iii.  16.  10  (Sel.  28)  n.  Thrasea, 

4.  nescio  an :  with  the  inclination  toward  the  negation,  as 
in  III.  1.  1  (Sel.  23)  ;  see  I.  15.  3  (Sel.  10)  n.  nescio  an, 

aliquid  simile :  so  of  Verginius  Rufus  in  ii.  1.  12  (Sel. 
15),  whose  like  in  glory  will  never  be  .seen  again. 

sancUtas,  grauitas,  oonstantia  :  virtues  that  are  usually 
considered  preeminently  masculine  (cf.  §  7), — but  Fannia, 
like  her  mother  and  grandmother,  must  have  had  some  traits 
of  masculinity.  Cf.  (of  Titius  Aristo)  I.  22.  1  nihil  est  enim 
itlo  gratmis^  sanctiiis^  doctitiK  :  ihid.  7  nemini  istorum  castifafe, 
pietatey  iustitia,  fortitudin^  diam  prima  lore  cesMerif  ;  et  mult, 
ul. 

bis :  in  66  A.  D.,  under  Nero,  and  again  under  Vespasian. 

ipsa  relegrata :  in  03  a.i>.,  under  Domitian,  in  the  case 
mentioned  l>elo\v,  wliich  resulted  in  the  execution  of  Senecio 
(cf.  Tao.  Afjr,  45  fat  nohi/insimarum  /tminarum  exsilia  et 
fiiijwi).  She  returned  from  exile,  with  Mauricus  and  others, 
upon  the  opening  of  Nerva's  reign  ;  sec  i\.  13.  5  (Sel.  64). 
6.  Senecio :  see  i.  5.  3  (Sel.  4)  n.  Iftrenuium  Sniecionem, 

MetUo  Caro :  see  i.  '».  3  (Sel.  4)  n.  Mrttiiix  Carets, 


50.  a  NOTES.  361 

commentarios :  probably  '  note-books  *  or  a  *  journal '  kept 
by  her  husband  (cf.  the  famous  cwnmentarii  of  Agrippina). 
Yet  the  word  is  also  applied  to  historical  works,  especially 
concerning  one's  own  time,  written  without  pretence  at 
elaboration  in  composition, — as  to  the  works  of  Caesar  on  the 
Gallic  and  the  civil  wars.  On  its  use  to  denote  volumes  of 
excerpts  and  the  like  see  in.  5.  17  (Sel.  24). 

matre :  the  younger  Arria :  see  in.  11.  3  (Sel.  26)  n.  Arria, 
nesciente :  Fannia  did  her  utmost  to  shield  her  mother 
from  the  responsibility  of  what  proViably  was  at  least  known 
to  her.  If  she  told  a  lie  she  was  splevdkle  menclax  tt  in  omne 
[Jilid]  nohilifi  acuvm.  Senecio  did  not#clo  as  much  for  her. 
But  Arria  was  exiled  nevertheless,  being  recalled  at  the  same 
time  with  her  daughter  (cf.  ix.  13.  3, — Sel.  64). 

6.  illos  ipsos  llbros  :  i.e.  at  least  one  copy. 

ex  necessitate  et  metu  temponun :  Pliny  himself  was  a 
member  of  the  senate  at  the  time  and  even  pi*aetor  (in.  11. 
2, — Sel.  20),  and  few  of  the  scnatuis  but  cut  si/  sorry  figure  in 
that  year  of  terror.  Pliny's  ajKilogy  is  worse  than  the  con- 
fession and  shame  of  Tacitus  {Afir.  45  nostrae.  dvxere 
Hduidium  in  career  em  mamif  ;  vos  Maut'ici  Busticiqtte  vitus, 
no8  innocenti  sanguine  Senecio  jnrfudit^  etc. ) 

al)0lit08,  8uppr€AJi€d  :  the  books  were  burned  publicly  by 
the  common  executioners :  see  Tac.  Atjr.  2  legimim  aim 
Andeno  Bustico  Paetm  ThraJtea,  Herennio  Senecioni  Friaais 
Heluidius  lavdati  essenit  capitate /uiMney  neque  in  ipftos  modo 
anctoreSy  ftrd  in  fibrox  qnoqne  (orinn  meuitvm,  d4»tetiato 
trinmniris  miniftfirio  vt  monvmenta  clainKsimonim  ingenim'um 
in  comitio  ac/oro  nrerentur, 

pnbUcatLs  bonis:  see  iv.  11.  13  (Sel.  32)  n.  bona  pftbli- 
carentur;  i.  5.  5  (Sel.  4)  n.  relegafm, 

7.  datnm  est :  see  in.  1.  1  (Scl.  23)  n.  datum  est, 

8.  adhuc  posteros  habeat :  the  younger  Heluidius  (husband 
of  Antcia,  and  stepson  of  Fannia)  left  a  son  and  two 
daughter.  The  two  daughters  married,  but  <lied  at  alx>at 
the  sjime  time,  several  3'ears  before  tliis  ilhu'ss  of  Fannia, 
each  halving  an  infant  «latiL'liter  (iv.  21.  1),  whose  fate  is 
unknown.  Tiie  son  survived  tiieni  (iv.  21.  .'!),  and  the  name 
was  kept  alive,  as  is  shown  by  il.e  mention  of  a  L.  Valerius 
Heluidius  iViscus  IHiblicoIa^  and  a  L.  Valerius  Mcssalla 
Thrasea  Priscus,  who  was  cos.  onl.  in  19(>  a.i».  (cf.  Orelli 
Iut*rr.  413r>). 

nouissima.  thtt  Ia<t  of  her  kiwt -.  cf.  in.  7.9  (Sel.  25) 
nouitt}<imiui. 


352  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.         50. 9. 

•.  amittere:  nothing  is  known  of  Arria  after  her  return 
from  exile  (mentioned  here  in  §  10,  and  in  ix.  13.  5, — Sel. 
64),  and  the  date  of  her  death,  itself  mentioned  only  here,  is 
unknown.  The  terminus  post  quern  is  97  a.d.,  the  terminus 
ante  qttem  is  the  d<ate  of  the  letters  of  this  seventh  book, — 
perhaps  about  107  a.d.  (see  lutrod.  p.  xl.). 

10.  ultor  reuenarum :  see  i.  5  (Sel.  4),  and  ix.  13  (Sel.  64). 

11.  eraxn,  scriberem:  epistolary  tenses. 

is  deu8  aliquis :  see  i.  5.  5  (Sel.  4)  n.  mihi  deos  ad/uisse ; 
and  especially  (of  the  illness  of  a  friend)  i.  22.  11  sitperest  ut 
promissis  [medicorum]  deus  admicU. 


51,     (VII.  20.) 

Tacitus  as  Pliny's  model. —On  Tacitus  himself  see  introd. 
note  to  I.  6  (Sel.  5). 

1.  librum :  probably  a  speech,  rather  than  one  of  the 
books  of  the  Histories,  on  which  Tacitus  was  engaged  about 
this  time.     So  also  Pliny's  libmm  (§2),  as  usual. 

a.  0  pnlChras  nices :  cf.  ni.  7.  15  (Sel.  25)  dyadii  8*  (pit  cum 
in  uieem  se  mutuis  exhortcUioniints  amid  ad  amorem  immortali- 
tcUis  exacuunt, 

8.  aetata  propemodom  aequales  :  the  year  of  Pliny's  birth 
is  determined  from  vi.  20.  5  (Sel.  46)  q,u,  :  that  of  Tacitus  is 
unknown :  but  this  passage,  and  that  in  §  4,  in  connection 
chiefly  with  what  is  known  of  the  curmis  hononim  of  Tacitus, 
lead  to  the  conclusion  that  he  was  bom  in  55  or  56  a.d. 

dignitate :  both  had  been  consul ;  of  the  high  and  equal 
sacerdotal  functions,  Pliny  filled  a  place  in  the  college  of 
augurs,  Tacitus  in  that  of  the  quindectmuiri  sacris  fadundis. 
It  IS  not  known  whether  Tacitus  had  been  given  anjrpost- 
consnlar  office  like  that  of  Pliny's  curatorship  of  the  Tiber, 
but  within  two  years  or  so  after  this  letter  was  written 
Tacitus  became  governor  of  the  province  of  Asia  {Bull,  Corr. 
Hell.  1890,  p.  621),  while  Pliny  a  little  later  was  imperial 
legate  of  Bitn)mia. 

4.  adulescentulus :  donlitless  he  speaks  of  himself  at  the 
time  when  he  was  just  beginning  his  legal  career,  at  the  age 
of  nineteen  or  twenty  (see  ii.  14.  2  n., — Sel.  20  ;  i.  18.  3  n., — 
Sel.  12),  and  Tacitus  had  already  established  his  reputation. 

*  long^  sed  proximus  interuallo ' :  quoted  from  Verg. 
Aen.  V.  320,  of  Salius  in  tlie  foot-race  ;  cf.  Quint,  x.  1.  53  (of 


52,  NOTES.  363 

Antimachus  in  comparison  with  Homer)  vt  plane  manifesto 
appareaX  quanto  sit  alind  proximmn  esse.,  alivd  secundum  ;  and 
for  tlie  same  idea,  Cic.  Bimt.  173 ;  Hor.  Gami.  i.  12.  17  fF. 

sixnllitudo  naturae :  little  is  known  of  the  oratorical 
characteristics  of  Tacitus,  but  his  historical  works  show 
a  nature  by  no  means  like  that  of  Pliny.  The  close  tie 
between  them,  which  may  have  seemed  closer  to  Pliny  than 
to  Tacitus,  must  have  been  due,  as  not  infrequently  in 
friendships,  to  an  appreciation  and  sympathy  in  unlikeness 
rather  than  in  likeness. 

5.  una  nominamur  :  see  especially  the  incident  in  ix.  23.  2 
(Sel.  67). 

e.  nam  mllil  primus,  etc.,  for  in  my  view  he  stands  first 
who  stands  next  you :  cf.  *  where  the  Douglas  sits  is  the  head 
of  the  table.' 

in  testamentis  :  throughout  the  first  century  the  custom 
had  been  growing  of  leaving  legacies,  not  simply  to  one's 
personal  relatives  and  friends,  or  to  the  emperor  and  his 
especial  favourites  (often  as  a  sop  to  secure  the  inviolability  of 
the  other  legacies),  but  to  prominent  men,  even  if  not 
personal  friends  of  the  testator:  cf.  especially  the  famous 
will  of  Dasumius,  written  lOS  a.d.,  in  which  Tacitus  and 
Pliny  are  united,  with  many  others,  as  legatees  (CLL,  vi. 
10229 ;  Wilmanns  Exempla  314  ;  Bruns  Fontes^  98). 

aodpimiiB :  the  parataxis,  in  place  of  the  infinitive  with 
subject  accusative,  is  indeed  remarkable,  even  in  a  writer 
who  is  so  fond  as  Pliny  of  parataxis. 

eadem :  sc,  the  same  in  amount. 

-  pariter :  ac  with  the  names  standing  in  juxtaposition,  as 
in  the  will  of  Dasumius. 

7.  in  nicem,  eocA  other:  see  iii.  7.  15  (Sel.  25) ;  iv.  19.  8 
(Sel.  34) ;  VI.  7.  2  (Sel.  43),  and  nn. 


52.     (Vn.  84.) 

On  the  death  of  a  lively  old  woman. — Ccminus  docs  not 
appear  as  a  correspondent  of  Pliny  till  the  seventh  l)ook.  To 
him  are  addressed  five  other  letters,— vii.  1,  viii.  5,  22, 
IX.  11  (Sel.  63),  30.  He  is  prolwibly  the  (T.  Prifernius 
Paetus)  Rosianus  Gcminus  who  was  (|uae8tor  under  Pliny  as 
consul  (x.  26),  8erve<l  as  an  othcer  in  the  Daoian  war  {ihid,), 
and  is  mentionc<l  in  inscriptions  as  late  an  1;VJ  a.i>. 


SM  C  PLTKI  EPI3TVLAE  SELECTAE.         U.  L 

i.  y&UDidU  QoAdntaia  :  her  liking  for  theatrical  ahowBii 
periMps  iixUcatod  by  the  fact  of  her  buildinj;  an  ainphitlMatn 
Miti  (Adjacent  ?)  tcinplc  at  Casinum,  remaina  of  which  still 
exiaU  See  the  iuacriptioa  (Orelli  781)  now  preaervad  in  the 
eloistera  of  the  moaaatery  oif  Monte  Caaaino. 

aHimi :  cf.  I.  12.  5  (SeL  S)  n.  niridis  aeitu ;  Sen.  Ifp, 
66.  1  iVN€iN,  md  meharcnlt^  wridem  a$Umo  ac  ui^entem  U  twm 
rorpHM-Hlo  SMO  (ON/Mctan/em. 

altra  matronalam  rnodom :  evidently  the  highbred  Roman 
matron  did  not  incline  to  corporeal  brevity  and  embenpomL 

oompacto  eorpore  et  rolraato:  i.e.  Vmmidia  waa  short 
and  fat,  like  a  peasant  woman.  Cf.  Pliny's  polite  enphenuam 
in  VI.  16.  13  (SeL  45),  of  his  uncle  snoring. 

a.  hoaasttsslmo  tsstamanto :  i.e.  she  left  her  property  to 
her  natural  heirs,  and  not  to  legacy  hunters,  to  whose  wuesa 
wmnan  of  Vmmidia's  life,  as  she  was  especially  exposed, 
might  have  been  expected  to  be  especially  susceptible.  With 
the  entire  phrase  cf.  v.  5.  2  (Sel.  37)  dtcestU  ueUrt  teaiamenio. 

Bspotem :  C.  Vmmidius  Quadratus,  about  whom  nothing 
is  known  beyond  what  is  stated  in,  or  in  the  notes  upon,  this 
letter,  except  that  he  was  consul  suffectus  in  118  A.D.,  and 
saflersd  under  the  displeasure  of  Hadrian  (Spart  Hculr.  16. 7). 

Intsr  proplBq[iios :  i.e.  as  one  would  love  a  near  relation. 

•.  maritos:   Borghesi  [Oenrres  vin.  656)  would  read   in 

Oapit.     Tit   M,  AnL  7.  4   Vmmidio  Quadrato  (inatead   of 

if WRfKto  Qmadraio)^  believing  therefore  that  the  grandson  of 

Vmmidia  ntarried  a  sister  of  the  emperor  M.  Aurelius. 

si  deus  adnuissst :  see  i.  5.  5  (SeL  4)  n.  decs  cufftUaae. 
The  infant  did  not  sur\*ive  birth.  The  Vmmidius  Quadratua 
mentioned  (if  Borghesi  be  right)  in  Cap.  M.  AwL  7.  4  muat 
have  been  the  son  of  a  lAter-U>rn  child. 

oontabsmlo :  i.e.  not  merely  in  her  house,  but  in  her 
immediate  companionship. 

delicatae,  ttcff-indM/getU :  but  the  word  here,  as  often 
elsewhere  when  used  of  persons,  comes  very  near  to  the 
meaning  of  'dissipated  * ;  cf.,  howe>'er,  IL  11.  25  (SeL  17)  oues 
ddiratiMimae ;  ill.  7.  9  (ScL  25)  n.  ddicoUo. 

4.  Iiabebat  lUa :  private  persons  evidently  might  own 
companies  of  slave  pantomimes,  as  of  cladiators,  and  on 
occasion  let  them  out  for  public  shows  m  similar  fashion. 
But  for  a  woman  to  do  this  was  surely  to  brave  public  senti- 
ment. One  of  Vmuiidia*s  pantomimes  is  probably  commemo- 
rated in  an  inscription  from  Putcoli  {C.I.L  x.  1946),  C. 
VwuHuiiwi  ActtHA  AuicetHJi  /Kfn/omimtM. 


52, 6.  NOTES.  356 

pantomimoB :  dancers,  whose  individual  task  it  was, 
through  movement  and  gesture,  aided  to  some  extent  by 
song  (solo  and  chorus),  to  depict  the  passions  of  different 
persons  and  characters,  generally  mythological,  in  various 
situations,  often  erotic.  The  first  pantomtmi  of  note  were 
Bathyllus  and  Pylades  in  the  time  of  Augustus.  Such  plays, 
or  scenes,  became  extremely  popular,  and  like  the  mimes  (see 
V.  3.  2  n., — Sel.  36),  contributed  much  to  the  demoralization 
of  the  people.  On  the  general  subject  see  Friedlander 
Sitttiujeschichte^  ii.  pp.  450  ffl 

eflPusius  quam  conuenit :  in  the  century  before  Pliny's 
time  the  Romans  in  general  enjoyed  the  stage  but  despised 
the  players,  and  often  with  too  good  reason.  But  players 
were  making  their  way  into  society,  especially  that  of  the 
less  strict.  Cicero  reproached  Antony  with  his  intimacy 
with  mimi  and  minuie  {Phil.  ii.  67).  Tiberius  tried  to 
forbid  social  relations  between  actors  and  Romans  of  rank, 
and  to  confine  scenic  representations  to  the  theatre  alone 
(Tac.  Ann.  i.  77).  But  the  evil  tendency  continued  (Sen. 
(j.N.  VII.  32.  3;  Ep.  47.  17),  and  women  were  especially 
affected  with  the  current  mania  (see  Friedlander  Siitengesch,^ 
I.  pp.  484  ff.). 

prindpi  femixiae,  a  woman  of  rank, 

5.  ut  feminam  in  illo  ottosexus:  %,e.  being  a  woman,  and 
having  of  course  on  account  of  her  sex  no  occupation.  The 
words  are  naturally  those  of  Vmmidia  and  not  of  Pliny,  whose 
idea  of  the  duties  of  womanhood  would  be  that  of  the 
traditional  Roman  matron  who  was  lanifica,  pia,  pudica, 
frugi,  cctstat  domiseda  (Oi*elli  hwcr.  4639). 

laxare  aaimnm,  to  amuse  her&df. 

lusa  calcolonun :  two  main  forms  of  this  engrossing 
board-game  were  known  to  the  Romans,  but  had  an  oriein 
in  even  pre-Homeric  times.  One  (ludua  lalninctdorum)  had  a 
decided  resemblance  to  chess,  the  other  {Indus  duodecim 
scriptorum)  to  backgammon.  See  further  Marquardt  Prirai- 
leben^  pp.  854  ff. 

6.  sacerdotalibns  ludis :  ludi  and  munera  are  generally  to 
l)e  distinguished.  The  latter  arc  gladiatorial  coniltats ;  the 
former  embrace  circus-races,  theatrical  performances,  and, 
especially  in  imperial  times,  various  kinds  of  athletic  contests 
(see  IV.  22.  1, — Sel.  35, — n.  gymnicus  a>gon),  Tliese  litdi  were 
all  of  them  either  parts  of  the  regular  Roman  cnltvs^  celebrated 
on  fixed  da\'s  each  year,  or  more  speciHc  festival  observances 
in  fulfilment  of  vows.  The  charge  of  the  ludi  wa.s  entrusted 
to  various  officials  or  boards  of  officials.     The  ponfificeM^  for 


806  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SRLBCTAS.         0»% 

example,  presided  over  the  Eqairria  and  the 

eepecully  eti/^tM-festivaU.     Other  ooll^ges  of  priaate  \^ 

over  later  established  games,  as  the  fnUrtM  aruaieg  awmr  thi 
ludi  CapUolini,  In  the  conduct  of  some  iudi  the  piiaiHy. 
colleges  were  miited  with  the  higher  magiatntM.  On  tlw 
whole  subject  see  Friedltoder  in  Marquardt  Staataverm,  m.* 
pp.  482  ft.  What  especial  Ivdi  are  here  referred  to  hy  FUiqf 
cannot  be  determined. 

In  commisaione,  in  competiium. 

7.  liaronle :  cf.  i.  13.  3  (.Sel.  9)  n.  herade. 

allanissimi,  o/a  very  different  kind :  «e.  from  Quadimtaa. 
per  adnlatlonii  offldnm :  said  in  correction  of  «a  komorwm, 
azraltabant,  leaped  to  their  feet :  cf .  of  auoh  «otlcm  in 
applause  vi.  17.  2  non  labra  diduxerufU,  turn  ninnri  larf 
manumf  non  denique  adtturrexerunt ;  ix.  23.  1  (8eL  67)  ommu 
repente  eonaurgeretU  laudarentque ;  and  on  the  npro«rio«a 
character  of  such  artificial  applause,  n.  14.  13  n.  (SaL  20). 

aingolos  gestuB  dominae :  Pliny  affects  to  oonaidar 
Vmmidia  as  simply  the  leader  of  the  claque  (cf.  n.  14.  6»— 
SeL  TOf—cum  meaochoriu  dedit  signnm)^  but  her  g^eatnrea  were 
doubtless  the  natural  ones  of  genuine  admiration;  of.  ix. 
34.  2  t22o  legenle  eedeam  d^xue,  mtOu»,  ei  emUi»  cUaao^  a» 
quae  pronuntiabit  murmure,  octUi»,  manu  proaequar, 

oanticia,  ehriekez  ac,  of  delighted  approval;  cL  n.  14* 
13  (SeL  20). 

theatralis  operae :  so  the  organized  claque  waa  called ; 
cf.  Tac.  Ann,  i.  16  Percennius  qutdam,  dux  olim  thea^raiium 
operarum, 

oorollarlum :  these  applauders  were  themselvea  bat 
acting,  and  so  Pliny  contemptuously  Calls  their  pay  by  the 
word  that  designated  the  prize  of  a  successful  actor, — a 
wreath  of  bronze  leaves  silvered  or  gilded  (cf.  PI.  ^T.JET. 
XXI.  5).  But  coroUarium  had  also  come  to  mean  a  grataity 
(Trinkgeld^  jtonr  boire,  buona  mano),  in  which  sense  he  may 
use  it  here  of  the  claqueurs^  as  aportvla  in  ii.  14.  4  (SeL  20) 
q,  n. ;  cf.  Varr.  L,L,  v.  178  «t  qmd  datum  pro  opera  ant 
opere,  *7nerces*:  * corollarinm,*  ai  additum  praeterquam  quod 
debitum ;  eitie  tiocaftulum  Jictum  a  corollis  quod  /*ae,  cuan 
placueraiU  actores,  in  tcena  dari  aolitae, 

8.  haeo  :  sc.  ^eribeltam^  or  scripni^ — another  of  the  hundred 
instances  of  Pliny's  free  ellipsis  of  verl)8  of  whatever  kind 
and  in  whatever  form.  Cf.  here  the  old  English  ellipsis  in 
addresses,  *  To  Mr.  Klienezer  Woodruff,  these/ 


53. 2.  NOTES.  357 

est . . .  ceperam :  on  the  sequence  see  i.  2.  1  (Sel.  2)  n. 
promiseram  exhibeo. 

C.  Cassi  :  C.  Cassius  Longiiius,  a  descendant  of  the 
murderer  of  Caesar,  was  consul  in  30  A.D.,  governor  of  Asia 
in  40-41,  of  Syria  in  45  and  49,  banished  by  Nero  in  65,  but 
recalled  by  Vespasian,  during  whose  reign  he  died,  at  a  good 
old  age.  He  enjoyed  great  reputation  as  a  jurisconsult, 
composed  a  treatise  on  civil  law,  which  served  as  a  mine  for 
later  excerptors,  and  founded  a  school  of  legal  interpretation, 
which  was  called  by  his  name.  His  tendency,  like  that  of 
Ateius  Capito,  was  in  the  direction  of  great  conservatism  and 
regard  for  tradition.  The  opposing  school,  which  took  its 
name  from  Proculus,  a  following  of  Antistius  Labeo,  was 
much  more  liberal  and  progressive.  From  Cassius  was 
descended  Quadratus. 

•.  tantos  orator :  the  promise  of  Quadratus  as  an  orator  is 
celebrated  in  vi.  11,  where  he  is  said  to  have  made  Pliny  his 
praeceptor  and  model  (cf.  §  5  of  this  letter). 


53.     (Vn.  26.) 

Men  are  at  their  best  when  ill. — On  Maximus  see  introd. 
note  to  II.  14  (Sel.  20). — In  a  number  of  letters  Pliny 
comments  on  the  virtues  of  endurance  shown  by  individuals 
in  illness :  here  he  praises  the  moral  aspect  of  invalids  for  the 
very  insufficient  and  negative  reason  tnat  they  are  free  from 
the  sway  of  the  lower  passions. 

1.  libido  :  apparently  used  in  a  general  way,  extending 
over  ambition  also,  as  the  next  sentence  seems  to  indicate ; 
though  perhaps  Pliny's  thought  is  that  amoves,  honores,  and 
opes  all  together  gratify  either  libido  or  anaritia  or  both.  Yet 
(^iierig  thought  (improlxibly)  that  aut  amlntio  must  have 
slipped  out  of  the  text  after  libiilo. 

a.  decs  meminit  {sc.  esse) :  see  i.  5.  5  (Sel.  4)  n.  mi/ti  decs 
adfuisse, 

m 

inoidet  nemini,  etc.  :  extremes  oft«n  meet,  and  Pliny's 
dot^trinc  hero  is  approximately  tliat  of  Rpicums,  who  held 
that  happiness  (the  xmnmnni  Itomim)  was  8c<;urcd  only  by  the 
frecilom  of  the  soul  fn>m  wrenching  passions,  and  that  there- 
fore mon  should  loam  to  live  simply,  as  free  as  fKissiblc  frrnn 
all  desinfs.  In  some  dfirrcc  this  approximated  to  the  tciaching 
of  the  Stoics  that  man  siiould  enuUcate  all  irrational  im- 
pulses, and  strive  after  dirdOtia.     Hence  Seneca,  a  Stoic  in 


858  C.  PLINI  EPI8TVLAE  SELEOTAE.        58.1 

philosophy,  does  not  contemn  the  ethios  of  JBpicanui,  tnd 
Pliny's  immediate  teachers  in  philosophy  probably  (Moapiad 

the  same  position. 

ne  sermonibus  qoidmn  mallgnlg,  etc  :  cf .  i.  9.  5  (SeL  6). 
The  construction  is  boldly  double,  both  as  dative  and  m 
ablative. 

8.  pingnem :  see  i.  3.  3  (Sel.  3)  n.  alio  pinguique  teeeant, 

innoziam  uitam :  '  when  the  Devil  was  sick,  the  Devil  a 
monk  would  be.' 


64.    (Vn.  27.) 

Ghost-stories.— Doubtless  the  Sura  of  this  letter  is  the 
Licinius  Sura  to  whose  scientific  wisdom  Pliny  refers  (rr.  80) 
a  question  concerning  the  cause  of  an  intermittent  mrlng 
near  Lake  Gomo.  L.  Licinius  Sura  was  a  native  of  opain, 
and  is  best  known  as  the  confidential  friend  and  adviser  of 
Trajan,  whose  adoption  by  Nerva  was  due  to  Sara's  reoom> 
mendation.  He  was  consul  before  Trajan's  accession,  and 
twice  under  him  (102  and  107  a.d.),  and  was  highly  honoared 
by  him  in  numerous  ways.  As  an  active  counsellor  and 
assistant  in  both  Dacian  wars  he  won  military  deeoFatkms, 
and  was  apparently  largely  responsible  for  the  success  of  the 
campaigns.  Hadrian's  nigh  favour  with  Trajan  was  also  dne 
to  Sura's  influence.  He  built  a  bath  near  his  home  on  the 
Aventine,  which  long  sur\'ived.  By  the  terms  of  his  will  an 
arch  was  erected  in  Tarraco  (cf.  C.I.L.  ii.  4282),  and  Trajan 
erected  a  statue  to  him  after  his  death  (cf.  C.LL,  ii.  4506; 
VI.  1444 ;  Dessau  1022  :  Wilmanns  635). 

I.  igitur :  cf.  iil  1.  12  (Sel.  23)  n.  tgitur, 

an :  cf.  i.  18.  2  (SeL  12)  n.  an. 

inania,  etc.  :  the  Epicurean  view ;  cf.  Lucr.  iv.  25  ff.  ; 
and  the  explanation  by  ("assius  of  the  vision  of  Brutus  before 
Philippi  (Plut.  Brut.  37). 

a.  Curtio  Rufo  :  the  story  (with  slight  variations)  is  told  of 
him  also  by  Tacitus  {Ann,  xi.  21)  in  a  f(»otnote  concerning  his 
career  appended  to  an  amusing  anecdote  of  his  winning  tho 
orunmv.nfa  triumphalia  in  47  A.D.  by  di.scovering  a  silver 
mine  while  serving  as  gf)vemor  of  UpfMjr  (vcrmany.  All  onr 
infoiniation  al)out  him  comes  from  these  lui^sages  in  Tacitus 
and  Pliny.  He  is  perhaps  not  the  Q.  (.^irtius  Rufus  who 
wrote  the  History  of  Alexander  the  (ireat,  nor  yet  the 
rhetorician  menticmed  by  Suetonius  (Rdl,  p.  I*i8  Reifi'. ). 


54.5.  '  NOTES.  369 

obtinenti  Aftlcam:  i.e.  the  proconsular  governor  of  the 
province.  But  Tacitus  says  (I.e.)  Curtius  was  a  subordinate 
of  the  quaestor. 

Africam:  since  the  jnear  37  a.d.  the  province  [A/Hca 
ProconmUaris)  embraced  the  coast-land  from  Hippo  Regius 
on  the  west  to  Cyreue  on  the  east,  while  the  interior,  with 
the  western  part  of  the  province  as  earlier  constituted 
(Numidia),  was  under  the  military  command  of  a  proprae- 
torian  legate. 

comes :  the  word  denoting  regularly  a  member  of  the 
governor's  staff. 

inclinato  die :  i.e.  just  after  the  sun  had  passed  the 
meridian  (cf.  Tac.  I.e.  dvm  in  oppido  Adrtimeto  vaeuin  per 
medium  diei  portieibus  secretus  agitat) ;  cf.  v.  6.  31  porticus 
ante  medium  diem  htbema^  inclincUo  die  aeatiua.  It  was  the 
drowsy  time  of  the  siesta  (see  iii.  5.  11  n., — Sel.  24),  when 
others  had  gone  to  sleep,  and  Curtius  may  have  been 
nodding.  Dion  saw  his  fateful  ghost  under  similar  circum- 
stances by  daylight  (Plut.  Dion  55).  and  the  vision  of 
Eucrates  was  at  midday  (Lucian.  Philopseud.  22),  as  were 
those  of  St.  Paul  [Act.  Apoat.  22.  6)  and  St.  Peter  [ibid.  10.  9). 
That  of  Cornelius  was  at  the  ninth  hour  {ibid.  10.  30). 

porticn :  see  i.  3.  1  (Sel.  3)  n.  porticus, 

hnmana  grandior :  so  the  gods  always  appear,  and  also 
the  apparitions  that  have  num^n  cUiquod ;  cf.  Dion's  ghost 
{Lc,) ;  the  vision  of  Drusus  cited  below;  the  appearance  of 
Romulus  to  Proclus  (Plut.  Rom,  28 ;  Ou.  Fast  ii.  603) ;  the 
vision  of  Eucrates  in  Lucian.  Philopseud.  22  {yvvaiKa  iifu- 
cradialov  (rxj^Bbv  rh  0\^o5). 

AMcam:  i.e.  the  spirit-embodiment  [geaius)  of  Africa, 
as  the  woman  that  appeared  to  Drusus  was  of  Germany  ;  cf. 
Suet  Claud.  1  species  barbarae  midieris,  humana  amplior, 
etc.  ;  Dio  Cass.  LV.  1.  3  yvpif  ydp  ti$  f/^l^utv  1j  kut*  avOptlnrov 
fpOffLv  diravrQffaffa  avrtf  f<fni,  k.t.\. 

3.  narratur :  see  iii.  7.  1  (Sel.  26)  n.  nuntiaXus  est. 

5.  erat  Athenis,  etc. :  a  very  similar  story  is  given  hy 
Lucian  {Philopseud.  29),  with  more  artistic  touches  of  verisi- 
militude, but  in  less  dramatic  form.  Therein  the  Pythagorean 
Arignotus  tells  the  talo  of  his  own  experiences  in  a  haunted 
house  at  Corinth,  which  he  locates  precisely,  and  advises  his 
hearers  to  visit.  The  ghost  appears  to  the  undauntedly 
studious  philosopher,  *■  squalid,  dishevelled,  and  blacker  thiiii 
Hades,'  and  tries  to  terrify  him  by  changing  into  a  dog,  a 
bull,  and  iiually  a  lion.     Failing  in  this  it  retreats  into  a 


Wm  C  FUXl  EPiSrVLAK 


<BiI  a  skeletno. 
TW  story  of  ] 
€f  Pliny. 

M  Iff  maw 
UBperfect 

Cktallns   ftod    Ciit,    UmT 
reqairing  the  imperfoGt  or 
Ot  abo  L  1&  2  (3dL  11)  B.  i 

MaiflB :  PliDT  vacs  in  thii  lettar  «  varioi^  cf  i 
Greek   Mid    Latin,  for  tb 
pktntntma,  Jfgurm^  mIoIoti, 
cJEgwj^    mnnes.     He  does  not  ww 
apfmrenUy  jesu  aft  (in  Am.  xr.  16)  aa  a  I 
nor  yet  specie*,  nor  «afim. 

6.  oenUa  iMnatai:  ctix.  13.  25  (8eL  M)  home  i 
on>/M  «lAenrviMe ;  Am.  61  odkHeoewii»  immhtmUi 
obtrrabaat. 

proaeribaliatar,  U  mm  «IccytMed :  «c  by  a  bill  i 
OD  it. 

7.  AttMBOdom:  two  Stoic  phikMoplien  of  ttda  i 
known.  The  one  waa  from  Tarn»,  aad  waa  i 
Oordylioo.  He  came  to  Rome  in  70  B.a,  when  already  old, 
at  the  invitation  of  Oato,  and  lived  with  him  from  that  tima 
till  his  own  death.  The  other  waa  the  aon  of  Sandoii»  and 
himself  came  from  the  nei^boorhood  of  IWaiis.  Ha  liv<ad 
long  in  Rome  as  the  teacher  and  friend  of  Aaguatna,  bat 
finally  returned  to  his  own  coontry,  where  he  died  at  the  ajm 
of  82.  The  two  men  are  sometimes  confused.  Which  ODets 
referred  to  by  Pliny  cannot  be  determined. 

fltemi  (sc  Uetum) :  cf .  the  use  of  sircUum  alone  for  '  bed  * 
in  poetry  and  poet- Augustan  proee. 

prima  domuB  parte:  perhaps  in  the  usual  tfdXa/wf  that 
opened  on  the  court  (irpoordt)  that  corresponded  to  the 
Roman  atrium, 

pugillares,  stUiim:  see  i.  6.  I  (SeL  5)  n.  MtUus  ei 
puifiUares. 

snos  :  see  II.  17.  7  (Sel.  21)  n.  meornm. 

interiora :  in  the  Greek  house  the  usual  servanta* 
apartments  were  in  the  rear  part,  beyond  the  fjJravXin, 

inanes,  etc.  :  cf.  §1. 

8.  silenUum,  etc. :  the  section  furnishes  another  excellent 
example  of  Pliny's  use  of  brief  paratactic  asyndeta  iu  vivid 


54.  13.  NOTES.  361 

narration,  here  aided  by  ellipsis  of  the  verb,  and  by  change 
between  the  historical  infinitive  and  the  (historical)  present 
indicative.  Cf.  also  vi.  20.  14  (Sel.  46)  n.  uix  ccyimderaimis 
et. 

oflarmare  ...  praetendere,  brace  his  attention,  and  through 
it  close  his  ears :  anlmnm  is  the  direct  object  of  praetendere 
as  well  as  of  offirmare.  The  figure  is  that  of  interposing  a 
defence ;  cf.  iv.  16.  3  nee  desidiae  nostrae  praetendamtis 
alienam. 

ac  lam  ut,  etc.  :  cf.  the  similar  sequence  in  vii.  23.  I  et 
dotni  et  intra  domum  atqiie  etiam  intra  cubictdi  limen. 

9.  slmills  uocanti  :  among  both  Greeks  and  Romans*  (as  in  - 
modem  Greece  and  Italy)  the  gesture  was  different  from  ours. 
The  hand  was  outstretched,  palm  downward,  with  fingers 
hanging  vertically  {KaTaaeiu),  and  the  fingers  were  then  re- 
peatedly closed  upward  against  the  palm.  Our  gesture  of 
summoning  is  theirs  of  salutation. 

ut  paulum  exspectaret  manu  sig^nificat :  hand  out- 
stretched and  turned  up  from  the  wrist  with  palm  outward, 
as  if  repelling. 

10.  aream  domus :  probably  the  inner  court,  or  garden, 
reached  through  the  fUravXos, 

11.  publico  sepeliontur :  t.e.  given  formal  burial  at  public 
expense ;  cf.  ii.  1.  1  (Sel.  15)  n.  publicum /unus. 

domus,  etc.,  tJie  house  was  not  thereafter  haunted  by  the 
gliost  thus  dtdy  laid :  condere  is  strictly  a  ritual  word  as 
applied  to  burial ;  cf.  Lucan.  ix.  151  inhumatos  condere 
manes ;  Orelli  Inscr.  2482  fvlovr  •  conditvm  ;  de  •  caelo  • 
TACTVM  •  ET  •  CONDITVM.  The  souls  of  the  dead  whose  bodies 
were  not  buried  with  due  rites  not  only  were  condemned  to 
wander  this  side  of  the  Styx  in  the  lower  world,  but  might 
return  to  upper  earth  and  haunt  and  harm  the  living,  lliis 
was  especially  the  case  with  those  who  had  met  violent 
deaths.  On  the  Roman  1>elief  in  such  lariiae  and  lemures  see 
Freller  B&m,  Myth,  ii.'p.  117  ff. 

la.  non  illitoratus:  i.e.  intelligent,  and  not  likely  to 
report  wrongly  to  Pliny  the  aspect  of  things  at  daybreak. 
Moreover,  Pliny  thinks  there  wiis  something  sifjiiificant  in 
the  fact  tliat  one  was  t4ik(>n  and  the  other  left. 

is  :  <r.  the  younger  brother. 

uisus  est  sibi  cemere :  cf.  the  bimilar  phrase  (of  a 
dream)  in  v.  r».  5  (Sel.  :>7). 

13.  puor  :  another  buy,  not  the  same. 


TLEfl  ZTmviAK  SELBCTAEL      SC  It 


iBMHf  T 


takntiw 

<t  '2iie  «oiMaiBS  ic  'Jbt  -amcasK  i— Tmj  to  ttdL    The 
Aaae  .-n&fc-iiirifni  wevrt  as  m,  IX  1 :  31.  €  i  S^  29)  ;  T.  21. 

ime^^zmB  -SkCs»  *£»  ma  <:£  ftz  ipc»j«i*  vitfc  tht  perfect 
miiixni:^"^  jx  ji  inme 

mrnicr  use  ^  -?.  5  ?^L  TT  z.  trrimimmk.  In  the  hJm 
iwiTi.^^  t^.Mt  s^jos  Ta  ':«  TOK  «sccurjl  ;cn  liar  tbe  imperial 
M*RU-'*s«k    ^3«  mammacTftaoK    cf  irok-k    «m    orgtadmad   in 

Qvt    Useas  <>nft.  «■  w^on  Me  L  S.  3  a.  (SeL  4). 

ITKiTlia  v^-vrm/Motm :  ^«nt  s^is  irrhriwJ  aae  eomee  the 
•mnfi  .ilml  tc  &  57rsa^  •SxtcBsts  of  alkgetione,  •■  vaed  in 
Mfmni.^.  Scott»  K&i  lis^-mt  «ecuOBHCkel  lew. 

son    K  =L  2.  3  SeL3»  B.>ieaMrtB. 

■ '  ^'1  ^egfTTi  n  zr  '-st  :.k  vicr  ^rvir :  ee  eleo  to  weer 

ki  wilt»^  /r  iaj«.  ui£  iZ-^&jr^iZ^i  ^,^  end  oUienriBe  to 
.ii«iiv»>r  zjiAZ  ^jsi  iSii  i^zxirtCT  ^bi  cakSe  the  momiMr  fcw^gei 

-aenrtnr  :w«  il  17.  7   SeL  21 .  n.  x^onaiL     It  ie  difficnit 

»  WW  ^a.«  ^Ae  .>fiKii  sbjo^i  hiftw  been  sent  to  hii  elere  imther 

^ooii  :<^  j.iiusirkr.  -X.  i».iNMt£.  why  ch«  sampket  interpretation 

%  «^  :ti^  «Ju^  '?¥  wVtt::rui»    se«  i.   1^  SL — Set  12. — n.  com- 

-»  M^  .  ^:itf  cii.?siii|^  v?c  ^2«  OAir  i3%Iis»:ing  thet  tiie  throat  waa 


S5l     {YTL   «.» 

sx: -^w;9u:  :ueiUs>vc  t»  no  crimcL — On  Septiciae  eee 
iiCi'-  .  i.-ce  7.*  L  I  <vl.  1  .—la  VI.  17.  4  Pliny  Xayn  down 
:  iv  .-.ivrAcs.  s-  i^n«cv*^'\ONvt  x<  :ft|>|>lie«l  to  writer», — laNtia 
t%A  •  •  ■•./•■•  n  I".  v,6«-rt../vj«  Hxi  tttrrm:  ^nptriortm^  ^ffia, 
««ct     «.tuatu)!^  M,t^  RWM  ^c»   ifvc  iamiari:   i^feriorem  ami 


66. 2.  NOTES.  363 

parem,  quia  pertinet  ad  tuam  gloriam  qitam  maximum  videri 
qvjem  pra^cedis  tiel  exaeqnas,  eqnidem  omnes  qui  aliquid  in 
studiia  /a^ciwU  uenerari  etiam  miray-ique  soleo.  est  enim  res 
difficUis,  ardua,  fastidiosa ,  et  quae  eos  a  quihun  contemnitur  in 
uicem  contemnat. 

1.  reprelieiidi8se,^?iG^/at(Z^  (ttic  omitted). 

2.  agnosco  crimen,  etc.,  /  a^knoicledge  tfie  /act  as  cJiarged 
and  glory  in  it, 

ut,  granted  that. 

inuident :  see  i.  10.  12  (Sel.  7)  n.  honum, 
feUdssixno  errore,  my  happy  delusion. 
a.  igitur :  cf.  in.  1.  2  (Sel.  23)  n.  igitur. 
hanc  sinistram  diligentiam,  these  perverse  scruples. 
mihi  nunqoam  persuadebunt,  etc.  :  cf.  viii.  24.  10  (Sel. 
60)  non  uereor  in  anwre  ne  moduvi  excesserim. 


LIBER  VIII. 
66.    (vm.  4.) 

The  proposed  epic  of  Caninius  on  the  Dacian  war. — On 
Canioios  see  introd.  note  to  i.  3. 

1.  bellum  Dacicum:  Trajan's  two  campaigns  in  Dacia 
(101-102  and  105-106  a.d.)  are  usually  spoken  of  by  the 
Romans,  in  inscriptions  and  elsewhere,  as  a  single  war. 
Trajan  wrote  commentaries  on  these  campaigns,  us  did 
Caesar  on  his,  but  his  work,  like  that  of  Caninius  (if,  indeed, 
the  latter  was  ever  published)  has  disappeared.  We  are 
dependent  for  our  knowledge  of  this  highly  important  part  of 
Roman  histoiy  chiefly  upon  the  meagre  exceiiits  from  Dio 
Cassius  made  by  Xiphilinus  (lxviii.  6-14).  A  contemporary 
pictorial  commentary  on  the  war  is  preserved  in  the  long 
series  of  spirally  arranged  reliefs  on  the  Column  of  Trajan  at 
Rome,  to  which  inaj*  be  added  a  few  scattered  reliefs, — 
especially  on  the  Arch  of  Constantino  at  Rome  and  the  Arch 
of  Trajan  at  Bcneveiitum. 

tam  fabolosa  materia,  a  mhjejct  so  romantic. 

2.  immissa terris nona flumina :  doubtless Mitli  reference  to 
the  river  Sargetia  (mod.  .Scliyul?).  which  the  Pacian  king 
temporarily  turuetl  from  its  course  lo  bury  his  treasures  in  its 


tM  C  PUKI  EPISTVUkB  SELBCTAK.         ML& 

bed.     The  prooess  wm  repeated  by  TVajea,  who 
the  hoerd  (see  Dio  Cms.  unrm.  14.  4, 5>.     B       ' 
concerned  with  preciee  historical  detail  hete» 
ploral  raits  the  finsperial  grmndeiir  of  the 

ooaof  potttea  flimrinHwia  laleeloa:  here 
liably  does  not  refer  to  the  tempwaiy  bridge 
erected  during  the  first  campaign,  nor  to 
of  minor  streams,  but  to  the  great  stone  bridge  (wiUi 
superstructure  ?)  over  the  Danube  at  Drobetaa  (iMod. 
Severin),  a  work  of  immense  engineering  dull,  em 
the  time  of  the  second  campaign  (Dio  Cass.  iXYin. 

r•giJ^  ki$  capital,  Sarmizegethnsa  (mod.  VirlMkr  cr 
Gredistye)  which  fell  into  Trajan^s  hands  at  the  end  ef  «iia 
first  campaign.  In  the  second  (106a.d.)  the  Dm  ' 
forced  to  See  from  it,  and  on  being  doaelj 
worsted  in  combat  killed  himself. 

nihil  dispcanuttem :  for  to  the  Roman,  as  to  the  Stole 
philosopher,  suicide  rather  than  submission  was  in  the  lait 
event  a  counsel  of  fortitude,  not  of  despair ;  d  I.  12L  9  (Sal. 
8)  n.  peraeuerantem,  etc. 

inper  haac :  see  v.  5.  2  (Sel.  37)  n.  stiper  iito. 

aetos  Ms  triamphos :  one  at  the  end  of  each  ^^***^rnign, 
The  second  celebration  lasted  123  dairs  (Dio  Oaaa.  ucvm. 
10.2;  15.  1). 

nonissimiis,  the  final :  for  he  had  made  a  tolerabfy  deea 
•weep  of  the  country,  which  he  repeopled  with  coloniste  from 
man^  different  places.  Yet  Hadnan  feared  so  greatly 
possible  incursions  of  the  barbarians  into  Moesia  Uiat  he 
removed  the  superstructure  of  the  bridge  (Dio  Cass,  ucvin. 
13.  6),  though  the  province  was  not  surrendered  till  AureUan'a 
time. 

8.  quanquam :  cf.  i.  12.  3  (Sel.  8)  n.  qvjoMqvam, 
regis :  AtKifiaXosy  which  was  probably,  however,  a  title 
rather  than  a  nuiue.    Having  three  short  syllables  consecutive 
before  the  ultima,  it  could  not  be  fitted  into  dactylic  hexa- 
meters. 

Oraeois  nersibus  :  in  a  number  of  instances  mentioned  in 
Pliny's  lottofH  Iuh  fri<?ndR  com|)osod  in  Oreck  rather  than 
in  Latin. 

non  resultent,  way  nof  rrjuse  tofifivto-.  tho  negative  in 
this  inirpoRO-clauRc  is  no»  instead  of  7)^,  liecause  it  appHcii 
mainly  to  tho  single  word  rettiUfmf^  as  indeed  its  position 
indicates  {wm  rtHtdltrU  =  a^commodefUur), 


67.  1.  NOTES.  366 

4.  Si  datur  Homero,  etc.  :  Pliny  follows  the  prevalent 
view  of  his  own  and  much  later  ages  that  the  Homeric  idiom 
is  but  an  arbitrary  distortion  of  classical  Attic. 

non  delicata  :  i.e.  not  frivolous  and  wilful. 

5.  lore  uatuin  inuocatis  dis :  sc.  in  the  proeme,  as  epics 
traditionally  open. 

inter  deos  ipso,  etc.  :  so  Vergil  invokes  the  living 
Augustus  among  the  gods  in  Oeor.  i.  24  ff.  ;  Germanicus, 
Tiberius  in  ArcU.  Phaen.  init.  ;  Valerius  Flaccus,  Vespasian 
in  Argon,  i.  7  ff.  ;  Statins,  Domitian  in  Theb.  i.  17  ff. 

immitte  radentes,  etc.  :  cf.  Verg.  A  en.  viii.  707  f.  iptta 
uidebatur  uentisregina  uocafis  |  uela  dare  et  laxos  iam  iamque 
immittere /lines  ;  &id.  x.  229  vigila  et  uelis  immitte  rudentea. 

1.  carptiin,  taken  piece  by  piece:  adv.  in  place  of  substantive. 

contezta,  tooven  into  a  whole. 

membra :  cf.  vii.  9.  6  (Sel.  49)  n.  membra. 

extremam  limam :  see  i.  2.  5  (Sel.  2)  n.  limam. 

opperientur,  etc.  :  i.e.  Pliny  would  like  a  copy  of  the 
poem  in  its  present  fragmentary  state,  and  promises  not  to 
let  any  one  else  see  it,  but  to  await  the  publication  of  the 
finished  work. 

ecrinio :  see  v.  5.  5  (Sel.  37)  n.  scriniiim, 

super :  cf .  note  on  super  in  §  2. 
8.  in  nmima :  see  i.  12.  12  (Sel.  8)  n.  in  summok. 


67.    (Vra.  8.) 


->^ 


The  beauties  of  the  Clitumnus. — On  Romanns  see  introd. 
note  to  I.  5  (SeL  4). — With  this  letter,  which  shows  the  purely 
objective,  if  not  formal,  character  of  Pliny's  enjoyment  of 
natural  scenery,  may  be  compared  v.  6,  ix.  7,  and  scattered 
allusions  in  other  letters.  On  the  general  question  of  the 
ancient  feeling  for  nature  see  Friedliinder  Sittenyejtch.  ii.*  pp. 
188  fF.  On  the  sources  of  the  Clitumnus  see  also  Prof.  Wila- 
mowitz-Moellendoerff  in  Reden  u.  Vortratje. 

1.  uidistine  :  on  the  introduction  of  tlie  subject  of  a  letter 
with  a  question  see  i.  5.  1  (Sel.  4)  n.  uidistine ^  and  the  similarity 
of  the  opening  of  iv.  1 1  (Sel.  32). 

aliquando  :  of.  in  the  o])ening  question  of  vi.  13  unquam 
witli  uidisti. 


866  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.         57.  1. 

Clitonmam  fontem :  Vibius  Sequester,  of  the  fourth 
century,  in  his  dry  enumeration  entitled  De  Jlumiuibua 
fontihtis  lacitbus  nemorihua  paludibtLS  monlibus  geiUibus, 
mentions  the  Clitumnus  as  a  spring  as  well  as  a  river,  but 
perhaps  with  no  ultimate  authority  other  than  this  passage. 
The  river  (now  called  the  Clitunno)  is  a  small  stream  of 
Umbria,  flowing  by  Meuania  (Bevagna)  into  the  Tinia 
(Topino),  an  affluent  of  the  Tiber.  The  hamlet  at  its  source 
is  even  now  called  Le  Vene  (i.e.  The  Springs).  The  river  was 
famous  for  its  beauty  before  Pliny's  tune,  and  especially  for 
the  herds  of  large  white  cattle  pastured  on  its  banks,  whence 
the  finest  sacrificial  victims  were  sent  to  Rome :  cf .  Colum. 
ui.  8  armentU  sublimibus  insignia  Mevania  est ;  Verg.  Qeonr, 
II.  146  ff.  hinc  cUbi,  ClUumney  gregeSt  ei  maxima  taurus  \ 
uicti^na,  saepe  tuo  perfwn  flumine  sacro,  \  Homanos  ad  templa 
deum  dtucere  triumphos ;  Prop.  iii.  19.  25  f.  qua  /ormosa  tuo 
Cflitumnus  fiumina  luco  \  integit   et  niueos  aJbluit  unda  boiies ; 

b  ^  Luc.  I.  473;  Stat.  Silu,  i.  4.  129;  Sil.  ItaL  iv.  545  f., 
',     ^^  VI.  647  f.,  VIII.  450  f. ;  luu.  12,  13:  Claud.  54.  3  f.,  VL  Cons, 

"  ^  Hon.  606  ff. — Seruius  (on  Verg.  Geor,  l.c)  remarks,  on  the 
authority  of  Pliny's  Nat.  Hist.,  that  animals  drinking  the 
water  of  the  Clitumnus  bring  forth  white  proeeny ;  but 
the  same  story  is  told  of  other  streams,-— €.|gr.  of  Uiose  of  the 
region  of  Falerii ;  cf.  Plin.  JN^.JI.  n.  230  in  Falisco  omnis  a^ua 
pota  canUidos  hoitesfouiit  (this  is  perhaps  the  passage  to  which 
Servius  refers).  Addison  in  his  Remarks  on  Italy  notes  that 
in  his  day  the  inhabitants  of  Le  Vene  had  the  same  belief 
about  the  waters,  and  pointed  to  their  mouse-coloured  herds 
as  evidence  of  its  truth.  Byron  celebrated  the  stream  in 
ChUde  Harold  TV.  mS^,   <^-^  C^.r   <c.       iiL  ;..>.  ^c  X^..w^ 

uide,  gotosfiei  cf.  i.  5.  8  (Sel  4)  n.  uideas, 
3.  antiqua :  the  wood  was  sacred  to  the  local  god  (see 
below),  and  hence  no  axe  had  touched  it.  The  regard  of  the 
ancients  for  groves  of  old  trees,  and  even  for  individual  trees, 
as  the  especial  shelter  of  divinity,  is  well  known  :  cf.  Preller 
JRom.  Myth.^  i.  pp.  107  ff.  ;  Friedliinder  Sittengesch.^  ii. 
pp.   191   f. 

snbter  :  infrequently  postpositive  ;  not  found  elsewhere 
in  Pliny. 

fons  :  not  *  a  spring,'  but  thc/ow  CUtummm  itself. 

exprimitor :  t.e.  the  water  gushes  out  vigorously,  as  if 
impelled  by  some  great  pressure  behind  it. 

pluribus  uenis  :  there  are  now  eight  principal  heads, 
which  unite  bdow  in  a  broiid,  silent  pool,  bornere»!  with 
rushes  and   poplars.      In   this   )xk>1  are  perlia))s   the   main 


springs,  for  the  stream  that  issues  from  it  is  wide  and 
tranquil,  reflecting  clearly  the  grassy  banks  and  neighbouring 
willows,  and  showing  now  and  then  a  white  bed  (so  G.  McN. 
Rushforth  in  The  Guardian  for  Jan.  24,  1900,  pp,  135  f.). 

eluctatus,  bursting  forth -.  sc.  from  the  ground. 

gUTgitem,  pod :  see  the  description  by  Mr.  Rushforth 
cited  above. 

purus  et  uitreus,  clear  and  crystalline :  not  an  instance 
of  pleonasm,  for  uitreus  denotes  not  so  much  mere  transparency 
as  brilliance  of  reflection  ;  cf.  §  4  i>erspiaius  amnis  ;  Hor. 
Cami.  III.  13.  1  o  f&ns  BamlimaCy  splendidior  uitro ;  id. 
IV.  2.  3  uitreo  daturus  uomina  ;KMi/o  (with  reference  to  the 
sea  sparkling  far  below  him) ;  Verg.  Aen,  vii.  759  uitrea 
Fuciniis  tinda. 

numeraxe  calcolos :  cf.  Mart.  viii.  68.  8  calcvlus  in 
nitida  gic  numeratur  aqua. 

iactas  stipes :  the  ancients  were  especially  given  to  the 
worship  of  streams  and  springs  (cf.  Friedlander  SiUeiig.^  ii. 
p.  190),  into  which  libations  were  poured  (Hor.  Carm,  iii.  13, 
et  a/.),  and  coins,  and  other  votive  offerings,  thrown ;  sec 
Preller  R(h7i,  Myth.^  ii.  pp.  125  ff.  ;  De  Marchi  n  Culto  V 
Privalo  di  Roma  Antica  p.  295 ;  Sen.  Ben.  vn.  4.  6  et  dis 
donum  posuimua  et  atipem  iecimm  ;  N,Q.  iv.  2.  7  in  haec  ora 
[sc.  at  the  supposed  sources  of  the  Nile]  stipem  aacerdotes 
et  aurea  dona  prarfecti  iaciunt ;  Suet.  Aug.  57  cmnea  ordines 
in  locum  Curti  quotannijt  ex  uoto  pro  saliUe  eius  ntipem 
iaciehant.  A  striking  find  of  such  votive  offerings  in  a  lake 
near  the  source  of  the  Amo  is  described  by  G.  Dennis  in  his 
Cities  and  Cemeteries  of  Etruria  ii.'  pp.  108  ff.,  and  one  at 
the  Aqiiae  Afx>llinares  near  the  Laco  Bracciano  by  W.  Henzen 
in  Rhein.  3his.  ix.  pp.  20  ff.  (see  also  Lanciani  Ancient  Rwne 
in  the  Light  of  ReceiU  Discoveries  pp.  46  f.).  The  Clitumnus  is 
referred  to  as  a  sacred  stream  m  the  passages  cited  on  §  1 
Clitumnum/onfem ;  cf.  also  the  ItineraHum  Hierosolymitanum 
p.  288  (ed.  Parthey). 

3.  non  loci  deuezitate,  etc.  :  the  slope  of  the  plateau  is 
made  evident  only  by  the  swiftness  of  the  river's  flow. 
Cf.  e.g.  the  Isar  at  Munich. 

ipsa  sui  :  for  the  more  usual  s^iia  ipsius. 

fens  adhuc  et  iam  amplissiiiinm  flumen,  one  moment  a 
rillf  (fie  next  a  vn'(f/i/y  river.  With  ttflhiir  .  .  .  iam  of 
successive  moments  cf.  vi.  16.  11  (Sel.  4'»)  iam  .  .  .  iam 
.  .  .  iam. 


Mi        a  mm 

la  ita  apper  ooone. 

Olivias  (ac.  ««6i) :  i.e.  bomd  op 

qnoqi*,  etem:   as  ooi  infrtBqpMBdly  n 
period. 

diB«m:  «e.  to  thoM  boftto  tliak  i 
apon  the  mrface.      /.«.   the  Clita 
down  which,  perhi^»,  »  li^t  skiff  mlig|it  ja 
float,   hat  where  it  would  smelj  gromd  if  the 
ahonld  try  to  force  it  againat  the  eamuL      It  w 
boats  to  pais  eveo  im  its  course, — bat  with  the 
mentioned  immediately. 

tnwsmittit  et  perfsrt :  with  Pliny's  freqnoDt  ( 
group  words  of  substantially  the  same  meaning ;  c£.  ] 
p.  48. 

ilia  (sc.  uia) :  an  infrequent  use,  thou^  < 
back  as  Plautus. 

quaaquam :  see  i.  12.  3  (Sel.  8)  n.  quanquam, 

ptr  solum  pUumm :  cf .  non  lori  cUuexUaU  above. 

adluostur:  bv  a  transfer  of  apj^cation  (here  from  the 
boat  to  the  stream)  not  uncommon  in  Pliny ;  ef.  S  4  admmmmrmi 
(by  transfer  from  the  observer  to  the  stream). 

4.  ptr  iooiun  ludumqus,  /or  mere  amuaement :  cf.  v.  IX  10 
per  ludum  ac  iocum.  The  words  are  commonly  thus  united 
from  the  time  of  the  comedians  downward. 

flnitaatibni,  Bailing  about, 

laborsm  otlo,  otium  labors :  with  the  chiastic  repetition 
of.  fraxino  mu/to,  multa  populo  (immediately  following) ;  §  Q 
publice  pnUberUt  praebent  et  hoepUium, 

uiridi  imagine  adnumsrat :  i.e.  the  clear,  smooth  stream 
mirrors  the  trees  so  distinctly  that  they  seem  actually  to  be 
growing  beneath  the  surface,  and  each  *  green  reflection '  may 
be  counted  as  readily  as  the  tree  itself.  On  the  transfer  of 
application  in  adntitnerat  see  §  3  n.  adiuuetur, 

certauerit :  the  *  subiunctive  of  modest  assertion,'  often 
called  the  '  potential  subjunctive ' ;  cf.  vii.  9.  3  (Sel.  49) 
o/fWer»<. 

noc  color  oedit :  cf .  similar  comparisons  of  the  purity  of 
streams  to  that  of  snow  in  Sen.  PhoMra  511  f.  fuinu  gratU  | 
/fi/M>re  niMSo  eorptu  Misw /omi  ;  Mart  vii.  32.  11  sttceos  propt 
Hudtw. 

a.  tsmplum  :  the  little  church  of  S.  Salvatore  now 
standing  <»ii  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  some  time  fondly 


67.  5.  NOTES.  369 

supposed  to  be  the  temple  mentioned  here,  was  thought  by 
De  Rossi  to  be  of  Constantine's  time  (Ballett.  Archeol.  Ciist. 
1871,  pp.  143  ff.).  A  later  judgment  (of  H.  Grisar)  ascribes  its 
erection  to  the  time  of  classical  imitation  in  the  middle  of  the 
12th  century  {Nuovo  BiUlett.  Archeol.  Grwt.  1895,  pp.  42,  127; 
cf.  Fabriczy  in  Ciceroiie  1898,  and  Rushforth  ^.c). 

Stat :  the  initial  position  of  the  word  is  significant,  for 
the  pose  of  the  statue  and  its  drapery  are  indicative  of  its 
rude  antiquity.  In  the  best  days  of  art  river-gods  were 
generally  represented  nude,  or  nearly  so,  and  in  a  reclining 
posture,  holding  a  cornucopia,  and  resting  one  arm  upon  an 
urn,  whence  water  was  depicted  as  flowing ;  cf.  the  well- 
known  Vatican  statue  of  the  Nile  (Baumeister  Deiihmaler  p. 
1028),  the  Capitoline  statue  of  the  Tiber,  and  the  relief  of  the 
Danube  (?)  on  the  Arch  of  Trajan  at  Beneventum. 

Clitumnos :  Vibius  Equester  is  sole  authority  for  the 
statement  that  the  deity  was  a  Jupiter  surnamed  Clitumnus, 
and  his  statement  is  perhaps  questionable ;  but  cf.  Preller 
Rom.  Myth,  i.^  p.  57  init. 

praetexta :  the  crimson-bordered  toga  was  worn  at  Rome 
by  the  higher  magistrates,  and  by  the  members  of  the  liigher 
priesthoods,  especially  when  officiating  at  religious  ceremonials 
(cf.  Mommsen  SUuUsr.  i.'  pp.  418  £).  It  is  said  by  Pliny 
\N.H.  IX.  136)  to  have  been  adopted  by  TuUus  Hostilius  from 
the  garb  of  the  conquered  Etruscan  kings ;  and  as  crimson 
was  also  the  colour  peculiar  to  the  garb  of  the  trinmphato}' 
(Mommsen  ibid.  p.  411),  who  appeared  with  pseudo-divine 
insignia,  it  is  quite  possible  that  its  earlier  use  was  appro- 

Eriate  to  the  gods,  as  here,  in  the  case  of  this  divinity  on  the 
orders  of  Etruria.  The  statue  of  the  Clitumnus  was  very 
probably  of  wood,  as  very  archaic  statues  were  (cf.  ix.  39. 
4, — Sel.  71),  and  was  either  draped  in  an  actual  prtutexta 
(cf.  the  peplon  annually  offered  to  the  ^vov  of  Athene  on 
the  Acropolis),  or  was  car\'ed  and  painted  to  represent  one. 

praesens :  expressing  the  efficient  activity  of  the  deity, 
as  explained  in  detail  hy  /atidiciim. 

Bortes :  the  method  of  foretelling  the  future  by  the 
drawing  of  lots  seems  to  have  liecn  considered  by  the  Romans 
as  non-Italian  in  origin  (cf.  Val.  Max.  i.  3.  2),  'and  to  have 
fallen  into  disrepute  by  the  time  of  Cicero  (cf.  Dinin.  ii. 
85  ff. ).  But  headquarters  for  such  divination  are  mentioned 
as  existing  at  Patauium  (Suet.  Tih.  14),  Caere  (Liu.  xxi.  62. 
6),  Falerii(Liu.  xxii.  1.  11),  and  es]wcially  at  the  tcnqWe  of 
Fortuna  in  Praeneste  (C'ic.  I.e.).  The  mcthoil  of  consultation 
was  probably  almut  the  H.ime  at  all  places  ; — formulas  of  more 


^ 


S70  G.  PLINI  EPI8TVLAE  SBLBOTAE.         ff7«  & 

or  Um  perspicuity  wcro  written  in  rode  veree  oo  stidu  or 
plates  m  wood  or  metal ;  at  the  time  of  oonsiiltAtioii  these 
were  mixed  together,  or  shaken  together  in  a  oontalning 
vessel,  and  one  was  dravm  oat  at  random,  or  ahAken  ont^ 
which  was  understood  to  voice  the  answer  of  the  divinity  to 
the  question  propounded.    Of.  Maranardt  SiaeUtwerw,   m.' 

p.  94  ff. ;  Lanciani  in  the  AtkmHe  Manihfy  for  Jl/or..  1895; 

^    Marohi  CuUo  Private  p.  240. 

totldem  dii :  i.e.  a  number  of  statnes  of  othcir  deities^ 
each  within  its  own  shrine. 

■na  eulque  uenenitio :  with  the  phrase  cf.  vm.  20L  5 
(SeL  59)  sua  cmqwfigwrcL 

tnuumittitiir,  is  vpawMd :  periiaps  unique  in  this  mean- 
ing (—ivMgiiur)^  but  it  is  impossible  to  snppoae  that  a 
iciatort&ttf,  or  the  like,  is  to  be  understood. 

6.  naoigare :  on  some  sacred  waters  not  even  boatin^r  was 
allowed  (cf.  VIII.  20.  5,— Sel  59),  and  Nero  was  believad  to 
have  incurred  divine  wrath  by  swimming  in  the  basin  at  the 
source  of  the  Aqua  Marcia  Cute.  Ann,  xiv.  22/«.). 

mspeUates :  Hispellum  (now  Spello),  an  Umbrian  t<»wii, 
is  about  twelve  miles  distant  from  the  souroe  of  the  Gli- 
tnmnns.  A  colony  was  planted  there  faj  Aoffustos,  and  called 
Ccionia  Ivlia  (cf.  Mon,  Ancyr,  y,  9ofL  Mommsen;  mL  in 
Hermes  xvm.  pp.  161  £f.)  The  gift  of  the  land  about  the 
GlitunmuB  was  probably  made  to  the  new  colony  on  that 
occasion.  In  the  time  of  Constantine  the  name  of  the  ookmy 
>vas  chanced  to  Flauia  Cmistans  (Henzen  5580;  Wilmanna 
2843).  The  connection  of  Hispellum  with  the  Clitumnus  and 
its  worship  ia  shown  in  an  inscription  of  202  A.D.  (Qndins 

02.  7)  CLITVMNO  •  8A0BVM  •  L  •  MTNYCrVS  •  L  .  P  •  SABIirVB 
.  .  .  PATRONVS  •  HISPELLATTVM  .  .  .  SACRIS  •  CLITVMNALIBV8 
•  EPVLVM  •  DEDIT  •  COLLEOIO,  eta 

diuuB :  see  IV.  11.  14  (Sel.  32)  n.  cfitct. 

dono  dedit:  a  traditional  formula,  occurring  often  in 
inscriptions,  and  not  unfrequently  in  literature. 

publice,  08  a  corporation  i  4C.  instead  of  granting  the 
franchise  to  some  private  firm.  Cf.  n'.  7.  2  (Sel.  31)  n. 
ptddice, 

praabent,  praebent  at :  on  the  chiastic  repetition  see  §  4, 
and  I.  12.  12  (Sel.  8)  n.  mortt  doleOt  ddto  atUem, 

7.  in  summa :  see  i.  12.  12  (Sel.  8)  n.  in  mnnma. 

multa  multorum:  cf.  ix.  13.  2  (Sel.  64)  m^dta  aeefera 
mvifomm  and  nenatu  nenator  sencUori :  Lagergren  pp.  36  f . 


68.  2.  NOTES.  371 

inscripta :  not  formal  inscriptions  (titvli)^  but  graffiti^ 
the  curse  of  which  beset  the  ancient  as  fully  as  it  does  the 
modern  world,  lint  Pliny  is  so  much  more  an  admirer  of 
literary  effort  than  of  nature  (cf.  i.  6, — Sel.  5)  that  he  feels 
no  indignation  over  these  misplaced  elusions. 

quanquam,  and  yet  (=  KalroC) :  cf.  iii.  7.  12  (Sel.  25)  n, 
qxumquam. 

quae  tua  humanitas,  snuih  is  your  good  nature  :  this  use 
of  a  parenthetical  relative-sentence  to  express  the  cause  of  the 
state  or  action  indicated  by  the  main  sentence  (often  in  place 
of  a  construction  with  the  ablative  of  quality  followed  by  an 
tt^-clause)  is  frequent  in  Cicero,  but  unusual  in  later  writers. 

58.     (VIIL  16.) 

Hiny's  treatment  of  his  slaves  (cf.  v.  10,— Sel.  40 ;  viii. 
1).  — The  person  addressed  is  probably  identical  with  the 
*Paternus'  of  iv.  14,  and  ix.  27,  and  with  the  *  Plinius 
Paternus'  of  i.  21 ;  but  whatever  his  name,  he  is  otherwise 
unknown. 

1.  confecerant :  a  *  gnomic  aorist.' 

meomm:  cf.  ii.  17.  7  (Sel.  21)  n.  meomm;  and  on  the 
fact,  VIII.  19.  1  meorum  periadoj  quortindam  uero  etiam 
morte  turbaXus. 

fiEUsUitas  manimiittendl :  the  path  of  the  master  who 
wished  to  liberate  his  slaves  by  his  will  was  hedged  in  with 
legal  restrictions,  but  he  might  liberate  them  as  he  chose 
during  his  lifetime  ;  cf.  Gains  i.  11-27,  38-47 ;  ibid.  44  <ic  nee 
ad  eoH  quidem  omnino  haec  lex  pertituU  qui  sine  testamento 
manumiltunt.  Uaqxie  licet  iis  qui  uindicta  aut  censu  avJb  inter 
amicos  manumittunt  totam  famUiam  suam  liberare,  etc. 

quoque,  even :  cf.  i.  10.  5  (Sel.  7)  n.  quoque. 

quasi :  for  slaves  had  no  right  to  hold  or  bequeath 
proi>erty  as  such  {res  /amiliaris)^  and  their  *  wills  *  were  not 

{M'operly  teHtamenta.  Even  the  peculium  which  they  were  al- 
owed,  and  indeed  encoumged,  to  acquire,  belonged  to  them 
only  by  grace  of  the  master ;  cf.  Oaius  i.  52  quodcumque  i^er 
semuiM  mlquiritnry  id  dojnino  adquiri;  Dig.  xv.  1.  4  jyecidiiest 
noH  id  cuius  sep-nns  seor.<um  a  (lomino  rationem  hatdterity  ned 
quel  dominuH  i/tse  seftarauerit  «nam  a  semi  ratumem  discer- 
weiM :  nam  cum  send  peculium  totum  adimere  uel  augere  uel 
minuere  dominu^  passitf  etc. 

2.  nam,  etc.  :  tho  legal  sanction  of  wills  lieing  a  matter  of 
Roman  law,  no  foreigner  {peregriuus)  had  the  general  right 


■caip  II    nsMct  k  wH   or  u 


IqpMriiraMa  Ron 

e;  ClpinxiiL 
_  ■0M«tf;cLaL 

A    ftiBHii  Tr     iiM  virc  Tvcusir  OBbd  to  a  loai  of  in^ 


SiL     :wiiL  S 

Atko. 

OL  UK   L    ]&  >    SCh.    11- 

1&  5  ito  1 
n.  4.  C  of  flUB  iM  coa^vafoi  «(  ;  ▼.  18.  5 

a.  A»  CKBM  :  ci.  L  2.  6  ',SeL  ?^  b.  er  camtU. 

BOOi  aaods :  for  mom  wtodo  aoa,  as  not  infreqnentlj  in  all 
pc7>>is  vbes  pcoaedix^  9^  me.  qitidem  wiUi  a  oommon  predi- 
case  ssaadia^  xa  the  aeeond  memlier  only :  cf.  vm.  7.  2  ^wt 
«011  modo  ru^jrl^^r  rviK.  md  me.  disciptiH*  quidarn  dtbeaan  eiiei ; 
Kre>«-Scliauiz  Amxihariarm*,*  n.  pi  145. 

Adnia:  i.«.  Greeoe  proper. — the  name  given  to  the 
nnman  prorince,  which  embraced  at  this  time  Peloporniesns 
Mthl  tiic  maxnUnd  as  far  north  as  Thcssaly  and  EpinUL  Yet 
o(m«iiK^rable  cities  and  districts  in  this  region  were  not 
sabject  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Roman  governor ;  see  viii. 
34.  2  (ScJ.  00)  n.  liherunim  cktUahtm, 

aoditak  perleeta,  Itutrata  baberemns :  hfOiert  is  osed  with 
the  perfect  {mskivc  participle  to  express  more  «i1)soliitely  the 
«xmipletcnes»  and  enduring;  eflfects  of  the  action  than  woald 
the   cr>rrc«ponHing  ft^rm  of  the  verl>  to  which  the  participle 


<^    ^ 


fW' 


.«.'.  .  K  c  t> 


ii 


V,  >•  V^  - 


69.  6.  NOTES.  373 

belongs;  cf.  e.f/.  Cic.  ad  Brut.  i.  1.  1  Clodii  animum  pci-i^pec- 
turn  haJbeOy  cognitum^  ivdicatum  ;  and  see  on  the  general  subject 
of  this  construction  Ph.  Thielmann  in  Arcklvfiir  lat.  Lexicog. 
u.  Oram.  ii.  372  f^.,  509  flf.;  in.  532  ff. 

3.  prosocer:  Calpurniua  Fabatus,  on  whom  see  iv.  19.  1 
(Sel.  34)  n.  auo. 

Amerina :  Ameria  (mod.  Amelia)  was  a  town  of  south- 
western Umbria,  whose  territory  touched  the  left  bank  of 
the  Tiber  above  the  town  of  Horta  (mod.  Orte). 

lacus  nomine  Vadimonis :  renowned  as  the  scene  of  the 
great  victoi  ies  of  the  Romans  over  the  Etruscans  in  309  and 
283  B.C.  The  lake  is  commonly  identified  with  the  (now  much 
shrunken)  laghetto  di  BcLs^ano  on  the  Etruscan  side  of  the 
Til>er  just  above  Orte.  It  is  mentioned  among  others  that 
have  floating  islands  by  Seneca  (N.Q,  in.  25.  8)  and  the  elder 
Pliny  (N.H.  ii.  209). 

4.  color,  etc.  :  the  watera  of  the  lake  were  evidently 
charged  with  sulphur,  like  the  waters  that  flow  into  the  Anio 
from  the  sulphur  springs  of  Bagni.  The  colour  was  therefore 
not  the  ordinary  blue  of  clear  lakes  reflecting  the  sky,  but 
rather  a  (somewhat  opaque)  bluish  white  (caerulo  albidior) 
tending  toward  green  (niridlor),  and  duller  (pressior)  than 
sky-blue.  With  pressior  in  this  sense  cf.  Seru.  on  Verg. 
Qeor,  III.  82 ;  Pallad.  iv.  13.  3.  But  Pliny  may  use  it  to 
denote  the  relative  opacity  of  sulphur-water. 

sapor  medicatcis,  a  flavour  of  drugs, 

nis  qua  firacta  solidantur,  the  power  of  cementing  broken 
articles :  the  water,  as  it  evaporated,  depositing  a  crust  of 
sulphureous  or  calcareous  character, — to  -which  also  the  forma-  ' 
tion  of  the  framework  of  the  islands  might  be  assigned,  as 
Seneca  {Lc.)  perceived.  Juvenal  (5.  48)  speaks  of  sulphur  as 
used  for  mending  glass  (see  for  further  references  Mayor*8 
note  on  the  passage). 

5.  sacer  enim  :  see  viii.  8.  6  (Sel.  57)  n.  nauigare. 

paltts :    i.e.  the  marshy  ground   surrounding  the   lake 

S roper.  It  is  distinguisheti  by  alia  because  palus  itself  often 
enotes  an  actual  lake. 

sua  caique  flgrura :  with  the  phrase  cf.  viii.  8.  5  (Sel.  57) 
«tia  cuique  ueiieratio. 

hnmili  radice,  a  shallow  subjttructure  :  and  therefore  they 
weigh  but  little  :  with  this  use  of  the  adjective  cf.  ^''erg.  A  en, 
VII.  157  ;  Tac.  Aun.  i.  01  humili  fos^a. 

6.  haec  ...  perspicitar :  said  apparently  to  show  that  there 
can  be  no  mistake  alx>ut  the  fact. 


r;-'-" 


Ti4  C  PLINI  EPISTVLAB  SKLBCTAK.        Htf 

«wier  Moier. 

,  an  ntArokem  narfact, 

a  very  unasiud  figure  in  Pliny ;~  cL  ix. ; 
«iortrnque  ;  l  10.  12  (Set  7)  n. 

pranuNMnt  UmuB,  etc,  extewi  tibs  4 „,  „,„  -„, 

|xoee,  MOW  nt  thai^  reatcrt  amd  Mieal  msay  ike  iaJbt  z  th 

(of  a  theft),  M  often  in  Pliny's  deacr^tioos  «if  batanl  i 

is  not  particalarly  happy,  and  ia  made  Iom  no  by  i 

«on  in  order  of  the  rntia.    The  ialands  «stenlaway  '  tfaa^bt 

by  Goverins  it  from  riew  whefe  th^  toudi  the  aboce;  fhav 

'  restore '  their  plmider  by  floating  to  aaother  peel. 

•.  qaaui  inata  et  imporita:  ie.  as  if  they  had  bam  pat 
aboard  a  boat  for  shipment. 

•.  ipeeii  mersttiir,  etc. :  the  elder  Pliny  (JV.i?.  m.  117) 
mentions  the  Po  as  mnning  underground  for  a  apaoe  in  ita 
upper  course ;  Gurtius  Ruf  us  ( vi.  4.  5  ffl )  deecribea  theZiobetti 
ss  a  similar  stream,  and  mentions  expressly  the  fagt  that 
objects  launched  upon  it  above  were  carried  aafely  fjirn^w^ 
its  subterranean  channel;  Seneoa  {N.Q.  m.  3ff.)  mmitiinwi 
other  instances,  and  attempts  an  explanation. 

lO.  nihil  ftsque  ae :  cf.  the  same  pbrase  in  v.  &  2 ;  Tin. 
5.  3 ;  also  nihil  a>eque .  .  .  «<  in  i.  20.  1  (Set  13 ;  elL  iwto 
thereupon);  mhU  .  . .  a^^  —  quam  in  n.  15. 1 ;  oe^iie  •  .  . 
qnam  ui  m.  4.  9  ;  and  mhil  <uqw  .  .  .  qvam  in  v.  19.  5  (8d. 

40). 

delectaat :  by  an  unusual  '  attraction '  to  the  number  of 
cpera :  cf .  such  constructions  as  vm.  18.  10  twU  onmesfiihmlait 
TiUluB, 

60.    (vm.  M.) 

The  principles  that  should  govern  a  Cominissitmer  to 
Greece.— On  Maximus  see  introd.  note  to  ii.  14  (Sel.  20). — 
With  this  letter  may  be  compared  in  general  the  much  longer 
one  of  M.  Cicero  to'  his  brother  Quintus,  when  the  latter  was 
proconsul  of  Asia  {Qu.  Fr.  i.  I) ;  and  with  the  common ta  on 
the  past  glories  of  Greece,  Cic.  Flac,  62  f. ;  Byron,  Chiltie 
Harold  II,  73  ff. 

a.  prouindam  Achaiam:  see  vm.  20.  2  (Scl.  59)  n.  Achaia, 
usram  at  meram  Graedam:  as  distinguished  from  the 
northern  districU  of  Epirus,  Macedonia,  etc. 


60.  2.  NOTES.  375 

humanitas  :  with  the  prevailing  idea  of  both  0 recks  and 
Romans  that  nothing  was  owed  to  more  eastern  civilization, 
not  even  the  alphabet  and  a  knowledge  of  farming. 

litterae:  probably  referring  to  *  the  alphabet,'  rather 
than  to  *  literature.'  One  form  of  the  story  ascribed  the 
invention  of  an  alphabet  of  16  or  17  letters  to  the  Homeric 
Palamedes  (cf.  Eurip.  Palam.  fr.  582,  et  al.),  thotigh  other 
writers  recognized  its  Phoenician,  or  ultimately  Egyptian, 
origin  (Herod,  v.  58  ;  Tac.  Ann.  xi.  14). 

fruges,  agricidture :  the  general  Greek  tradition  was 
that  Demeter  gave  the  first  seed-corn  to  her  favourite 
Triptolemus,  and  taught  him  how  to  use  it,  and  thus  the 
knowledge  of  agriculture  spread  from  Eleusis  as  a  centre. 
Local  myths  differed.  In  Argos  Pelasgus  was  held  to  be  the 
inventor,  in  Arcadia  Aristaeus,  in  Athens  (occasionally) 
Athena.     The  Italian  myth  ascribed  the  invention  to  Saturn. 

credontur :  with  the  personal  construction  cf.  iii.  7.  1 
(Sel.  25)  n.  nuntiatus  est. 

missaxn,  etc. :  the  phrase  is  apparently  technical ;  cf .  §  7, 
and  e.g.   Wilm.   Inacr.    1124  pro  •  cos  •  itervm  •  kxtra  • 

aORTEM  .  AVCrrORITATB  •  AVG  •  CAESARIS  •  ET  •  S  •  C  •  MIS.SO  • 
AD  .  OOMPONENDVM  .  STATVM  •  IN  •   RELIQWM  •  PROVINCIAK  • 

CYPRi.  Southern  Greece  had  been  a  province  since  146  B.C., 
being  united  at  first  with  Macedonia.  It  was  erected  into  a 
separate  province  under  the  name  of  Achaia  iu  27  A.D.,  and 
assigned  to  the  senatorial  class,  being  governed  by  an  ex- 
praetor  with  the  title  of  proconsul  But  at  times  of  special 
difficulty  it,  like  other  senatorial  provinces  in  similar 
emergency,  was  temporarily  taken  over  by  the  emperor,  and 
placed  under  the  authority  of  one  of  his  personal  deputies 
{Ufjattis  Atiffitsti  pro  praetore  ;  cf.  the  circumstances  of  Pliny's 
appointment  as  governor  of  Bithynia, — Introd.  p.  xxvii.). 
This  was  probably  the  case  at  the  time  of  the  appointment 
of  Maximus  (cf.  §  8  legatio).  It  is  possible,  however,  that  in 
Maximus  we  have  the  first  of  the  special  commissioners  called 
corr6C^ore«  who  were  appointed  by  the  em|)cror  from  the  second 
century  on  to  supervise  the  afl'airs  of  the  *frce*  cities  of 
Achaia,  and  exercised  an  independent  authority  in  this  respect 
beside  the  regular  jn'ocon-'ndes  (cf.  Moninisen  Provlnzen  p.  '256 ; 
Marquardt  Staatsveno,  I.*  p.  228  n.  1). 

liberarum  duitatmn :  a  general  term  including  the  two 
classes  of  ciuitates /oederafne  and  ciitilaffs  n'me  fooih-.re  immimeA 
tf  liherae.  Of  both  classes  the  essential  sovereignty  was 
theoreticall}'  recognized  bj'  Rome,  but  on  «lilVerent  principles. 
The  liberty  of  the  former  class  rested  on  a  treaty,  as  lictwecn 


^tt  G.  PUNI  EP18TVLAE  8ELBCTA&        6iL  1 

equate,  which  was  not  abrogated  by  Rome  nnlow  aa  tbe 
result  of  war :  that  of  the  latter  class  was  a  free  gfit  from  tbe 
victorious  nation,  under  a  constitution  impoaed  D»y  her,  aad 
existed  only  at  her  pleasure.  But  in  the  oase  of  eitlMr  oIms 
Rome  still  claimed  a  protectorate,  with  the  right  to  intorvwie 
in  case  of  disturbance  or  maladministratioo,  as  doabtiMi  in 
the  present  instance.  Athens  and  its  toritory  (inoliidiiig 
some  of  the  islands),  and  Sparta  with  its,  w«ra  riiwfalsi 
/oederatae ;  and  a  number  of  others,  like  Deldbi»  ThMpiae, 
Tanagra,  Patrae,  enjoyed  tlie  lesser  freedom.  GL  Maxqinrdt 
8UjuUm)erw,  i.*  pp.  71  ff.,  321  ff. ;  Mommaen  Ainirfmaw  mn 
237ff.  "^ 

nuudmo  homines :  on  the  oonstrttotioD  see  i.  2.  0  (8aL  S) 
n.  foTtasae, 

a  natma  datum:  the  philosophical  position  regardiqg 
the  right  to  liberty  had  undergone  a  change  since  the  timeol 
Aristotle,  who  treated  slavery  as  a  natund  oooditioii  {P6KL 
I.  2 ;  Eth.  iVic.  viii.  13).  The  Stoics  tought  a  better  dootrine 
(cf.  e,g.  Sen.  Ep.  47),  and  though  Gaius  still  held  appareotly 
the  older  theory  (i:  52  in  potestcUe  itaqtte  swU  semt  dommorum^ 
quae  quidem  ix)teitas  iuris  f/entium  eat),  the  later  jnriata 
considered  all  men  to  be  by  nature  free  and  oqnal;   oL 


id.  Dig.  l.  17.  32  quod  cUtinet  ad  itu  entire,  sertct  pro  tmBit 
habetUur;  non  tamefii  et  iure  naturali,  quiat  quid  ad  mm 
naturale  ojttinet,  omnea  homines  aequales  sunt.  Cf.  also  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  of  1776,  preamble. 

8.  conditores  deos:  other  Greek  cities  than  Athena  boasted 
divine  founders. 

nomina  deonun :  probably  with  reference  in  ^neral  to 
the  'divine  influences  which,  according  to  the  nchncsa  of 
tradition,  had  presided  over  the  destinies  of  Greece  in  the 
ancient  days.  If  the  true  reading  is  nomina  deoruni,  the 
reference  must  be  to  the  many  monuments,  including  even 
cities,  that  bore  the  names  of  the  gods,  and  recalled  the 
reverence  of  the  past. 

sacra :  the  adjective  that  came  to  be  applied  so  often  to 
urbs  Roma,  as  did  also  uenerahilis;  see  F.  G.  Moore  Vtha 
Aetema  aiid  Vrh»  Sa^ra  in  TraiiJ*.  Amer.  Phiiol.  Ans,  xxv. 
pp.  34  flF. 

sit  apud  te  honor  antiqnitati :  cf.  Byron  Childe  Harold 
II.  93  revert  ike  rminants  nations  once  revered. 


60.  9.  NOTES.  377 

4.  quae  nobis  miserit  iura :  according  to  tradition,  in 
453-452  B.C.,  when,  in  preparation  for  the  decern  viral  codifica- 
tion, a  commission  of  three  was  sent  to  Greece  to  study  its 
legal  codes  (Liu.  iii.  31). 

6.  an :  cf.  i.  10.  9  (Sel.  7)  n.  an. 
imperium :  the  sovereignty  of  the  state  as  vested  in  its 
highest  officials,  or  through  them  in  their  representatives. 
Maximus  held   the  imperttun  as  the  representative  of  the 
emperor ;  cf.  vi.  16.  4  (Sel.  45)  n.  imperto. 

fasces :  bundles  of  rods,  each  bundle  with  an  ornamental 
axe-blade  {securis)  projecting  from  it,  carried  by  lictors  before 
certain  Roman  magistrates  and  occasionally  (though  doubt- 
less always  without  tlie  axe)  before  other  privileged  citizens. 
The  axe-blade  was  removed  in  the  city  of  Rome,  and  the 
fascen,  according  to  proper  courtesy,  would  not  be  displayed 
in  an  allied  or  free  city.  Maximus  probably  had  the  right  to 
accompaniment  by  five  lictors  with  fasces ;  see  Mommsen 
Slaatsr.  i,3  p.  385. 

se  ipse  contenmit :  cf.  iv.  25.  4  neftiinem  iteretWy  se  con- 
temnit. 

longe  nalentior  amor,  etc. :  cf .  Pan,  49  quanto  nunc  ItUior, 
quanto  aecvriar  eadem  damus,  postquam  non  crudelitatia  sed 
amoria  excvMis  de/enditur !  and  the  discussion  in  Cic.  Off.  ii. 

timor  aUt,  etc.  :  cf.  Tac.  Agr.  32  metus  ac  terror  sunt 
infirma  uinda  caritatis ;  quae  vbi  renumeriSf  qui  timere 
desierint  odisse  incipient. 

si  recedas  :  an  example  of  the  use  of  the  indefinite  second 
person  singular  of  the  present  (and  sometimes  of  the  perfect) 
subjunctive  in  conditional  and  temporal  clauses  to  express  an 
oft-repeated  action,  or  one  occurring  at  no  definite  time.  Cf. 
the  imperfect  subjunctive  in  a  simuar  meanuig,  but  of  past  . 
time,  in  i.  16.  2  (Sel.  11)  n.  fjro/erret. 

ille  In  odium  nortitnr:  cf.  Enn.  ap.  Cic.  /.c,  qiieni 
nietuuntf  odenint. 

8.  certamen  est  tecum :  cf.  Cic.  /'am.  ii.  4.  2  (to  a  man 
from  whom  much  is  hoped)  ۥ</  enim  tihi  tp-auis  culiternfiria 
constitufa  H  fxirata,  incmli^nlis  qnaedam  ex^pectatio. 

onerat  te  fama :  cf.  Pan.  73  on^rajtti  /uturoa  principen ; 
Ou.  ffer.  16.  167  /ama  qnoqne  exf  ovcri ;  Cic.  Off.  ill.  6 
9U8cepisfi  onits  praete.rea  f/r<fwe  et  Afhc'ttntm  ef  Craiippi. 

9.  sorte :  the  governors  of  the  senatorial  provinces  were 
chosen  by  lot  from  the  qualified  senators  (cf.  ii.  12.  2, — Sol. 


«:>  C.  PLIXl  EPISTVLAK  SELBCl'AK.        61.  i     I 

l>.-n  1*  to^itiomt  r^Hiu^-iael  and  therefore  mlA%  havt 
Utilt  MUptai»o  to  the  poet.  Of  the  specially  qoilified 
p«v«rTKic»  «eai  exceptionally  to  senatorial  provinces  by 
BpsK>&s:awrit  o«  the  eini»eror  inecriptiona  aomettmee  itate 
twc;s.i::y  thu  they  were  not  appointed  by  lot;  ct  &«. 
r  :2fchp:!-xi  quoted  in  §2  n.  miiiwiw 


t:>«  :2fchp:!-xi  quoted  in  §2  n.  : 

il&oqai.  IK  ffrmtroL 

mvlio  dafdntias,  etc. :  cf.  Sail.  /«gr.  3|.  17  q^o  mam 
mt  ;-■-**  f  *f  ;*i^a  -jifHMtrt  qtam  omnino  sum  petnauUte, 
10   qnaaqaam  :  cf.  iii.  7.  12  (Set  25)  n.  qmanqwMm. 

BOB  «mor.  etc. :  cf.  vii.  28.  3  mihi  nuRqttam  pertnade- 
taaf  ■:  miot  Qtitan  a  «e  hijaiiur  putem. 


LIBER  IX. 

61.    (IX.6.) 

Tmk  inaaitT  of  circas-raoes.— On  Caloimna  see  intiod.  note  to 
n.  20  <$el  22L  —With  this  letter  mav  be  oomparad  that  of 
Cicero  to  M.  Marius  on  the  occasion  of  Pompey^  great  games 
at  the  opening  of  hUuew  theatre  in  55  B. a  {Fam,  vu.  1). 

1.  psgiBares :  see  1.  6. 1  (SeL  5)  n.  pwffSiartM. 
Incimdissiiiia  «inieta :  cf .  Sen.  Ep.  80.  1  hodiemo  die  mm 

tamtHm  n^o  l»:Heici^  mihi  noco,  9f.d  ^peetacvli,  quod  omntM 
mtoit^'.o*  (I'i  <pAaeroiHackiaH  auocttnii,  etc. 

droenaes  (sc.  Iwii,  as  regularly) :  chiefly  chariot-raoea,  the 
main  place  for  which  was  the  ereat  Circus  Maximns,  in  the 
x-alley  between  the  Palatine  and  Aventine  hills,  though  races 
were  run  also  in  other  places.  The  Romans  developed  the 
w  iMest  admiration  for  the  sport,  which  zeal  led  them  into  all 
sorts  of  foolidi  and  riotous  extravagances,  which  form  the 
theme  alike  of  the  satirist,  the  moralist,  and  the  historian. 
The  demand  of  the  conmion  i)eople  for  just  two  things,  panem 
e/cirr«H<?'s  is  proverbial.  For  details  see  notes  1)eIow,  and 
especiallv  art.  Cirni.*  in  Paulv-Wissowa  i?f a/- ^«ryc/o;».'  III. 
coll.  2o7*l  ff.  ;  Marquardt  Stafif<rerir*  III.  pp.  504  ff.  ;  Fried- 
lander  Sittenge^Kh,*  11.  pp.  322  ff. 

2.  tot  milla  nirorom :  the  Circus  Maximus  seems  to  have 
been  filled  without  ditficultj'  on  the  occasion  of  great 
races,  and  its  size  was  enormous.  Dionysius  says  it  held 
150,0vK)  spectators  (iii.  68) ;  Pliny  gives  the  number  (after 


81.  2.  NOTES.  379 

the  enlargement  by  Nero  referred  to  in  N.H,  viii.  21)  as 
250,000  {N.H.  xxxvi.  102);  the  ^oitYta  of  Constantine's 
time  raises  it  to  385,000  (in  some  mss.  to  4S5,0U0)  !  All 
these  numbers  are  probably  (from  various  causes)  too  sreat. 
In  the  time  of  Augustus  the  Circus  could  not  have  hela  over 
60,000  people,  and  the  successive  enlargements  up  to  Con- 
stantine's  time  could  not  have  raised  its  capacity  above 
180,000  or  190,000.  In  the  Sotitia  (and  perhaps  in  Pliny) 
the  higher  figures  are  due  to  a  confusion  of  the  total  linear  feet 
of  benches  with  the  actual  seating  capacity  (see  Huelsen  in 
Pauly-Wissowa  I.e.,  and  B\dl.  Com.  di  Roma  1894,  pp.  321  flf.). 

Insistentes  curribus  homines  :  the  ordinary  race  was 
between  four  chariots  at  a  time,  each  drawn  by  four  horses 
guided  by  a  single  driver  {ainiga  or  agitator).  Less  frequently 
two  horses  were  used,  and  exceptionally  other  numbers.  The 
driver's  tunic  and  cap  (and  also  the  chariot?),  were  of  the 
colour  of  his  /actio  (see  note  below  on  jHinno).  The  course 
was  one  of  seven  laps  around  the  long  backbone  {sfphw.)  that 
occupied  the  middle  line  of  the  arena,  and  tenninated  at 
either  end  in  triple  pillars  {m^tat). 

nunc,  the  fact  is. 

panno :  the  officials,  or  other  persons,  at  whose  expense 
the  races  were  held,  ordinarily  hired  the  necessary  outfit  from 
rival  companies  {/actiones)  organized  for  the  business.  Each 
company's  outfit  was  distinguished  by  its  own  colour.  Two 
such  companies,  the  Red  and  the  White  {/actio  ruaaaia,  alhaia) 
are  mentioned  in  the  late  days  of  the  republic.  In  the  early 
years  of  the  empire  two  others,  the  Green  and  the  Blue 
{/actio  prasinat  tteneta)  were  introduced,  and  attained  super- 
lative popularity,  so  that  after  some  time  the  earlier  two  were 
fflad  to  ally  themselves  with  their  rivals,  the  White  with  the 
Green,  the  Red  with  the  Blue.  The  people,  from  the  emperor 
down,  supported  with  wildest  delirium  one  or  the  other  of  these 
/actiones,  and  the  uncontrollable  excitement  at  a  great  race 
could  not  be  surpassed  liy  that  at  a  great  university  football 
game  of  the  present  da^'  in  the  Uniteil  States. 

si  ...  transferatur ...  trandbit :  the  construction  occurs  in 
all  perio<ls  of  the  literature,  the  chance  to  the  indicative  in 
the  apodosis  emphasising  the  especial  surety  of  the  conclu- 
sion. 

damitant  nomina:  cf.  especially  Dio  Cass,  lxxiii.  4. 
Favourite  jockeys  were  then  (as  sometimes  now)  the  recipi- 
ents of  much  social  attention  and  of  great  rewards.  The 
names  of  a  number  of  pf»pular  drivers  and  horses  have  come 
down  to  us,  —  including  that  of  the  horse  Incitatus,  whom 


Z,  3«J3C 


HniinftT  -nan  jx.  T-mtrm.  ~Oit  TKStas  aar  iatrodL  Bote  to 
-  f  >n:  "?  —TtM  TihnJifibm  re  -Jn»  kcttr  with  l  6  (ScL  5) 
»i  .~&=ui»t«i2f  %^  Vinbpf<¥  n  »x  KDfw  b^  Tanto*  to  Pliuy  ■ 
jfOff  1X116  ncusKMK.  ikpuBBi  lUi  comctSFe  are  the  fMta 
«iuj  -siK  vs.  MBicB  tap  jraas-  laAnduiw^toPliaT  ;  tliat 
nrvxHT*  fuar  ir  Bcno  i.-£X.  m  »  jcsav  iraa  sbt  otiier  penoo 
laiu  rTi:rT  iasiiiaie .  uai  Book  ix.  k  too  late  in  gawnd 
MZ't  ',<  ffriLTaa.  kb  KBWcr  %o  »  k«cr  is  Book  L  :  and  that 
xi»*  fcv'if  rf  'Li>f  >arr.  ai»^.  its  data,  are  dtstincthr  IMinian 
Yfi  :  :*e  rirrva^coAcoce  te  that  in  i  6l  3  of  the  rmrenee  tn 
JCiTHtnt  aai  Dsaaa  z  vvtber  ^|  K  az>d  to  that  in  I.  6l  2  of  the 
xvs&rk  laa:  the  «xx^U  fBrui^  an  especial  stimulus  to  poetical 
oxLipysLZior:,  \§  ^-  »  ^^^ery  «riking.  sna  can  be  expUined  only 
oy  f^TiprMsnz  ?hal  Tantos  had  forgotten  in  the  lapoe  dF 
years  thas  iht  aentiiiMfics  vere  onginallv  Pliny's  own,  aiid 
Kinv  perhaps  ha»!  for^^ten  also  his  much  earlier  publication 

of  1.'«. 


I.  HiBoraAacft  DUbm  eoBDWrirs  aon  ponit,  it  it  not  fwtdbit 
to  m^tJL  Diama  ta  Jimerva't  eompamjf. 


63.  2.  NOTES.  381 

2.  delicate,  lazUy. 

ut  in  secessu  et  aestate :  Pliny  was  evidently  at  his 
Umbrian  country-seat ;  cf.  ix.  :^6.  1,  6  (Sel.  70)  nn. 

in  uia,  while  on  the,  journey  hither. 

leuiora  :  the  eUler  Pliny  had  made  journeys  the  time  for 
most  serious  and  continuous  work  ;  cf.  iii.  5.  15  (Sel.  24). 

quae  tu,  etc.  :  cf.  the  words  of  Tacitus  in  Dial.  9  fin. 
cudice  quod  jjoetis,  si  modo  dignum  cdiquid  elahorare  et  efficere 
uelirU,  relinqiieiida  conuerscUio  amicorum  et  iucuiiditaa  urbin, 
deserenda  cetera  ojficia,  vfqiie  ipsi  dicunt,  in  nemora  et  hvcos,  id 
est  in  solitudinem  secedendum  est. 

3.  unam,  alteram,  one  or  ttoo  :  asyndetic  for  unam  aut  (or 
et)  alteram. 

63.    (DC.  11.) 

Pliny  is  read  even  in  France.— On  Geminus  see  introd.  note 
to  VII.  24  (Sel.  52).  Of  the  six  letters  addressed  to  Geminus 
(if,  indeed,  all  are  addressed  to  the  same  person)  this  is 
evidently  the  earliest  in  date,  though  others  are  placed  in 
the  seventh  and  eighth  books.'  The  indication  is,  then, 
either  that  this  Geminus  is  not  the  Geminus  of  the  other 
letters,  or  that  at  least  Books  vii.  -ix.  were  made  up  without 
detailed  attention  to  chronological  order,  and  were  published 
together  (see  Introd.  p.  xl. ). 

1.  aUquid  ad  te  scribi,  some  letter  to  he  addressed  to  you, 
libris  :  probably  the  books  of  Pliny's  own  correspondence 

which  might  l>e  published  later, — apparently  Books  vii.-ix. 
Geminus  wishes  the  compliment  of  having  his  name  appear 
as  a  correspondent  of  the  great  Pliny  in  the  books  which 
would  be  read  by  his  own  townspeople  of  Lyons.  Cf.  a 
somewhat  similar  desire  c»f  delegated  fame  in  Pliny's  letter  to 
Tacitus,  VII.  33.  1 ,  auguror,  nee  me  fnllit  auffiirium,  historian 
ttuis  immor tales  Jutitraa  ;  quo  vioi/is  illis  \ingeniie  /aiehor) 
inseri  cupiOt  etc. 

2.  liibliopolas  Lugduni  non  putabam  :  it  is  difficult  to  see 
why  I'liny  thought  so,  for  L^^ons  had  l>een  the  chief  city  of 
(jallia  Comata  ever  since  the  time  of  Augustus,  and  had  a 
large  population,  and  magnificent  public  buildings  and  other 
works  of  utility  and  luxury.  Cf.  also  i.  2.  6  (Sel.  2)  n. 
bibliopolae. 

satis  absolutum  (sc.  id  ex.se),  a  perfectly  finished  work :  cf. 
v.  3.  7  (>^el.  36)  ^afis  nln*otiUnm  ;  v.  10.  3  jterfectum  opvs 
ahsolutunupn'  f w,  mc  iam  Hfdetulfsdt  lima  ned  affcrifur :  vi  al. 


C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SSLECTAE.        64.  1. 


64.    (IX.  IS.) 

Pliny's  attack  upon  Publicins  Ccrtus. — On  C.  Vnimidins 
Qiuuh-atiis,  the  grandson  and  heir  of  Vminidtm  Quadratilla, 
see  VII.  '24  and  the  notes  thereupon. 

1.  UbroB :  OS  with  his  speech  of  thanks  to  Trajan  on  enter- 
ing upon  his  consulship  (the  so-called  Pane^'ric  ;  aee  iii.  18), 
and  doubtless  on  niany  other  occasions,  so  nere  Pliny  wrote 
out  with  amplifications  and  improvements  his  speech  afiainst 
Publicins  Ccrtus,  enlarging  it  to  fill  more  than  one  'book.' 
Pliny  mentions  the  work  in  iv.  21.  3,  and  in  vii.  dO.  4,  where 
ho  says  that  he  followed  as  a  model  Demosthenes  irarA 
MeiSlou. 

Heluidi  :  see  in.  11.  3  (SeL  26)  n.  Hehiidio. 

per  aetatem :  the  office  of  quaestor,  which  could  be  held 
at  the  age  of  25  years,  admitted  the  holder  to  membership  in 
tlie  senate.  The  affair  under  discussion  occurred  in  97  A.D. 
(see  §  5  n.).  The  age  of  Quadratus  is  unknown,  but  it  may 
be  reasonably  conjectured  from  vii.  24.  3  that  in  97  A.D.  he 
was  not  far  from  16  vears  of  age.  On  this  calculation  he 
would  have  been  consul  at  the  age  of  about  37>  the  earliest 
legal  age  for  that  office  being  33. 

a.  occlso :  on  Sept.  18,  96  a.d.  (cf.  Suet  Dom,  17). 

86  proferendi :  quite  as  in  the  Ciceronian  times,  when  a 
young  man  tried  to  get  a  start  in  public  life  by  prosecuting 
some  public  official ;  cf.  Cic.  Off.  n.  48  IF.,  where  the  possi- 
bilities and  proper  limitations  of  such  a  course  are  laid  down  ; 
and  VI.  29,  wlicre  Pliny  8])eaks  of  his  own  great  cases,  and  of 
his  principles  regarding  such  matters,  saying  especially  (§  3) 
aequum  ext  enim  or/ere  non  nunq^tam  f/loriae  et  jamat^  id  est 
muiin  caunam, 

multa  scelera  multomm :  cf.  with  the  phraseology  viii. 
8.  7  (Sel.  57)  n.  rmvlta  miUtoi-um, 

senatu  senator  senatori :  a  most  striking  ^  instance  of 
identical  assonance,  and  the  only  triple  example  in  Pliny ;  cf. 
vrnlla  mtUlorwn  above,  and  I^agergren  pp.  36,  37. 

manus  intidisset :  the  event  is  referred  to  in  Tac.  ^//r. 
45  vmr  noxtra"  dnxern  Ileluidium  in  cnrccrcm  mamm  (an<l 
see  VII.  19.  6, — Sel.  50, — n.  fx  iieceMHttcUey  etc.). 

fuerat  mihi  cum  Heluldio  amicitia :  cf.  iv.  21.  3  vam 
qxttran  [Ilrfuviiarnni]  (J^fnnctum  qiioqne  pcr.'<iHtrantisshn4f 
dUiijo,  nt  arfione  men  IV.rUque.  testatum  at. 

3.  Arria  et  Fannia  :  cf.  in.  11.3  (Sel.  26)  n. 


64.  5.  NOTES.  SS3 

exempli  ratio  :  one  of  the  three  recommendations  of  a 
case  to  Thrasea  Paetus  also ;  of.  vi.  29. 1  suscxpieiidcLs  esse  causas 
aut  amiconcm  aut  destitutas  aul  ad  exeniplum  ptrtineiites. 

4.  redditae  lilaertatis  :  i.e.  of  Nervals  reign  ;  cf.  Tac.  A<jr. 
3  primo  statim  heatinxinii  saeaUi  ortu  Nenia  Caesar  res  dim 
dissociabiles  miscueHt,  priucipaium  ac  libertatem  ;  C.I.L.  vi. 
472  (Dessau  274)  i^ibertati  •  ab  •  imp  •  nerva  •  CA[e«]AR[c]  . 

AVG  .  ANNO  .  AB  •  VRBE  •  CONDITA  -  DCCCXXXXIIX  •  XIIII  •  [k]  • 
0C[^]  ■  RESTITVTAE  •  S  •  P  •  Q  •  R. 

postulauerat,  had  prosecuted ;  cf.  Dio  Cass,  lxviii.  1.  2 
iroXXoi  5^  Kai  rCav  avKOipavTTjadPTUtv  Odparov  KaTediKaffOrjffaif  (cf. 
also  II.  11.  3,— Sel.  17, — n.  Fronto  Cactus). 

uxore  :  sc.  Pliny's  second  wife,  whose  name  is  unknown, 
though  Pliny  mentions  her  stepfather  (see  §  13).  Pompeia 
Celerina  (see  vi.  10.  1, — Sel.  44,— n.  socrus  meae)  may  have 
been  her  mother,  or  perhaps  instead  the  mother  of  Pliny's 
first  wife.  On  Pliny's  marriages  see  x.  2.  2  (Sel.  74)  n. 
duohus  matrimoniis. 

Anteiam :  mentioned  only  in  this  place.  She  had  con- 
tracted a  second  marriage  (see  §  16). 

6.  ab  exsUio  redierant :  Nerva  recalled  the  political  exiles 
of  Domitian's  reign  (cf.  Dio  Cass,  lxviii.  1.  2  6  N4povas  rot)f 
^6yoPTai  Kan/jyaye),  presumably  soon  after  his  own  accession ; 
but  Mauricus,  another  recalled  exile,  had  not  reached  Rome 
by  Jan.  1,  97  a  D.  (see  in  trod,  note  to  i.  5, — Sel.  4).  Some 
few  months  must  be  allowed,  furthermore,  for  the  events 
mentioned  in  §  4.  Pliny's  attack  upon  Publicius,  accord- 
ingly, was  later  than  Jan.  1, 97,  and  could  not,  moreover,  have 
fallen  even  within  the  first  consular  nwidinum  of  that  year ; 
for  Nerva  himself  and  Verginius  Rufus  were  consuls  then, 
and  Verginius  was  disabled  at  home  by  his  accident  (see  ii.  ] . 
5, — Sel.  15),  and  unable  to  preside  in  the  senate,  and  it  is 
evident  that  the  emperor  himself  was  not  presiding  (see  §  9). 
Nor  could  it  have  been  the  nnndinum  late  in  the  year,  when 
Tacitus  was  consul  (perha])s  with  Domitius  Apollinaris  as  his 
colleague  ;  see  §  13  and  ii.  J.  6, — Sel.  15, — n.  f'onie/io  7^acifo); 
for  some  reference  to  that  fact  would  be  likely  to  come  in, 
considering  the  intimate  relations  between  Pliny  and  Tacitus. 
Furthermore,  the  nundimnn  of  the  consuls  was  somewhat 
advanced,  so  that  Pliny  could  speak  of  the  established  custom 
of  their  administration  (see  §  9).  On  the  whole  the  date 
seems  to  have  fallen  within  the  second  nuvdimnn  of  the  year 
97  A.D.,  and  fairly  well  along  in  that  w?/wt/iMwwi,— perhaps  as 
late  as  the  mouth  of  Juno  or  July.  (Sec  also  §  10  n.  no(a- 
bii*>niy  etc.) 


9M  C.  PUKI  EPISTVLAE  SELEOTAB.        OA.  7. 

adicrlbi  tktio :  t.e.  to  unite  formalljr  in  brlnsliig  tht 
charge  agminst  Publiciii&  Thouffh  ordinarily  ezclodednon 
public  functions,  women  were  allowed  to  lodge  formal  aoen- 
•ations  iu  certain  matters  intimately  oonoeming  thennelra 
or  their  uear-of -kin ;  see  Mommsen  StrqfinecJU  p.  969. 

•odeUtem  InnldMiii :  see  l  10.  12  (SeL  7)  n.  bommm. 

6.  senatns  (sc.  enK),  a  westion  of  ike  mmate :  ef .  n.  11.  10 
(Sel.  17)  n.  senatitm. 

inXxx  diem  terttmn,  ike  next  day  but  one  ;  cf.  vi.  18.  90 
(Sel.  45)  n.  ttrtiu». 

Cordliom :  see  L  12.  1  (SeL  8)  n.  CordlimB  jRnfite. 

non  snstiniii,  etc.,  /  could  not  bring  myteifto  r^framjrom 
tdling  him  on  Ike  day  of  ike  event  thai  Ipurpomd  doma  ike 
Iking  I  did  not  take  advice  upon^  kaving  aaeerieUned  h]f 
experience  that  it  is  weU  not  to  constdt  on  a  predetermmed 
matter  those  whose  advice^  if  it  be  re^ueeted^  you  are  bommd  to 
folioiv.  With  the  phrase  non  mutinui  followed  by  a  present 
infinitive  cf.  §  16  non  nutinere  deserere.. 

7.  ins  dioendi  peto:  the  senate  was  still  theoretically  a 
purely  consultative  body,  and  no  senator  had  a  rjght  to  speak 
unless  at  the  request  of  the  presiding  offioer.  Tne  oommoa 
procedure  was  for  the  presidmg  magistrate  to  lay  any  sabjaet 
at  his  discretion  before  the  senate  in  a  statement  of  his  own 
{referre  ad  Mna/uni),  and  then  to  call  upon  the  senators  in 
formal  order  to  express  their  opinions  upon  it  (eenserSy 
eententiam  dicere),  precisely  as  in  the  republican  period.  But, 
now  as  then,  an  individual  senator  might  be  called  npon,  or 
permitted,  to  make  a  preliminary  statement  (uerbafaeere)  in 
place  of  the  president  for  the  information  of  the  senate.  This 
privilege  Pliny  asked  of  the  consul  in  order  te  '  bring  in  a 
private  bill.'  Cf.  Mommsen  StaatsrecJU  in.  pp.  948  n.  4; 
057  ff. 

extra  ordinem :  i.e,  by  special  privilege,  out  of  the  regular 
order  in  which  Pliny  would  normally  be  asked  his  opinion  by 
the  presiding  consul :  cf.  §  9  n.  setUeiUiae  loco.  The  phrase 
implies  some  jealousy  of  the  special  favour  shown  Plmy  by 
the  consul,  rather  than  a  challenge  of  his  parliamentary 
action. 

ante  relationem  reus :  the  speaker  implies  that  Pliny  is 
going  beyond  his  parliamentary  riglite,  and  instead  of 
confining  himself  to  a  brief  statement  of  facts  on  which  the 
senate  was  to  be  consulted,  is  proceeding  with  a  formal 
arraignment ;  whereas  the  puUitive  oifcnder  is  so  far  from 
actually  l>cing  on  trial  that  the  consul  has  not  yet  even  asked 


64.  9.  NOTES.  385 

the   senate    formally    to    advise    him    on    the    question   of 
indictment. 

qui  supersumus  :  there  was  un«loubtedly  a  strong  popular 
feeling  in  favour  of  forgetting  the  past,  and  to  this  Nerva 
yielded  :  cf.  §  22  n.  relatioTiem  .  .  .  non  remisU. 

0.  consul :  the  presiding  consul  certainly  was  not  Tacitus 
(cf.  §  5  n.  a6  exnlio  redieranty  for  Pliny  would  have  made 
some  mention  of  that  fact,  and  probably  would  not  have  been 
checked  by  him.  The  consuls  of  the  second  nundimim  of  97 
are  unknown  (see  §  5  n. ). 

Secunde :  see  i.  5.  5  (Sel.  4)  n.  Secvvde.  The  form  of 
address  is  more  familiar  than  in  Cicero's  time,  when  the 
presiding  consul's  address  (at  least  in  formally  calling  upon  a 
senator  to  speak)  was  with  praenomen  and  vonieVy  *  Die,  M. 
TuUi  [quid  ceTweox]*;  cf.  Cic  Alt.  vii.  1.  4;  3.  5;  7.  7; 
IX.  5.  2.     The  initial  position  of  the  vocative  is  noteworthy. 

sententiae  loco  *.  i.e.  when  called  upon  in  regular  order. 
The  consul  apparently  yields  to  the  objections  raised  against 
allowing  Pliny  any  especial  privilege  for  a  motion  of  the  sort 
for  which  he  was  evidently  preparing  the  way,  and  gently  re- 
calls his  granted  permission.  Apparently  in  such  a  speech 
txtra  ordinem  the  speaker  was  under  the  control  of  the 
presiding  officer.  But  when  asked  his  opinion  {«ententiam 
rogcUus;  cf.  in.  7.  12, — Sel.  26,— n.  sevtentiam  rogauisset)  in 
the  due  coarse  of  procedure,  the  speaker  in  the  republican 
senate  miffht  discuss  any  matter  he  chose,  whetner  im- 
mediately l>efore  the  house  or  not,  and  'apparently  had  a 
constitutional  right  to  hold  the  floor  as  long  as  nc  chose 
to  speak,  up  to  the  legal  end  of  the  sitting :  see  Gell. 
rv.  10.  8  (quoting  the  jurist  Ateius  Capito)  erat  enim  ins 
senatori  ut  aentenltam  rogcUus  diceret  ante  quicquid  uellet  edicw 
ret  et  quoad  uellet ;  Mommsen  Staat/trecht  in.  p.  939  f.  This 
extraordinary  freedom  was  limite<l  somewhat  during  the 
empire  (cf.  U,  cc.  ;  Tac.  Ann.  n.  33),  but  perhaps  in  the 
senatorial  freedom  of  Trajan's  liberal  reign,  the  old  privilege 
was,  tacitly  if  not  formally,  revived  :  cf.  further  vi.  19.  3 
s^ntenliae  loco  postulauit  ul  consitles  demhrivm  vniuersontm 
notum  principi  facerent;  where,  however,  as  here,  the  business 
proposed  by  the  consul  may  have  been  the  jicneral  df  re 
piibiica,  under  which  there  was  never  any  limitation  of 
theme. 

dices:  the  'future  of  encouragement,'  passing  into  a 
gentle  imperative. 

permiseras,  etc.  :  i  r  in  allowing  nic  to  bring  the  matter 
up  at  this  point  in  the  proceedings  yuii  h^ul  «xrantcd  me  only 

2  b 


386  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE         M;  «L 

the  same  privilege  that  you  have   always  granted  othoi. 
Hence  in  recalling  the  permission  yon    are  dlsoriminstiBg 

against  me. 

10.  curato,  urgent :  cf.  Tac.  Ann.  i.    13  donee  Haterm 
Awfustam  oraret  eUtsqiie  ntrntUsimis  preeibus  protegerOur, 

notabilem  ftitnris  prindpibus :  who  might  be  rather  like 
Doinitian  than  like  Nerva,  and  view  with  suspicion  a  man  of 
nvnk  who  bad  expressed  himself  publicly  with  so  mneh 
freedom  alioiit  the  tyranny  of  I>omitian*8  reign  and  the  taqii- 
tude  of  his  tools.  There  was  great  doubt  and  anxiety  abont 
Nerva'»  choice  of  an  heir,  and  the  adoption  of  the  high' 
minded  Trajan  was  evidently  not  yet  determined  upon,  or  at 
least  not  yet  announced.  It  was  consummated  on  Oct.  27, 
97  A.D.  (Aur.  Vict.  EpU.  12.  9) ;  see  De  la  Ber^  Trqfan 
p.  20.— With  the  ellipsis  oi  fnturum  ease  cf.  that  of  JuJwntm 
with  6)*e?a  consvlem  m  §  11,  and  in.  1.  5  (Sel.  23)  n.  liher, 
wrmo. 

dum  :  in  the  sense  of  dum  modo,  with  ellipsis  of  the  yerb 
(subjunctive),  an  ellipsis  not  infrequent  in  I^iny  ;  cf.  note 
cited  immediately  above. 

11.  ronns  alter :  on  the  parataxis  in  place  of  a  etuit-olaiiM 
see  VI.  20.  14  (Sel.  46)  n.  uix  eonnderamua  et. 

praefectnm  aerarli  (sc.  Satumi):  the  administration  of 
the  public  treasury  was  entrusted  in  republican  times  to  the 
two  city  quaestors.  Augustus  put  it  into  the  hands  of  two 
former  praetors  with  the  title  of  praefecti  aerarii  ScUttmi^ 
later  calling  them  praetores  aerarii.  Claudius  reverted  to  an 
older  order  in  making  two  quaestores  a.erarii,  but  Nero 
restored  the  praetorian  praefecti  aerarii  Saiumi^  and  this 
title  continued,  except  for  a  short  time  under  Vespasian, 
when  praetors  were  put  in  charge  (Tac.  HisL  rv.  9).  (To  be 
distinguished  from  the  a^rarium  Saiumi^ — so-called  from  its 
early  office,  the  temple  of  Saturn  in  the  Forum, — are  Uie 
aerarium  miliiare^  a  fund  for  military  pensions,  condncted 
since  the  veign  of  Augustus  by  three  praefecti  of  praetorian 
rank,  and  thejtscun  Ca^eaarin^  the  largest  fund  of  all,  from  Mrhich 
the  8«p|K>rt  of  army  and  navy,  war  expenses,  the  construction 
of  public  buildings,  the  supply  of  grain  for  the  city,  and 
various*  other  expenses  were  met.  The  ^fisais  was  the 
emperor's  personal  affair,  and  was  put  into  charge  at  first  of 
a  freedman  of  the  emperor,— called  a  rafiovihiiA^  proairtUor  a 
rnfioJiihw<<,  or  the  like, — and  from  Hadrian's  time  of  an  eqnejt 
of  experience  in  other  procuracies.  See  Manpiardt  StaaUvene, 
ii.«  pp.  302  ff. 


64.  13.  NOTES.  387 

breui  consulem  :  the  consulship  was  the  next  step  in  the 
regular  senatorial  cursus  honorum  beyond  the  praetorship, 
between  which  and  it  a  period  of  at  least  two  years  must 
elapse,  which  might  be  filled  in  with  extra-cursal  functions, 
like  this  of  the  praefecture  of  the  treasury,  as  was  the  case 
with  Cornutus  Tertullus  and  Pliny,  who  passed  from  the 
praefecture  of  the  treasury  to  the  consulship. — The  ellipsis  of 
/tUurum  is  striking,  but  note  the  ellipsis  of  fiUumm  CMse 
in  §  10. 

quendam:  the  provincial  governor  referred  to  is  un- 
known. 

magnis  dubiisque  romoxilms,  busy  and  disquieting  reports: 
sc,  that  on  Nerva's  death  (or  even  before)  he  might,  like 
Vespasian,  aspire  to  the  throne  by  the  help  of  his  army. 

12.  'omnia  praecepi,'  etc.:    the  reply  of  Aeneas  to  the 
warning  of  the  Sibyl  in  Verg.  Atn.  vi.  105. 

dam  uldscor :  the  indicative  with  dum  is  noticeable. 
The  general  meaning  of  dum  ( *  while ')  shades  off  here  into 
the  meaning  of  dvm  modo  (*  provided  *),  while  in  i.  5.  15  (Sel. 
4)  dum  .  .  .  uenit  (on  which  see  note)  it  shades  into  the  mean- 
ing '  until ' ;  but  grammatically  the  two  instances  belong  in 
the  same  class. 

18.  oensendi  teminu :   cf.  §§  7  n.  ius  dicendi  peto,  9  n. 
sententicLe  loco, 

DomltiiiB  Apolllxiaris :  to  him  Pliny  addresses  v.  6,  the 
long  description  of  his  Umbrian  villa,  and  (probably)  it.  9, 
on  the  candidacy  of  Sex.  Erucius.  An  inscription  {C,  /.  Gr. 
4236)  mentions  him  as  legate  of  Lycia,  but  he  is  otherwise 
Unknown. 

consul  designatos :  the  nsual  custom  was  to  call  npon 
consuls-elect  to  speak  first,  then  npon  former  consuls,  and  so 
on  down  the  list  of  cumle  officers-designate,  or  former  officers 
(see  Mommsen  Staatsrecht  iii.  pp.  972  ff.)     Domitius  was 

Esrhaps  the  colleague  of  Tacitus  in  a  later  nundinum  of  97. 
e  was  consul  sujfectus^  Xerva  and  Verginius  Rufus  being  the 
consults  ordinarii  of  the  year,  and  if  no  other  chronological 
indications  were  accessible  (but  see  §5  n.  a6  exsilio  redierant)^ 
this  title  would  show  that  the  occasion  was  later  in  the 
year  than  the  earlj»  part  of  January,  when  consults  i*vffecti 
for  tlie  year  were  named  (see  ii.  11.  19, — Sel.  17, — n.  cmistd 
designcUus), 

Fabricius  Veiento  :  see  iv.  22.  4  (Sel.  35)  n.  Veiento, 
Fabios  Maziminus :  otherwise  unknown ;  but  the  order 
in  which  his  name  comes  here  (between  a  con*utaris  aiuX  a 


3R8  C  PLIKI  EPISTVLAE  SELBCTAS.      fL  tL 

pratfonKM)  voold  indieate  thst  he  was  at 
prater  demffmaiwt,  and  naj  hmve  been  con.. 

▼•tttni  FrocalB» :  cowm/  st^fietmM  in  tlie 
the  nett  rear  (|  23  ;  Grater  1071.  4),  and  p 
at  aome  date  between  103  and  117  {cL  lion 
in  KciriPl.  Ep.). 

eollefa  :  ai  praefeetn»  aerurii  Saimrmi,  an  oflliee  held  If 
pmetorii  (cf.  $  11  u.)- 

ultrlou:  perhaps  ai  the  hnsband  of  Pompein  Cefariaa; 
•eef4r   


Ammiaa  Flaecni :  since  he  wss  called  npon  before  PK^, 
who  was  at  this  time  pra/dorimM^  and  after  another  jgvve- 
/onK«,  he  must  have  beoi  himself  of  that  grade,  but  n  not 
nieDtiooed  elsewhere. 


In  medio  rdiefeam:   like  a  challengerls  g^oro,  t 

down  for  any  one  who  will  to  pick  np.    The  figmv  fa  an  eld 
and  oommoo  one  in  Latin,   and  its  derivation  dilBcalt  to 

determine,  though  easy  to  gness  ahont. 

16.  [T.]  AnidiiuQiiietiis:  an  intimate  friend  of  Pliny,  of 
Thrasea  PiAetos  (cf.  vi.  29.  1),  and  of  Platarch,  who  ^Mifated 
to  him  two  of  his  Moratia.  In  82  a.d.  he  waa  legate  of 
Thrace,  and  also  under  Domitian  prooonsnl  of  some  ondetar- 
mined  prorinoe.  The  year  of  his  consolahip  is  nnknown.  In 
96  he  was  governor  of  Britain  {C\LL.  in.  SuppL  p.  1968), 
and  was  dead  before  Pliny  wrote  VL  29  (perhaps  in  106  or 

107  A.D.). 

Conmtas  Ttatnllas :  see  n.  11.  19  (Sel.  17)  n.  ComMiuM 
TertfUliu,  Thoagh  later  Pliny's  colleagne,  he  was  his  aenior 
as  praetoriut,  and  so  was  called  upon  before  him  in  the 
ate. 


nee  interesse,  etc ;  this  was  said  apparently  in  answer  to 
the  plea  that  enoagh  senators  had  soffered  already  (f  7). 

16.  a  oonsolilras  tatorem  :  cf.  Inst.  /nsL  i.  20  n  cui  tnUhu 
omnino  tutor /aereU,  ei  dahatur  in  urbe  qttuUm  Roma  a  jtrae- 
tore  urbano  et  mahrt  parte  tribnnomm  plebis  tutor  tx  ieffe 
Atilia,  in  proMinriiH  ti^ro  a  prae^ndibw  prouinciamm  ex  lege 
luliaet  Titia  [cf.  Gaiua  Inst,  i,  185.  200;  Ulp.  xi.  18]  .  .  . 
ned  ex  his  legihus  pupUlis  tutore.^  desierunt  dari^  }H>sfeaqnatn 
;>rtmo  conges  pupillis  utriusque  sexus  tutores  ex  rnqfiitniione 
dare  coeperunt^  deinde  praetores  ex  constit^UioniXms,  1*he 
former  change  {primo,  etc.)  in  the  method  of  the  appoint- 
mciit  seems  to  have  been  made  by  Claudius,  the  latter 
{deimie^  etc.),  by  Marcus  Aurelius  ;  cf.  Suet.  Claud.  23  t<UMxii 
Ht  pupitfis  extra  online m  tutoret^  a  nniHulibus  darentur ;  Capit. 


64.  19.  NOTES.  389 

Marc.  10.  11  jtmetorem  tutelarem  pHmxis  fecit,  cum  an  tea 
tutor e.8  a  consultbus  jwscerentur. 

Heluidi  filiae  :  Heluidius  left  a  son  and  two  daughters, 
whether  all  by  An  tela,  or  some  by  an  earlier  marriage,  is  un- 
certain (see  III.  11.  3,-  Sel.  26, — n.  Heluidio).  At  all  events 
it  looks  as  though  perhaps  only  one  of  the  daughters  was  in 
her  minority  at  the  time  of  the  appointment  of  Comutus  as 
guardian,  which  was  probably  some  considerable  time  after 
the  death  of  Heluidius,  as  it  followed  upon  the  marriage  of 
his  widow.  The  death,  or  resignation,  of  an  earlier  guardian 
may  have  been  the  reason  for  the  appointment  of  Comutus. 

nitrico  :  his  name  is  unknown. 

non  sustinere  deserere  :  with  the  phrase  cf.  §  6  non 
bustinui  inducere. 

modum  Imponere,  putting  r&itraint  upon :  sc.  instead  of 
indulging  it  to  the  full. 

optimarum,  etc.,  to  report  the  moat  temperate  sentiments  of 
these  excellent  ladies. 

adulationis,  obsequiousness :  «^.  toward  Domitian,  in  pro- 
secuting Heluidius  to  the  death  at  his  desire. 

nota  quaai  censorla  :  the  republican  censors  revised  quin- 
quennially  the  list  of  the  senate,  affixing  a  mark  {nota)  to  the 
name  of  any  member  whom  they  chose  to  remove  from  that 
body.  Such  procedure  was  no  longer  in  vogue,  but  the 
emperor  revised  the  list  annually,  excluding  from  it  senators 
who  had  fallen  below  the  legal  property -qualification,  or  had 
been  convicted  of  certain  serious  crimes.  And  from  Domi- 
tian's  time  the  emperor  went  further,  and  exercised  the  right 
at  his  discretion  of  summary  removal  from  membership  in 
the  senate.  If  the  senate,  therefore,  expressed  in  any  way 
its  condemnation  of  Publicius  Certus,  the  emperor  might  at 
least  degrade  him,  and  thus  the  same  effect  be  gained  as  that 
of  the  republican  nota  censoria. 

17.  Satrius  Rufas:  mentioned  elsewhere  only  in  i.  5.  11 
(Sel.  4).     He  was  evidently  jn-aeioriuH  at  this  time. 

medio  amblgnioque  sermone,  in  balanced,  non-committal 
terms  :  i.e.  his  speech  seemed  to  favour  Certus,  and  yet  he 
did  not  oppose  his  indictment. 

18.  clamoriboB :  «c.  of  applause ;  cf.  ii.  14.  6  (Sel.  20) 
clamores,  and  12  clamorihus. 

19.  indpit  respondere  Veiento :  sc.  breaking  in  upon  the 
regular  perroffotio  senf^ntiarum,  and  speaking  for  a  second 
time  upon  the  question.  This  might  be  allowed  by  the  pre- 
siding consul  on  request ;  cf.  Schul.  i>obb.  on  Cic  Orat,  de 


390  C.  PUN  I  EPISTVLAE  8ELKCTAE.       M.  ML 

acre  aHemo  MilcmUi^  342  Orelli  ieriia  Jkaee  eU  oUerrogmmA 
*peci€»y  ut  Sinnio  Capitam  uidHur^  pertimewt  acf  t^himm  M 
cammUudutem  lenaioriam.  quando  etum  aiiquU  ^^'rnfinm  fa» 
no  iam  dixenU,  tt  alhu  pottta  inUrrogatu*  guaedaum  mdUbaimr 
it*i  loaUiu  ut  rtfiaari  ffovm  iwUi*nme  ukUretUur^  ptffir^tiN^ 
iiie  qui  iam  «enteHtiam  dixerai  ut  sUn  licerti  inierrogare^  koeeM^ 
ilinm  rtdargmtrt  cuiwt  mMiaUia  m  mmliU  quasi  mtndar  M 
calumniota  rtdargui  po*Kt. 

•BTlllnin  tcilNiiiomiii :  cL  L  23.   1  (Set   14)  n.  ^«^— fm 
wmbram. 

vSx  rlarJMlTiie ;    the  formal  title  of  a  seiuitor,  mm  'the 
honourable  member '  of  a  member  of  the  House  of  CommoiML 
90.  inter  moras,  mtanwkiU :  as  in  Snet.  Ntr,  49  ^fr^m 
JUri  imperauit  .  .  .  hUermonu  codteSlo»  legit, 

cttatis  nominilms :  sc.  of  the  rest  of  thesenators  entitled 
to  speak.  The  senate  so  clearly  showed  that  it  was  unwilling 
to  listen  to  Veiento  again  that  the  oonsol,  even  in  the  midst 
of  the  tumult,  proceeded  with  and  concludeid  the  regular  ^leryo- 
goiio  BenteHttamm,  put  the  proposition  of  Pliny  to  vote  by  a 
diTision  of  the  house,  and  adjourned  the  session.  It  is  evident 
that  the  citation  of  the  senators  who  came  later  on  the  list 
must  have  been  a  pure  formality,  as  they  could  not  have  been 
heard  in  the  uproar,  or  must  at  best  have  contented  them- 
selves, as  commonly,  with  expressing  a  mere  assent  to  the 
opinion  of  one  of  Uie  former  speakers.  The  motion^  whi<di 
looked  toward  a  formal  arraigpiment  of  Certus,  evidently 
carried  by  a  large  majority,  but,  according  to  precedent,  had 
yet  to  be  referr^  to  the  emperor  for  his  approval :  cf.  §  22  n. 

peracta  dlsceselone  :  see  il  11.  22  (SeL  17)  n.  di&xaaio. 

Homerico  nersu :  II.  vrn.  102,  the  words  of  Diomed, 
urging  Nestor  to  mount  the  chariot  with  him. 

21.  complecteretur,  exoseularetur :  the  effusiveness  of  salu- 
tations  among  even  the  men  of  the  races  of  southern  Europe, 
in  ancieut  as  in  modem  days,  is  well  known:  cf.  v.  17.  4 
recUcUione  finita  multum  ac  diu  exosculaius  cuitUescentemt 
laudibua  incitaui, 

quod  intermissum  ...  reduzissem, ./or  having  rwcued/rom 
long  abeyanre  at  the  risk  of  prii^atf  animosities  the  custom^  q/ 
o/>e?A  discussion;  for  under  Domitian  the  senate  had  hut 
reflected  and  registered  the  dictatorial  will  of  the  emperor. 

22.  relationem  de  eo  Caesar  ad  senatnm  non  remisit :  the 
emperor  had  the  right,  according  to  the  lex  de  imperio  I'e- 
spoMani  (C.I.L,  vi.  930),  senatum  habere^  relationem /arei'e^ 
remittere  ;  i.e.  to  call  meetings  of  the  senate,  and  to  introduce 


64.  '23.  NOTES.  391 

bills  either  of  his  own  motion  (relattoneni /acere)  or  in  response 
to  representations  addressed  to  him  by  the  senate  through  the 
consuls  {relattoneni  remiltere).  It  appears  that  not  all  bills 
proposed  by  private  members,  or  by  the  consuls,  were  sub- 
mitted thus  in  advance  to  the  emperor  for  his  approval,  but 
only  exceptionally  important  bills,  especially  such  as  involved 
>\  eighty  precedents  or  (as  here  and  in  rv.  9.  1  ;  Tac.  Ann.  in. 
10;  Suet.  7  »6.  61)  the  cttptt^  of  a  senator.  The  right  to  claim, 
or  at  least  the  custom  of  exercising,  such  control  over  legisla- 
tion doubtless  rested  bfiwik  upon  the  emperor's  right,  by  virtue 
of  his  tribunician  power,  to  veto  any  action  of  the  senate 
(of.  Mommsen  Stcuatsrtcht  ii.'  p.  900). — On  Nerva's  reluctance 
to  allow  further  prosecution  of  the  informers  of  Domitian's 
reign  see  iv.  22.  6  (Sel.  35)  u.  nobiscum  cenaret. 

23.  coUega  Certi  consulatnm,  successorem  Certus  acoepit : 
see  §§  13  nn.  Vettuis  Proculus  coUetja  ;  11  nn.  prae/ectum 
aerariif  hreui  consulem.  It  does  not  to  be  sure  follow  neces- 
sarily that  Certus  was  immediately  removed  from  the 
prefecture  of  the  treasury,  and  must  be  conceded  to  be 
possible  that  both  Certus  and  Proculus  were  continued  in 
office  till,  or  into,  the  next  year  (98  a.u.),  when  the  emperor's 
judgment  was  made  sufficiently  clear  by  the  nomination 
(eany  in  January)  of  Proculus  to  a  sunect-consulship,  as 
might  be  expected  in  the  regular  order,  while  Certus  received 
simply  a  successor,  being  quietly  but  decisively  dropped  out 
of  the  line  of  furtlier  promotion.  But  this  would  make  Pliny 
himself,  with  Comutus  Tertullus,  the  immediate  successor  of 
Certus  (and  Proculus),  under  the  common  understanding  of 
the  case  (so  especially  Mommsen).  Yet  it  is  most  surprising 
that,  if  this  were  so,  Pliny  should  lose  the  chance  to  call 
attention  to  that  dramatic  fact.  On  the  whole,  a  more 
reasonable  supposition  is  that  the  term  of  (^ertus  came  to  a 
speedy  end  aft-er  this  discussion  in  the  senate,  and  another 
man  was  appointed  prefect  in  his  place,  Proculus  and  this 
new  colleague  continuing  in  office  till  into  the  next  year 
(98),  when,  perhaps  in  August  or  October,  they  were  succeeded 
in  the  prefecture  by  Cornutus  and  Pliny :  see  x.  3,  8  nn. 
(Sel.  75,  77) ;  and  the  present  editor's  article  on  the  date  of 
Pliny's  praefecture  of  the  treasury  of  Saturn  in  Amer.  Jour, 
of  PhUologyt  vol.  xxiii..  No.  4. 

successorem  accepit :  a  common  phrase  to  signify  removal 
from  office  before  the  expiration  of  the  normal  term  ;  of.  Suet. 
Aufj.  88  legato  eum  coufulari  ttuccetMorem  dedifMe  vf  rudi  et 
imlocio ;  Spart.  Hadr,  9.  4  cui  cum  miccesHorem  dare  von 
jtoHset^  quia  von  peteJxit,  id  erjit  ut  peteret  ;  11.  2  Stpticio 
Claro  .  .  .  et  Suetonio  TranquUlo  .  .  .  HUCctxnortH  dtdit ;  24  7 


392  O.  PLINI  KP1.STVL.AK  8KLKCTAK      6iL  81    1 

qua  I't  iir^iUta  ntccewotf.  acctpto  diffuUaie  priuatuM  ut ;  Siut 
iHmi.  1  '  mi'rari  k*  I'tMocuicuio  tiictitante  'quod  tmceetaonm 
nou  tt  Hibi  mittertl  * :  et  al. 

praemlnm :  ac.  tlie  prefecture  of  the  tivamuy,  not  nn^^ 
the  hope  of  future  advancement. 

Optimo  prlndpe :  «r.  Nerva  ;  of  Trajan  the  epithet  is  and 
as  a  formal  title ;  cf.  iv.  22.  1  (SeL  36)  n.  prineipia  cptmL 

utcumque :  cf.  i.  12.  2  (Sel.  8)  n.  tUeHmque, 
26.  oculis  oberrasse ;  see  vii.  27.  6  (SeL  54)  n.  inemAat. 

ausim  :  an  antique  optative  aorist  (ooaneoted  with  a«c/eo, 
—or  au€o)  used  in  lAtin  from  the  time  of  Plaatoe  downward, 
chiefly  in  such  expressions  as  this  of  fomoally  hentating 
ailirniation  ;  cf.  iv.  4.  3  ausim  anUendere ;  Liu.  m.  2S  fin. 
a<ifirmare  .  .  .  noii  ausim  ;  Tac  Agr,  43  €uffirmare  ausim. 

65.     (IX.  19.) 

Was  tlie  modesty  of  Verginius  or  of  Frontinua  more  truly 
unaffected  ? — Huso  is  apparently  the  Creniutius  Ruao  whom, 
as  a  much  younger  man  than  himself,  Pliny  (vi.  23)  asks  to 
have  selected  as  junior  counsel  in  a  case  with  hinaeelf,  bat  he 
is  otherwise  unknown. 

1.  epistula  :  8c.  VI.  10  (Sel.  '44),  which  Ruso  had  doabtlflM 
read  in  the  published  collection  ;  cf.  Intr.  p.  zl. 

Verginiun  Baftmi :  see  n.  i  nn.  (Sel.  15). 

melius  rectinsque  (sc.  feciase) :  cf.  x.  2.  3  (SeL  74)  n.  di 
mditut. 

Frontinum:   Sex.  lulius  Frontinus,  an  intimate  friend 
and  counsellor  (v.  I.  5)  of  Pliny,  who  succeeded  him  in  the 
college  of  augurs  (iv.  8.  3),  was  one  of  the  most  prominent 
and  able  men  of  his  day.     He  was  praetor  in  70  a.d.  (Taa 
Hist.  IV.  H9),  then  consul,  governor  of  Britain  in  76-78  (Tac. 
Agr.  17),  cointid  suffectus  again  in  97  under  Nerva  {Pan.  61), 
as  w  ell  as  curator  aquarum^  and  corunil  onlinarius  with  Trajan 
in  100  {Pan.  61).     He  was  the  author  of  a  work  on  military 
science  and  of  one  on  the  a(iueducts  of  Rome  (invaluable  to 
us),  which  still  survive,  and  of  a  treatise  on  field-surveying, 
which  exists  only  in  fragments.    In  order  to  hold  the  praetor- 
ship  in  70  A.  I),  he  must  have  been  born  as  early  as  40,  and  his 
death  occurred  doubtless  not  long  before  i\'.  8  u-as  written, 
and  therefore  perhaps  in  10.3  or  104  (cf.  Intr.  p.  xl.). 

2.  utrumque  dilezi :  on  his  regard  for  Verginius  see  ii.  ] 
(Sel.  lo) :  of  Frontinus  he  says,  in  iv.  8.  3,  that  on  the  annual 
days  of  nomination  Frontinus  always  named  him  for  a  priest- 


65.  7.  NOTES.  393 

hood,  as  if  choosing  him  for  liis  own  successor ;  and  in  v.  1. 
5  ho  calls  Frontinus  and  Corellius  duos  quos  tunc  ciuitas  iwstra 
spectatissimoa  habuit. 

3.  supremls  titolis  :  i.e.  their  epitaphs,  which  according  to 
Roman  custom  might  be  long  and  laudatory. 

5.  Cluuiuxn:  M.  Cluuius  Rufus,  who  was  consul  under 
Caligula,  and  governor  of  Spain  under  Nero,  composed  a 
history  of  his  own  times,  which  is  not  extant,  but  is  thought 
to  have  served  as  the  chief  authority  of  Tacitus  in  the  first 
two  lK>oks  of  his  Histories,  of  Plutarch  in  his  Lives  of  Galba 
and  Otho,  and  of  Suetonius  in  his  Galba,  Otho,  and  Vitellius. 
His  remark  to  Verginius  might  indicate  that  he  was  inclined 
to  judge  the  action  of  the  hero  in  *  declining'  the  crown  to  be 
due  to  prudence,  or  to  circumstances,  rather  than  to  principle. 
And  the  answer  of  Verginius  could  not  have  been  more  neatly 
phrased  if  he  knew  this  to  be  the  opinion  of  Cluuius. 

ut  esset  lil)erain,  etc.  :  for  under  a  military  monarchy 
freedom  of  speech  could  not  be  guaranteed, — and  indeed,  it 
was  unsafe  under  even  so  goodhearted  a  man  as  Vespasian. 
Verginius  apparently  means  that  his  purpose  was  to  leave  the 
way  open  for  the  restoration  of  the  rjepublic,  for  which  the 
ideallBts  had  not  ceased  to  hope. 

nobis,  you  historians :  not  the  plural  for  the  singular. 

6.  age  dam :  with  this  colloquial  expression  cf.  viii.  6.  13 
mane  dum,  and  the  comedians  and  other  writers  passim. 

pardor  et  presslor,  more  modest  and  reserved :  cf.  vii. 
12.  4  pressius  quiddam  et  exi/ius  uel  potius  humilius  et  peitut 
(as  distinguished  from  tumidius). 

uetuit  ezstrui  xnoxiimentum :  with  the  carelessness  of 
Frontinus  about  a  tomb  may  be  compared  the  discussion 
about  the  anxiety  over  burial  in  Cic.  7'tMC.  L  102-109,  which 
concludes,  etsi  enim  nihil  habet  in  se  gloria  cur  expetatur, 
tamen  uirtutem  tanquam  umbra  sequitur, 

an :  cf.  I.  10.  9  (Sel.  7)  n.  an ;  i.  16.  18  (SeL  11)  n.  an, 

per  orbem  terrarum  legendnm  dare :  it  does  not  follow, 
as  many  critics  will  have  it,  that  these  words  show  tliat 
Frontinus  made  the  quoted  statement  in  a  book,  and  not 
privately,  or  in  his  will.  Pliny  is  arguing  like  a  law^'er  for 
the  other  party ;  and  like  himself  he  cannot  acquit  of  self- 
consciousness  any  man  who  can  utter  as  striking  a  sentence  as 
that  of  Frontinus.  Of  course,  for  that  matter,  the  utterance  was 
sure  to  be  quoted  widely,  if  for  no  other  reason,  to  explain  the 
apparent  neglect  of  the  heirs  to  provide  a  suitable  monument. 

7.  quanquam,  and  yti :  cf.  iii.  7.  12  (Sel.  25)  n.  qtianquam. 


394  C.  PLINl  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.         66.  1. 


66.    (IX.  21.) 

A  request  for  a  freedman's  pardon.  (The  companion  letter 
is  IX.  24, — Sel.  68.) — Sabinianus  is  otherwise  unknown. — This 
letter  is  sometimes  compared  with  that  of  St.  Paul  to 
Philemon.  But  where  Pliny  puts  the  plea  for  pardon  on 
practical,  humanitarian,  and  philosophic  grounds  (*he  is 
sorry ;  he  won't  do  so  a^in ;  and  you  injure  yourself  by 
anger  *),  St.  Paul  puts  it  upon  the  ground  of  Christian 
fellowship. 

1.  libertus :  so-called,  instead  of  libertinua,  since  here  he  is 
■poken  of  in  his  immediate  relation  to  his  former  owner. 

adnolutus  pedHms:  cf.  i.  18.  3  (Sel.  12)  n.  aduoluta 
genibm, 

in  Buxnma :  cf.  i.  12.  12  (Sel.  8)  n.  in  mmma. 

8.  ne  torseris  ilium :  the  freedman  was  still,  in  the  eye  of 
the  law,  a  member  of  the /amiliat  and  therefore,  like  children 
and  slaves,  was  subject  to  punishment  at  the  will  of  the 
pater  /amilias  for  wrong  doing.  Nothing  is  known  in  detail 
conoeming  the  practicsu  carrying  into  effect  of  this  right  of 
household  jurisdiction  in  the  case  of  freedmen  at  this  period, 
though  it  mav  be  doubted  whether  their  condition  in  this 
respect  was  much  better  than  that  of  slaves,  who  were 
practically  undefended  from  most  savage  treatment  at  the 
hands  of  their  masters,  except  that  death,  and  such  other 
extreme  punishments  as  condemnation  to  the  arena,  could  not 
be  inflicted  unless  with  the  approval  of  the  proper  magistrate 
(cf.  Dig,  XVIII.  1.  42;  XLViii.  S,  11,  2 ;  el  cU,),  But  Pliny  so 
frequently  uses  this  verb  (and  its  corresponding  noun)  to 
denote  purely  mental  disquietude  or  suffering  that  it  may  be 
doubted  whether  he  does  not  so  use  it  here,  of  the  freedman 
as  well  as  of  the  master ;  cf.  vi.  1.  2 ;  7.  3  (Sel.  43) ;  vii.  5. 
2  (Sel.  48) ;  12.  4  ;  19.  9  (Sel.  50) ;  30.  1  ;  viii.  23.  9.  And 
the  first  sentence  of  ix.  24  (Sel.  68)  indicates  that  the  punish- 
ment feared  was  not  physical,  but  at  the  most  consisted  in 
banishment  from  the  J'amilia,  and  perhaps  from  the  city  (see 
note  thereupon). 

ne  torseris  etiam  te.  torqueris  enlm :  on  the  epanalepsis 
see  I.  1.  1  (Sel.  1)  n.  colligerem ,  .  .  coUegi;  iv.  13.  1 
(Sel.  33)  n.  venisMe, 

4.  iterum  rograbo.  impetrabo  iterom:  with  the  chiastic 
repetition  cf.  i.  12.  12  (Sel.  8)  n.  morte  doleo. 


67.  5.  NOTES.  395 


67.     (IX.  23.) 

The  joint  fame  of  Tacitus  and  Pliny.  —On  Maximus  see 
introd.  note  to  ii.  14.  (Sel.  20). 

1.  centumuiri ;  see  i.  5.  4  (Sel.  4)  n.  centumuiros, 
auctoritatem  grauitatemque,  impressive  dignity. 
consurgerent  laudarentque :  on  the  rising  to  applaud  see 

VII.  24.  7  (Sel.  52)  u.  exstdtahant. 

2.  e  senatu  £amam  rettuli :  with  the  phraseology  cf.  iii.  7. 
3  (Sel.  25)  ex  proconsvlatu  Asiae  yloriam  reportauerat. 

secum,  Tiezt  him :  cf .  §  4  mecum. 
circensibus :  see  ix.  6.  1  (Sel.  61 )  n.  circenaes, 
et  quidem  :  see  i.  6.  1  (Sel.  5)  n.  et  quidem, 

3.  Tacitus  es  an  Fliiiius :  cf.  on  the  coupling  of  the  names 
VII.  20.  5  (Sel.  51) :  on  the  absence  ot  an  interrogative 
particle  in  the  first  member  of  the  double  question  see  i.  IS. 
2  (Sel.  12)  n.  an, 

quod  nomlna  nostra,  etc.,  thai  our  namesy  as  if  the, 
property  of  letters  rather  than  of  men,  are  thus  ascribed  to 
liteixUure, 

4.  recninbebat :  «c.  at  a  dinner-table ;  see  ii.  6.  3  (Sel.  16) 
n.  recumbebat. 

mecmn :  doubtless  '  next  me '  (cf.  §  2  seeum) ;  but  cf.  a 
(lifFerent  expression  for  the  same  order  in  ii.  6.  3  (Sel.  16) 
proximus  recumhehat, 

uir  egregios :  see  iv.  22.  1  (Sel.  35)  n.  uir  eirregiuH, 

Fadius  Buflnus :  otherwise  unknown. 

super  eum :  apparently  Pliny,  Rufinus,  and  the  friend  of 
the  latter,  occupied  the  same  lectus,  which  was  either  the 
lectus  medius,  or  the  lectns  summtis,  Pliny's  place  being  the 
locus  inuts,  that  of  the  greatest  honour  of  the  three.  Furtlier- 
more,  unless  there  were  three  cuestB  present  of  higher  con- 
sideration than  Pliny,  the  couch  was  the  tectum  meaius,  and 
Pliny's  position  that  of  the  highest  guest  of  the  evening. 

5.  an :  cf.  I.  10.  9  (Sel.  7)  n.  an ;  i.  16.  8  (Sel.  11)  n.  an. 

Demosthenes,  etc.  :  the  story  is  told  in  Aelian  ix.  17, 
and  in  Cic.  Tusc.  v.  103,  who  censures  Demosthenes  tiiereiu 
for  vanity.  And  the  satirists  naturally  sfxiak  in  the  same 
way  of  such  ))opiiIar  distinctions;  cf.  Pers.  1.  28  ff.;  but 
per  contra  Lucian  Herod.  2 ;  Hor.  Carm,  iv.  3.  22 ;  Mart, 
v.  1.3.  3  f. 


dm  a  PUNI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.        67.  6. 

U'  !:'*'         6.  aliorum  iudidum:  cf.  vii.  4.  10  (Sel,  47)  «erf  quid  ego 
^   9,M^  '<i''^  Oloriotie?  ,    ,    .   et  tamen  iwu  de  meo  mi  de  aliorum 
iudicio  lotitior, 

'     .'---•••'•    "''^     '    *  ■"  68.     (IX.  24.) 

The  freedman  has  been  pardoned  (see  ix.  21, — Sel.  66). 

f '  f    \  epistulis  :  doubtless  the  plural  of  a  single  letter  (sc.  ix. 

/         ;    /^  21,— Sel.  66),  after  the  (post-classical)  analogy  of  litUrvf ;  cf. 
'     .•  X.  10.  1  ;  Tac.  Ann,  i.  30 ;  et  cU. 

^"'"^ ^.  in  domiim,  in  animnm  rAoepisti:  the  phrase  is  hardly 

h  **"  ■  consistent  with  any  other  idea  of  the  punishment  than  that 

jt^.rft^^'^    ^^  consisted  simply  in  banishment  from  thQfamilia,  and  from 
y.,uAx,r*  r.     *^®  good  graces  of  its  head.     Yet  it  should  be  noted  that  an 
^~^p~  \      •  offending  freedman  might  be  banished  not  merely  from  the 
^  (^I^***^   familia  of  the  patronus  (and  presumably,  therefore,  from  all 
.-.f -y'-y  ^.  of  his  estates),  but  from  a  region  of  twenty  miles  radius 
,,  ^'      '  around  Rome:  cf.  Tac.   Ann.  xiii.  ^O ;  Mommsen  Strafrecht 
.  ;;^^    ^.,p.J.8,,^^ 
"  *     '  ^'  Igltur :  cf.  III.  1.  12  (Sel.  23)  n.  igitur.  ^^ 

;^V--^.^'i^^^'^H-.  69.  (ix,33.)    ^^^^«-»-♦^y 

.  j^,.  ,)  A  *  fish-story.  '—On  Caninius  see  introd.  note  to  i.  3  (SeL  3).  — 

*"!'  ^  *  The  elder  Pliny  tells  the  same  story  in  briefer  form  in  N.  /A 
'»Ji_}^  ,  .IX.  26,  among  other  stories  of  the  affection  of  dolphins  for 
M  0^   iM'*)^  human  beings,  and  he  is  copied  therein  by  Solinus  12.  9. 

J(^v»<^,    1.  super  cenam:  cf.  the  same  phrase  in  iii.  5.  11  (Sel.  24) 

Uf'v-'^-^*  and  IV.   22.   6   (Sel.   35).     Either   Pliny  had   not  read  his 

!  r^  ftw,^     uncle's  great  work,  or  had  forgotten  that  this  story  appeared 

.  in  it,  or  he  is  making  an  attempt  to  give  an  air  of  artistic 

^ '  ^iJz        freshness  to  the  suggested  theme. 

.'^'  quid^poetae  cnm  fide:  cf.  vi.  21.  6  quod  tamen  jtoetis 

;  'f      ^      mentiri  licet ;  vii.  4.  10  (Sel.  47)  poetis/urere  canceasum  est. 
^'^*-^    -^- "     a.  AfHca :  i.e.  the  Roman  province  of  that  name  ;  see  vii. 
*1-  O»  ^»       27.  2  (Sel.  54)  n.  Africam. 
yi\V^^'        Hipponen8i8Colonia:t.e.  Hippo Diarrhytus (or Zarytus), — 
Pliny  the  Elder  {I.e.)  gives  the  lull  name,— a  town  near  the 
White  Cape  (jirom.  candidum).  and  so  a  little  to  the  north- 
west of  Carthage   and  of    Utica.      A   Roman    colony  was 
planted  there  by  Julius  Caesar.      The    other  well-known 
Hippo,  surnamed  Regius,  lay  al)Out  a  hundred  and  twenty- 
five    miles    further    westward,    within    the    boundaries    of 
Numidia,   but    had   been  included   within    the    boundaries 
of  Africa  Proconsularis  since  the  time  of  Caligula. 


69.  9.  NOTES.  \^  397 

4.  delphinus  :  of  all  sea-creatures  the  dolphiii'^was  con- 
sidered by  the  ancients  to  be  the  tamest  and  inost^uman- 

like.  -^ 

subire,  deponere,  took  him  on  his  bach,  let  him  go  again. 
mox :  in  the  sense  of  deinde  ;  cf .  i.  5.  8  (Sel.  4)  n.  max. 
6.  si  quid  est  mari  simile  :  apparently  only  a  fantastic 
expression  for  the  lagoon  and  estuary  {si  quid  =  quicquid). 

uarios  orbes  impllcitat  expedltque,  icinds  in  and  out  in 
changing  circles. 

6.  innutritos  maxi,  people  who  were  t?iemselves  nurdingn  of 
the  sea. 

appellant :  the  elder  Pliny  declares  that  dolphins  recog- 
nize and  are  pleased  with  the  name  Simo  [*  Snub-nose ']  when 
they  are  called  by  it ;  cf.  X.  H.  ix.  23  \delphinis']  ronh^im 
simunij  qua  de  causa  iiomen  Sifnouii  omnes  miro  modo  agno- 
Rcunt  mcUuntque  ita  appellari  ;  and  the  specific  instance,  ibid, 
25  cum  appdlaXum  eum  [delphinum]  Simonii  nonwie  naepiwt 
fragmentis  panis  adlexis.'iet^  etc.;  and  ibid.  30.  See  also 
\V.  Heraeus  in  Archiv/.  lat.  Lexicog.  u.  Gram.  xii.  pp.  129  f. 

praebentem,  cU  icill :  the  present  participle  is  here 
equivalent  to  a  relative-clause  {delphinum  qui  se  tractantibu^ 
mansuetum  pra^ebet). 

fertur  referturque  :  one  of  the  elder  Pliny's  stories  {I.e.) 
is  of  a  dolphin  who  regularly  carried  a  boy  on  his  back  to  and 
from  school  for  some  years  across  the  gulf  of  Baiae.  The 
same  story  is  quoted  from  Apiou  by  Gellius  in  vi.  8.— The 
story  of  Arion,  and  the  representation  of  Taras  riding  a 
dolphin  on  the  coins  of  Tarentum  (cf.  Head  Historia  Numo- 
rum  pp.  44  ff. )  will  also  occur  to  the  mind. 

amari  pntat,  amat  ipse  :  cf.  the  phraseology  in  iv.  27.  4 
(verses  by  Sentius  Augurinus)  et  quaerit  quod  amet^  puiatque 
amari. 

7.  nee  non :  emphasising  the  statement  that  follows  (*even *), 
quite  as  in  classical  prose.  In  Cicero,  however  (but  not  so 
consistently  in  Varro,  Vergil,  nnd  later  writers),  the  two 
negatives  are  regularlj'  separated  by  other  words. 

9.  Octauium  Auitum :  the  elder  Pliny  {l.r.)  sjiys  it  was 
Flauianus,  the  proconsul  himself.  Both  men  are  otherwise 
unknown. 

religione  prana,  through  mi»Hrected  reverence, 
superfUdisse  ungnentum :   it  was  customary   to  anoint 
with  ointment  statues,  or  other  memorials  or  dwelling-places, 
of  the  go<l8,  and  Auitus  ap|)arently  acted  under  the  popular 


398  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAB.        68.1 

belief  that  this  dolphin  was  the  incanubtion  of  some  divinifcj 
of  the  sea. 

noaitatexn  odorexnque  :  apparently  a  case  of  hendiadyi, 
which  is  rare  in  Pliny  ;  cf.  viii.  20.  7  (8el.  59)  cursum  eerta- 
menqut :  I.  10.  12  (Sel.  7)  n.  tmswn  uolupiatemque, 

pott  xnultos  dies  ;  the  elder  Pliny  (/.c)  sajrs  per  aiiqwt 
meiMfH. 

10.  xnodica  res  pnblioa :  the  deader  public  treamiry, 
nouis  sumptilms  attarebatnr :  for  these  visiting  officiaSi 

had  to  1)e  entertained  at  public  expense. 

locus  ...  perdelMit  :  the  unbusinesslike  provindals 
evidently  did  not  appreciate  their  rich  oommeroial  oppor- 
tunity to  make  their  quiet  town  a  second  Margate  or  CJoney 
Island. 

11.  quanquam,  and  yeti  w&e  la.  7.  12  (SeL  25)  n.  qwm- 
q\iam ;  and  cf.  the  similar  ending  in  vn.  33.  10  quanqnam 
non  exifjo  ut  erredas  actae  ret  modum  :  naan  nee  hietoria  ddtel 
egrcdi  ueritcUerrif  el  honesie  factui  ueritcts  sufficit, 

non  est  opus  afflngas :  Pliny  uses  opu8  very  frequently  in 
its  more  ordinary  constructions,  but  once  only  (vii.  6.  3  cin 
opuH  eaaet  ne  reus  uiderelur)  elsewhere  with  a  finite  mood ; 
and  Kuhner  {Aw/.  Oram,  n.  p.  808)  cites  this  as  the  only 
instance  of  opua  eat  with  the  subjunctive  but  without  the 
particle. 

70.     (EL  86.) 

Pliny's  disposition  of  the  day  in  his  summer-home. — On 
Fiiscus  see  introd.  note  to  vii.  9  (Sel.  49),  also  a  letter  on 
vacation  studies. 

1.  in  Tusds :  so  Pliny  refers  to  his  country-seat  on  the 
verge  of  the  A^nnines,  whenever  it  is  mentioned  by  name. 
He  speaks  of  it  in  iv.  1.  4  as  near  the  town  of  Tifemum 
Tiberinum  (mod.  Cittii  di  Castello),  and  describes  its  features 
in  detail  in  v.  6,  evidently  a  companion  picture  to  ii.  17 
(8el.  21 ),  his  account  of  his  seaside  home  near  Laurentum.  The 
precise  site  of  the  Tuscan  (or  more  precisely,  Umbrian)  villa 
lias  been  recently  determined  as  in  tlie  district  of  S.  Flora, 
near  the  hamlets  of  Lama  and  Pitigliano,  a  few  miles  north  of 
(>itta  di  Castello,  where  among  other  remains  of  a  great  villa 
havt^  l)een  found  a  votive  inscription  of  a  certain  Plinia 
Chreste,  and  brick  stamps  in8cril)ed  c  •  P  •  C  •  s  (the  initials  of 
Pliny's  name) :  sec  (samurrini  in  Strena  Helbigiana  (1900)  pp. 
93  flf.     Gamurrini  thought  the  villa  liclonged  in   the  later 


70. 3.  NOTES.  399 

years  of  Augustus  to  M.  Granins  Marcellus  {id,  in  Rendic, 
Accad.  Lmcei  1897,  p.  192). 

aestate  *.  the  mountain  home  was  his  favourite  summer 
resort,  the  seaside  {Laurent iiium)  his  winter  resort:  cf.  ix. 
40  (8el.  72) ;  v.  6.  1  me  aestate  Tuscos  meos  petUurum  ;  et  oZ. 

circa  horam  primam :  this  was  to  be  tolerably  lazy,  as 
fitted  the  summer  vacation  and  vilhugiatura :  cf.  Hor.  Ep.  i. 
17.  6  f .  Kt  le  fjvata  quies  et  'primam  somnvA  in  hm-am  \  defectat, 
.  .  .  Fereiitinum  ire  inbebo. 

clausae  fenestrae  manent :  the  bed-rooms  in  Pompeian 
houses,  and  the  prevailing  custom  in  that  and  other  European 
countries  till  the  present  time,  go  far  to  prove  that  man  can 
live  without  oxygen. 

2.  silentio  et  tenebris :  so  Demosthenes  worked,  and  so 
Quintiiian  recommends ;  cf.  I7ist.  OraX.  x.  3.  25  Demosthenes 
TneltHs,  qui  se  in  locum  ex  quo  mdla  exaudiri  uox  et  ex  quo 
nihil  jrrospici  posset  recondeltat^  ne  aliud  agere  mentem  cogerent 
oculi ;  ideoque  luctibrantt's  sUentium  noctis  et  clausum  cvbi- 
culum  et  lumen  unum  uelut  tectoa  inaxime  teneat. 

in  xnanibus  :  see  i.  2.  6  (Sel.  2)  n.  in  manibus, 
ad  uerbum  :  i.e,  in  final  form,  and  not  merely  a  rough 
first  draught. 

teneri  (sc.  memoria) :  see  vii.  9.  3  (Sel.  49)  n.  tenecut. 
Pliny  composed  in  perfect  darkness,  elaborating  his  work  to 
verbal  completeness  without  the  aid  of  writing,  and  in  as 
large  sections  as  he  could  carry  perfectly  in  memory  at  one 
time.     E^h  section,  as  it  was  completed,  was  dictated  to  an 
amanuensis,  and  the  process  of  solitary  composition  resumed, 
notarium  :  see  iii.  5.  15  (Sel.  24)  n.  notarius. 
die  :  see  vi.  20.  6  (Sel.  46)  n.  adhuc  dubius  dies, 
formaueram  dicto :  on  the  sequence  see  i.  2.  1  (Sel.  2)  n. 
promiseram  exhibeo.     In  this  instance  the  pluperfect  falls 
away  from  consistent  sequence  with  the  historical  present  to 
its  normal  force. 

3.  dies  :  i.e.  the  weather :  on  fair  days  he  walks  in  the 
open  air,  on  stormy  days  under  cover. 

lystnm,  cryptoporticnm :  see  respectively  ii.  17.  16,  17 
(Sel.  21 )  nn.  So  Spurinna  (iii.  1.  4,— Sel.  2.3),  u  hose  mode  of  life 
Pliny  emulates  in  <lesire.  passed  from  his  indoor  study  in  the 
morning  to  a  similar  combination  of  exercise  and  study. 
Pliny's  Tu'tci  contained  a  regular  amlnJatio  for  walking  (see 
V.  6.  17),  which  surrounded  the  jci/xtus,  and  to  this  measured 
path  he  doubtless  refers  when  he  speaks  here  of  tiic  included 
garden -terrace. 


400  C.  PUXI  EPISTVLAK  8KLBCTAB.        71.1 

rtUqiuL  medltor  tt  dielo,  coHtimMe  nty  fomgtomiim  tmd 
dktaium.  ^ 


a«lilniloiii  uooido:  still  followinj^  Spnriiiii»^  oider  of 
exerciae  {I.e.),  except  that  the  old  man  rastad  a  while  belwfMi 
walking  and  driving.  The  villa  had  a  kippodromum  fwMmg 
and  dnving.  which  Pliny  describes  amorously  in  ▼.  &  32  tt 

amhnUns  ant  laetns :  sic.  on  the  terrace  (or  in  the  galleiy), 
or  in  his  chamber. 

paalnm  rsdormio :  the  usual  midday  siesta  (cf  ix.  40l  Sl 
;-Sel.  72;  III.  5.  11,-SeL  24,— n.  dormidtai  mtitmimK  which 
18  not  mentioned  in  Pliny's  account  of  Sparinna's  day  -  see 
however  in.  1.  9  (SeL  23)  n.  eena,  ^  ' 

Clare  et  intents,  cUoud  and  with  vigauri  of.  v.  191  6 
(Sel.  40)  intenie  tMlanterque  pronunUaL 

stomachi :  cf.  Celsus  i.  2  commode  uero  exerceni  IcarpUM] 
dara  leciw,  etc  ;  id.  i.  8  <»  aim  veto  Btomctcho  iaborat^  Ugert 
dare  debet :  and  the  elder  Pliny  {N.H,  xxvin.  53)  joins  the 
vigorous  use  of  the  voice  (iiiUntio  uocia)  with  other  advan- 
tageous forms  of  exercise. 

exerceor :  the  form  of  active  exercise  that  imniediately 
preceded  the  bath.  Spurinna  played  ball  (ur.  1.  8,-lSeI  23). 
With  exerceor  as  a  miadle-voice  form  cf.  Lc  numetur  pUa. 

4.  cenantl :  the  omission  of  reference  to  the  taking  of  food 
earlier  in  the  day  is  probably  to  be  interpreted  as  meaning 
that  Pliny  ate  but  one  meal  a  day, — a  rM^en  which  GelanM 
(I.  3)  advises  to  men  in  good  health  and  years,  at  least  in 
winter,  though  the  addition  of  prandium  is  counselled  for  the 
summer :  see  iii.  1.  9  (Sel.  23)  n.  cena. 

post  cenam  coxnoedus  ant  Isrristes :  see  1. 15. 2  (Sel.  10)  n. 
comocdum. 

xnox,  then :  see  i.  5.  8  (SeL  4)  n.  mox, 

xneis  :  see  ii.  17.  7  (Sel.  21)  n.  meorvm. 

axnbulo:  like  his  uncle  (in.  5.  13,— Sel.  24),  but  unlike 
Spurinna  (in.  1.  9, — Sel.  23),  Pliny  concluded  his  dinner  and 
the  following  entertainment  while  it  was  yet  day.  Nor  is  it 
strange  tliat  his  dinner  was  set  at  an  early  hour  in  the  after- 
noon, if  it  was  tlie  one  meal  of  the  day. 

narlis  sermonibus  uespera  eztenditur :  cf.  Hor.  Ep,  i.  fi. 
10  f.  imfnine  licebit  \  aesliuam  sermone  benigno  tendere 
fioctem. 

quanqnam  longissimiui  dies  oonditnr:  cf.  Verg.  Er/,  9. 
51  f.  >iaepe  ego  fontfOB  |  eantoMdo  jmermm  memini  me  cohdert 

SOtCH. 


71.2.  NOTfiS.  401 

5.  si  diu  iacui  nel  ambulaui,  etc. :  i.e.  he  sometimes  prolongs 
the  early  morning  study  in  his  chamber,  or  while  walking  m 
terrace  or  gallery,  over  the  time  usually  assigned  to  his  drive 
(§§  2,  3  iniL).  In  this  case  he  postpones  the  drive  till  after  the 
nap  and  the  voice-practice  (post ...  demum=  *  but  not  till 
after '),  or  rather  substitutes  a  ride  for  it,  a  more  active  form 
of  exercise,  which,  however,  apparently  must  extend  over  just 
as  many  *  laps  *  of  the  hippodrome. 

6.  uenor...nonsine  puglllaribus:  cf.  i.  6  (Sel.  5);  ix.  10 
(Sel.  62) ;  v.  6.  45  (of  his  Tuscan  villa)  studiia  animumy  uenatu 
corpus  exerceo  ;  v.  18.  2  ego  in  Tuscis  et  ueiwr  et  studeo,  quae 
interdxvm  cUtemis  irUerduni  almnlfacio,  nee  lamen  adhuc  possum 
pronurUiare  utrum  sit  difficilitis,  capere  aliquid  an  scribere. 

itliqaando,  occasionally  :  cf.  v.  3.  2  (Sel.  36)  n.  aliquando. 
qoamuis :  cf.  v.  3.  10  (Sel.  36)  n.  quamtUs. 
pug^illaribus :  see  i.  6.  1  (Sel.  5)  n.  pugillares. 
coloxiis  :  see  v.  14.  S  (Sel.  38)  n.  circumibam  agellos. 
agrestes  querelae :  cf.  his  account  in  ix.  15.  1  ;  v.  14.  S 
(SeL  38). 

71.    (IX.39.) 

A  oonntry-temple  for  Ceres. — Mustins  was  apparently  an 
architect,  but  is  not  mentioned  elsewhere. 

1.  liaraspicnin  :  see  ii.  20.  4  (Sel.  22)  n.  haruspicem. 

monita :  the  probability  is  that  Pliny  was  previously 
disposed  to  conduct  the  improvements  mentioned,  and  that  the 
desired  interpretation  by  the  hai-^ispices  of  some  lightning- 
flash,  or  other  omen,  was  the  formal  manner  of  securing  the 
proper  religious  authorization  for  meddling  with  an  established 
shrine. 

praediis  (sc.  meis) :  whether  in  Umbria  or  at  Como  is 
left  uncertain. 

aUoqui,  in/act :  cf.  ii.  12.  2  (Sel.  18)  n.  alioqui. 
a.  Idlbus  Septembribus :  Ceres  was  apparently  one  of  the 
very  ancient  Italian  divinities,  worshipped  all  over  the 
country  from  earliest  days,  and  especially  by  the  lower 
classes  of  the  population.  At  Rome,  however,  her  great 
popular  festival  (CercaJin)  was  not  on  Sept.  l.'i  but  on  Apr. 
19  (XIII.  Kal.  Mai., — at  the  sprouting- time).  For  the  rustic 
population,  however,  the  month  of  8epteml>er,  covering  the 
interval  between  the  grain-harvest  and  the  vintage,  was  a 
time  of  comparative  leisure,  and  a  good  perio<l  for  festivals. 
And  this  especial  date  (Sept.  13)  may  have  l>een  the  day  of 
dedication  of  this  particular  temple. 


402  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SBLECTAB.         TIJL 

nnUnm  lufltigiiim:  evidently  thia  ancient  ahriBS  wm 
nothing  but  a  simple  eeOo»  without  oolamna.  ^»14)^^4  Yilniiv 
speaks  of  the  colonnade  of  a  temple  as  having  been  de?indfa 
part  for  the  sake  of  affording  just  such  shelter  aa 
here ;  Vitr.  iii.  3.  9  pteromcUos  enim  reUio  et 
eiraim  aedem  d%«posUio  ideo  est  inutnta  ..««»_ 
aqiiae  um  occupatterU  et  inUrclwterit  hamimun  imi„_ 
ut  habeat  in  a^sde  circtique  celiam  cum  kueamaUo 
moram. 
8.  portteoi :  see  I.  3.  1  (SeL  3)  n.  poriieuB, 

quattaor  oolunmas :  the  temple  was  therefora  to  be  i 
over  intoa  tetrastyle-prostyle,-— t.e.  with  the  gable  Pff«jee 
bevond  the  front  wall  of  the  eeUa,  and  snpportea  fay 
columns  in  line  parallel  thereto,  wUle  at  the  «idea  and 
the  roof  does  not  project  beyond  the  eeUa-wmXHu,  and 
columns  are  used. 

cuius  tiU  uideMtur  generis :  Greek  architeeta  had 
fined  themselves  to  the  use  of  white  marbles  for  aaoh  pnrpueW- 
employing  pigments,  however,  more  or  less  in  oapitaHiind 
cornices  (see  the  article  on  PolychronUe  in  Tl^Timafiti'h 
DenknUiler) ;  but  the  Romans,  in  their  magnifioent  taate  ibr 
coloured  marbles  from  all  quarters  of  the  world,  mod  *hvm 
also  in  such  exterior  construction. 

quibus  solum  qaibas  parietM  ezoolaatnr :  Ce.  the  pave- 
ment would  be  covered  with  some  form  of  moaaio,  anothe 
walls  with  panelled  incrustations,  in  which  variooa  eorte  of 
coloured  marbles  would  appear :  cf .  v.  6.  22  (in  hia  Umbrian 
home)  ctibiculum  mamiore  excvltum  podio  ienua ;  ibUL  38 
[cubictdurn]  marmore  splendet, 

4.  uel  emendum:  ready-made  statues  might  be  toind  in 
sculptors*  shops. 

e  ligno :  in  itself  a  probable  mark  of  the  antiquity  of  the 
statue  ;  see  viii.  8.  5  (Sel.  57)  n.  praetexta.  The  conatmetion 
of  the  ablative  of  material  with  ex  but  without  a  pertioiple 
(e.g.  /actum)  is  as  old  as  Cicero  (cf.  Verr.  iv.  02  pocvia  ex 
auro),  and  occurs  elsewhere  in  Pliny  {e,g.  v.  6.  40  aedtfia  e 
marmore).  But  Plinv  also  uses  the  (non-Ciceronian,  but  poeti- 
cal and  silver-age)  aoUtive  of  material  without  either  parti- 
ciple or  preposition  (e.g.  v.  6.  36  stilfculium  Candida  fnarmart). 

5.  interim,  jiiAf  at  present. 

quod  oideatur  istinc  esse  repetendum,  which  it  memu 
necessary  to  order  from  there :  istinc  is  probably  Rome,  mm 
Pliny  is  writing  from  his  country-seat  to  an  artistic  oentre. 
On  repetendum,  which  goes  a  step  further  than  the  ordinary 
in  meaning,  see  11.  6.  1  (Sel.  16)  n.  allitts  repetere. 


73.  1.  NOTES.  403 

formam  scribas,  you  should  draw  a  plan. 

bine  ...hinc,  on  one  side...  on  the  other:  the  temple 
being  thus  planted  with  its  side  and  not  its  front  to  the  road, 
squeezed  in  between  road  and  river,  and  immovable  for  ritual 
reasons,  the  possible  diversion  of  the  road  would  yet  leave  it 
impossible  to  surround  the  temple  with  porticoes  sj'^nimetri- 
cally  arranged  with  reference  to  its  longitudinal  axis, — as  was 
done,  for  example,  at  Rome  in  the  case  of  the  temple  of  Venus 
Genetrix  in  the  Forum  lulium,  or  even  of  Mars  Vltor  in  the 
Forum  Augustum,  to  mention  no  other  Instances.  The 
porticoes  must  apparently  be  arranged  on  three  sides  of  a 
rectangle,  open  toward  the  (side  of  the)  temple,  and  the  road 
perhaps  allowed  to  cross  the  area  on  the  same  line  as  before, 
as  a  road  ran  through  the  Forum  Augustum  and  the  Forum 
Transitorium  at  Rome. 

72.     (IX.  40.) 
A  supplementary  letter  to  ix.  36  (Sel.  70). 
1.  in  Tnscis :  see  ix.  36.  1  (Sel.  70)  n.  in  Tuscis. 

in  Lanrentino :  see  the  description  in  ii.  17  (Sel.  21). 
a.  meridianos  somnos:  cf.  ix.  36.  3  (Sel.  70)  n.  paulum 
redormio. 

mnltnm  de  nocte  sumitur :  sc.  for  study ;  but  cf.  of 
Spurinna's  dinner  (lu.  1.  9, — Sel.  23)  sumii  aliqtUd  de  nocte  et 
ae8taf€. 


LIBER  X.    (Ad  Traianum). 
73.   (X.  1.) 

Congratulation  to  Trajan  on  his  accession. — The  death  of 
Nerva,  and  the  consequent  accession  of  Trajan,  t(M>k  place  on 
the  27th  of  January,  98  a.d.  (cf.  Dio  lxviii.  4.  2),  when 
Trajan  was  absent  as  governor  of  Germany.  This  letter 
must  have  been  written  promptly  after  the  event.  Trajan 
did  not  return  to  Rome  till  the  year  99  (cf.  iii.  7.  6, — Sel. 
25, — aduetUu  noui  principis). 

1.  pietas :  the  quality  of  filial  reverence  perha])8  called  for 
special  comment  in  cases  where  the  relation  was  one  merely 
of  adoption  in  mature  years,  l^ins  was  a  recognized  imperial 
titlo  from  the  time  of  the  first  Antonine,  awii  pittatt  Anf/f'f<ti 
is  fre<|uently  commemorated  upon  coins. 


404  C.  PUSI  EPIST\TJIE  SELBCTAK 


Imptntor :  the  niliftwy  title ,  _ 

Tiberiiu,   luul  been  tiimed    only   hj  tkm 

of  the  throne,  or  by  his  ooOeegne.     In  «mtw  two  i 
<x.  4.  1 ;  14.  1)  does  Pliny  nee  it  in  ad«lr' 
directly.     Geoendly  he  uses  the  form  d_ 
howe\'er,  omitting  the  TocatiTe  alcogether. 

sanctlssime:    probebly  used   here  of 

than  of  the  'dirinity  doth  hedge  a  knw,'  nito  wliidi  i „ 

it  later  passed.  Of.  the  f reqaent  appboataoa  by  tUuw  of  thi 
word  and  its  derivatives  to  mofml  qoalitMi^  -~»  ^  thi 
emperor  himself  in  z.  3a.  3  (SeL  75)  mmetimimi9  waankm  im; 
100  pmeeipua  mtnetiiaie,  obse^ino,  cisorwna  Aonerc 

qnam  tardiailme :  cf.  Pan,  10  ctum  meqme  afimd  lAtcr Ob 
cuioplioae  quamJUUpieiatem,Jilii  obte^mimtm  irrfiriiiwM.  im^mm- 
qtie  huic  nomini  aelaiem,  Umgam  gionam  jweuijcfe. 

patri :  Nerva  had  adopted  Trajan  {hy  adntgoHo)  in  ha 
absence  in  97  a.d.,  apparently  on  iksL  27»  and  he  fc^  been 
ma<le  his  actual  colleague  in  the  empire  by  reoeivinff  both  the 
imperium  /trocotumlare  (which  carried  with  it  the  title  of 
%mi>trcUor ;  cf .  Pan.  9)  and  the  trilmmcia  poiewta*. 

di  immortales :  not  to  be  understood  in  any  other  than  a 
formal  sense  ;  see  l  5.  5  (SeL  4)  n.  mUd  detm  ttd/mmt^ 

ad  gabemacola  rei  pablicae  admoneie :  cf.  /Vnt.  6  tvfie 
qitM  U  ptiblicae  Bcdutis  gtihtmacnlU  admoneret. 

■nfoepeima:  sc.  by  being  made  Nerva'e  ooUeegoe  thrae 
months  before. 

a.  saeculo,  reign:  see  iv.  11.  6  (Sel.  32)  n.  ^aecuium  ;  i.  5. 
1 1  (Sel.  4)  n.  Moeculi. 

fortem  et  hilarem,  in  good  health  and  ^riu  :  the  same 
adjectives  are  united  in  a  concluding  wish  in  rv.  1 .  7  ;  cf.  also 
X.  62  (Sel.  94)  te  incolumem  florentemtnie ;  88  (Sel.  102) 
incolumin  et  /ortis;  100  le  remqu£  puhlicam  /iorentem  eC 
incolumem. 

imperator  optime :  so  also  in  x.  4.  1 ;  14.  1 ;  see  §  1  n. 
imperator. 

et  priuatlm  et  publics  opto:  i.e.  the  good  wishes  are 
those  of  a  friend  for  a  friend  an«l  of  a  subject  for  his  pn'iic^  ; 
see  II.  1.  7  (Sel  15)  n.  non  solum  pnhlice. 

74.     (X.  2.) 
Thanks  for  the  iw  trivm  f if »fmnim.— The  privilege    was 
irrantcil  early  in  Tmjan's  reign  (cf.  §2),  and  the  letter  doubt- 
fcss  dates  f rotn  Ml/fy  th»  yew  U8. 


74.  1.  NOTES.  405 

1.  domine,  Sir :  the  address  (though  originally  that  of  a 
slave  to  his  master)  implies  neither  servility  nor  necessarily  a 
subject's  condition.  It  was  used  at  this  period  by  any  inferior 
to  a  superior, — especially  in  the  relation  of  respectful  affec- 
tion, as  by  a  lover  to  his  *  mistress,'  a  child  to  his  parent,  a 
student  to  his  teacher,  or  even  between  friends, — or  as 
a  title  of  deferential  respect  to  assemblies  (*  gentlemen  '),  or  to 
strangers.  And  so  it  continued  through  mediaeval  times 
down  to  the  present  day,  corresponding  to  our  *Mr.'  (cf. 
Don  and  Dom  in  Spanish,  Portuguese,  and  Italian).  But 
also,  even  in  the  first  century,  there  was  a  tendency  to 
apply  the  term  in  a  more  specific  sense  to  the  emperor  par 
excellence,  and  this  tendency  so  far  increased  that  by  the 
beginning  of  the  third  century  domhnis  noster  was  one  of 
the  regular  and  formal  titles  of  the  emperor  (cf .  *  Our  Lord, 
the  King,'  and  the  differentiated  use  of  *  sir '  and  *  Sire ').  On 
the  whole  subject  see  Mommsen  StacUsr.  ii.^  pp.  760  ff.  ; 
Friedlander  Sitteng,^  I.  pp.  442  ff. 

lure  trium  liberorom:  see  ii.  13.  S  (Sel.  19)  n.  trium 
liberorum  iua, 

quamuis :  with  the  subjunctive  of  a  fact ;  cf.  v.  3.  10 
(SeL  36)  n.  quamui&, 

loll  Serniani :  L.  Julius  Vrsus  Seruianus  is  mentioned 
several  times  in  Pliny's  letters,  and  two  (iii.  17  ;  vi.  26)  are 
addressed  to  him.  He  was  l)om  in  47  a. D.,  filled  the  office  of 
consul  at  an  indeterminable  date  (but  before  98),  and  then  was 
imperial  legate,  both  in  Germany  and  Pannonia(cf.  viii.  23.  5). 
In  102  he  was  again  consul  {ordi7ia7itf»),  and  a  third  time,  at 
the  extreme  age  of  87,  in  134.  He  married  Hadrian's  sister, 
and  was  even  thought  of  by  that  emperor  as  his  successor 
(Spart.  Hculr,  23.  2),  but  when  almost  ninety  years  old  was 
compelled  by  him  to  commit  suicide  ne  sibi  miperutueret  {ibid, 
15.  8). 

rescripto :  one  of  three  main  forms  {edictum,  decretum, 
rescriplum)  under  which  a  conMihitio  prim-ijns  (legal  inter- 
pretation, enactment,  or  decision,  of  the  emperor)  might  be 
rendered.  The  rescriptum,  as  the  derivation  implies,  was 
usually  an  answer  to  an  application  of  some  sort  made  by  or 
through  a  legally  constituted  source,  and  thus  is  often  equi- 
valent to  eputtula.  Most  of  the  answers  of  Trajan  to  Pliny's 
letters  are  technically  reacrijrta.  See  further  x.  65.  2 
(Sel.  98)  n.  constittUioiiibtia  principum, 

rofiralMit :  the  indicative  is  used  in  the  sul>ordinate  clause 
in  place  of  the  subjunctive  because  the  clause  expresses  Pliny's 


406  C.  PLINl  EPISTVLAK  SELBCTTAE.        74.1. 

own  summary  of  the  reason  instead  of  giving  Trmjan'sezpiea 
words. 

2.  fellcisslmi  prlncipatus  tul :  cf.  also  Tacitus  at  aboal 
the  same  time  in  Afjr.  3  awjteU  quotidie  Jelicilatem  ttmportm 
Xf.rna  Traiamu;  44  ei  non  licuit  durare  in  kcuic  bftUmim 
vuatli  furem  ac  priticijtem  Traianttm  uidere. 

pecnUarem,  w/xrcioZ :  cf.  ii.  13.  8  (Sel.  19)  quod  [sc.  m 
Irinm  iifterorum]  quanqttam  jxirce  et  cum  delectu  dam,  miki 
iamen  [i.e.  mihipro  Voconio  Botnano  petenli]  toMguam  digtrti 
induUit, 

Uberos  concupisoo  :  cf.  viii.  10.  3  (to  Fabatus)  fKgusemm 
ardetU'niA  tu  pronepoten  quam  too  liberos  cupio.  But  of  conrae 
in  speaking  as  he  does  to  Trajan  he  Q  thinking  of  the 
possibility  of  a  future  marriage  (see  note  below). 

Ulo  trlstisslmo  saeculo :  ac.  of  Domitian ;  cf.  Pan.  80 
(of  Domitian)  tile  optinU  cuiusque  npciiator  H  camifex,  and  the 
characterizations  by  Juvenal  {e.g.  4.  37  f. )  and  Tacitus  (Agr. 
3,45). 

dnobus  matrimoniis  meis  :  it  is  most  natural  to  take  the 
«kru^-clause  as  modifying  the  vuo9-clause  rather  than  the 
eogutf-dause,  and  this  interpretation  is  borne  out  by  chrono- 
logical considerations.  Pliny's  wife,  whose  name  is  unknown, 
but  who  was  the  step-daugiiter  of  Vettius  Proculus  (see  ix. 
13.  13  n., — Sel.  64),  and  perhaps  the  daughter  of  Pompeia 
Celerina  (see  vi.  10.  1  n.,— SeL  44),  died  toward  the  middle 
of  the  year  97  (see  ix.  13.  4,— Sel.  64),  and  the  iua  iriuM 
liberorum  was  conferred  upon  him  early  in  ©8.       It  is  not 

possible  that  the  marriage  with  Oalpumia  (see  iv.  19, Sel. 

34)  took  place  between  these  two  dates,  for  to  say  nothing 
about  the  brevity  of  the  intervening  time,  there  would  be 
no  reason  for  the  ^rant  of  the  ivA  trium  liberorum  to  a  man 
in  the  prime  of  lite  just  married  to  a  young  woman,  who 
might  expect  cliildren  in  the  natural  order,  btill  less  would 
Trajan  be  likely  to  grant  it  under  such  circumstances,  for 
ho  was  inclined  to  make  the  grant  puree  et  cum  deleclu  (sec 
II.  13.  8,— Sel.  19;  x.  95).  S'urthermore,  if  the  marriage 
with  Calpurnia  actually  did  take  place  at  this  time,  letter 
IV.  19  (Sel.  :U),  and  apparently  the  whole  group  of  letters 
to  and  about  Calpurnia,  must  l>e  very  badly  and  unnecessarily 
out  of  place  chronologically  in  the  entire  series  of  letters. 
The  only  possible  belief,  therefore,  is  that  Pliny  was  married 
tliree  times,  twice  in  Domitian's  reign  and  once  (say  between 
102  and  l(^)  in  Trajan's.  The  first  two  wives  are  unknown 
even  by  name ;  the  third,  Calpurnia,  appat*ently  survived  her 
husband  (m  akJM^M.  108). 


75.  1.  NOTES.  407 

3.  di  melius  (sc.  /ecemnt) ;  see  x.  1.  1  (Sel.  73)  n.  di  iminor- 
tales;  and  with  the  ellipsis  cf.  ix.  19.  1  (Sel.  65)  mdiue 
rectiiisq^ie  ;  Tac.  Ann.  I  v.  88  meliiis  Augustuniy  qui  speraueril : 
Genn,  19  melius  quidem  adhuc  eae  ciuitatea^  in  quibuSy  etc.  ; 
Quint.  X.  2.  24  aliquid  .  .  .  melius  aliiy  pltirima  tile,  Horace 
gives  the  full  phrase  in  Sat.  ii.  6.  3  f.  auctius  cUque  \  di  ineliu9 
/ecere. 

maluere  :  mcUui,  the  reading  of  Auantius  and  Aldus,  con- 
tradicts the  sentence  above  (quos  .  .  .  uolui),  and  is  hardly 
consistent  rhetorically  with  me  fieri  instead  of  fieri^  since 
there  is  here  no  reason  for  emphasising  the  subject  (cf.  Menge 
Repetitorium  ^  p.  285). 

patrem  fieri :  ac.  by  grace  of  the  emperor. 

et  securus  et  felix  :  cf.  Pan,  95  «i  malin  temporibus  inter 
inaestos  et  pauentes,  bonis  inter  securos  gaudeiUesque  nunieror, 

75.     (X.3A[aO].) 

Explaining  his  acceptance  of  the  prosecution  of  Marius 
Piiscus  while  holding  public  office. — The  preliminary  hearing 
of  the  case  was  in  the  year  99,  probably  in  the  summer  or 
early  autumn  (see  note  below),  but  as  the  assignment  of  coun- 
sel was  made  considerably  earlier  (see  ii.  11.  2, — Sel.  17, — n. 
adesse  prouincialibus  iussi),  this  letter  may  well  date  from  the 
latter  part  of  the  year  98,  evidently  some  time  after  Pliny 
had  begun  his  service  as  prefect  of  Saturn's  treasury  (see  note 
on  uestra  below). 

1.  domine  :  see  x.  2.  1  (Sel.  74)  n.  domine, 
uestra :  sc,  Nerva  and  Trajan.  In  Pan,  90  Pliny,  refer- 
ring to  the  prefecture  of  the  treasury  of  Saturn,  says  diuus 
Nerua  ut  nos  .  ,  .  promouere  uellet :  in  x.  8.  3  (Sel.  77)  he 
speaks  of  that  office  as  ddegaii  a  uobia  officii.  The  nomination 
took  place  early  in  Jan.  98  (perhaps  on  Jan.  9  ;  see  ix.  13.  23 
n. ),  Nerva  dying  on  the  27th  of  the  same  month.  The  plural 
adjective  in  this  and  the  other  place  cited  may  be  exfdained 
in  one  of  three  ways ;  either  (1)  tliat  officials  appointed  by 
his  predecessor  were  subject  for  continuance  in  office  to  con- 
firmation by  the  new  emperor  (so  Monimsen),  or  (2)  that 
Trajan,  being  associated  with  Nerva  as  his  colleague  since 
Oct.,  97  (see  x.  1.  I,— Sel.  73,  -n.  patri),  might  be  said  to 
share  in  the  appointments  made  by  him,  or  (3),  very  much 
more  probably,  that  the  nomination  to  the  prefecture  was  by 
Nerva  (cf.  Pan.  90  promouere  ueltet),  but  the  office  was  not 
actually  entered  upon  until  after  Trajan's  accession,  and  pro- 
bably not  till  about  August  or  October,  98  (see  the  present 


40K  C.  PUN!  EPISTVI.AE  8ELBCTAK.         75.  L 

e«li(or «  article  Om  the   Date  of   PlUty'B    Pr^tchire  ^  Ik 
TVecuury  q/"  SatMm,  in  Amtr,  Jour,  of  BhiiUog^^  roL  zxnL 

na  4). 

pneftctnimiii  Mraiii  Satarnl :  soe  ix.  IS.  11  (SeL  64)  d. 
praffictum  aerarn^  an<l  Intr.  p.  xxv. 

nnnqnam  «ram  promiicae  Amotiui :  cf.  ii.  14.  14  (Sd. 
20) ;  VI.  29.  6  ff.  (where  Pliny  states  the  strict  prindi^es  on 
which  he  accepts  briefs,  and  gives  a  list  of  his  most  important 

cases). 

renontiaQl  nt,  etc.:  so  also  he  declined  to  plead  esses 
when  tribuHus  pldns ;  see  I.  23.  2  (SeL  14). 
9.  qua  ex  oansa :  see  l  2.  6  (SeL  2)  n.  ex  causis. 

patronnm  me  provincialet  optMse&t :  charges  by  inhabi- 
tants of  a  province  against  their  former  governor  weie 
formally  presented  by  their  representatives  to  the  senate, 
which  body  was  at  the  same  time  petitioned  to  delegate  one 
(or  more)  of  its  own  number  to  act  as  prosecuting  attorney 
for  the  complainants  before  the  bar  of  the  house,  as  none  bat 
senators  had  a  standing  there.  In  the  notable  case  against 
Caecilius  (Hassicus,  which  came  to  trial  while  Pliny  was  still 
prefect  of  the  treasiury,  the  people  of  Baetica  asked  for,  and 
obtained,  the  appointment  of  Fliny  as  their  oonnsel  (see 
HI.  4). 

contra  Karlnm  Friscnm :  see  ii.  II  (SeL  17),  where  the 
case  is  described  at  length. 

neniam :  the  procedure  apparently  was  for  the  senate,  or 
the  presiding  consul,  to  designate  a  number  of  senators  suit- 
able to  serve  as  counsel  for  the  plaintifTs,  whose  names,  in- 
scribed upon  lots,  were  thrown  together  into  an  urn  (see  note 
below),  and  the  necessary  number  of  names  drawn  therefrom 
by  chance  (cf.  the  selection  of  modem  juries  in  certain  cases  in 
the  United  States  from  a  large  panel).  But  if  the  plaintiffs 
<Icsired  to  be  represented  by  specified  individuals,  and  could 
o))tain  their  consent  to  serve,  apparently  onlv  these  persons 
were  named,  and  tlie  drawine  became  a  mere  form  (cf.  rii.  4) 
Pliny,  though  asked  for  by  tne  provincials,  had  declined,  and 
obtained  permission  from  the  senate  for  his  name  to  be  with- 
drawn from  the  lot. 

consul  designatos:  the  trial  was  held  in  January,  100 
(see  II.  11.  10  nn., — Sel.  17).  but  the  first  presentation  and 
the  assignment  of  Pliny  and  Tacitus  as  counsel  for  the  pro- 
vincials must  have  been  made  as  early  as  the  latter  part  of 
the  year  98,  to  allow  time  for  all  the  intermediate  operations 
mentioned  and  implied  in  ii.  11.  2-9  to  be  carried  out.     At 


77.  I.  NOTES.  409 

this  time  there  luiglit  be  sitting  in  the  senate  the  consuls- 
designate  for  at  least  the  last  nundinum  of  98,  Vettius  Pro- 
culus  and  P.  luliiis  Lupus  (see  ix.  13.  13  n., — .Sel.  64),  of 
whom  the  former  was  connected  with  Pliny  by  marriage. 

nobis  :  probably  not  referring  to  Pliny  alone,  but  to 
Pliny  and  Tacitus,  who  were  joined  in  the*  prosecution  by 
senatorial  appointment  (see  ii.  11.  2, — Sol.  17). 

nomina  in  umam  conlci :  the  common  ancient  form  of  cast- 
ing lots  was  by  shaking  marked  or  lettered  counters  or  blocks, 
often  in  an  amphora^  or  sitvlay  which  was  filled  with  water, 
and  taking  the  single  one  which  alone  could  rise  to  the 
surface  in  the  narrow  neck  of  the  containing  vessel. 

saeculi  :  see  x.  1.  2  (Sel.  73)  n.  meado. 

amplissimi :  the  formal  epithet  of  the  senate,  perhaps 
originally  to  distinguish  it  from  the  ordo  equitum  :  of.  x. 
95. 

3.  constare  rationem :  see  i.  5.  16  (Sel.  4)  n.  rcUio  con- 
Htahit. 

sanctissixiils  :  see  x.  1.  1  (Sel.  73)  n.  aanctissime. 


77.    (X.  8[a4].) 

Asking  a  leave  of  absence. — On  the  date  of  the  letter  see 
§  3  n.  Kalendis  Septembribus. 

1.  diuus  pater  taus :  Ner\-a'8  memory  was  honoured  by  his 
formal  deification  by  vote  of  the  senate  at  Trajan's  request ; 
see  Eutr.  viii.  1.  2  [Xerua]  inter  diivos  relatxui  eat ;  Pan.  \\  tu 
ftideribus  pcUrem  intulvitiy  etc.  ;  and  I  v.  11.  14  (Sel.  32)  n. 
dim. 

domine :  see  x.  2.  I  (Sel.  74)  n.  domine. 
ezemplo :  Nerva,  within  his  short  reign,  remitted 
burdensome  taxes,  reduced  unnecessary  public  expenses, 
purchased  large  tracts  of  land  and  established  thereon  new 
colonies  of  poor  peo])le,  distributed  grain  free  of  cost,  made 
provision  for  the  support  of  children  of  the  poor  throughout 
Italy,  gave  public  games,  cared  for  aqueducts  and  public 
roaas,  and  finished  at  Rome  the  Forum  Transitorium  and 
accompan>nng  temple  of  Minerva  that  Domitian  had  begun. 

in  longinqois  ag^ris  :  i.e.  in  his  Tuscan  or  Umbrian  villa, 
more  than  a  hundred  and  fifty  miles  aviay  ;  see  §6,  and  ix. 
36.  1  (Sel.  70)  n.  in  Tusci't. 

plnres  snccessiones,  a  number  qf  tjenerations  :  cf.  i.  12.  4 
(SeL  8)  morht  quoque  per  succeasfones  tradvntur. 


410  C.  PUNI  EPISTVLAB  S£L.BCTAE.         77. 1 

maalctpAvm :  doubtlev  Tifemiim  Tiberinum,  of  which 
town  he  had  been  fUMtromw  nnea  his  early  yeara, — ^mitht^ 
since  the  death  nf  his  father ;  see  iv.  1.  4  op/ndtin^  eMtpraediu 
HiMfrM  {»c.  •«  r«*cjV*j  HiVtiiacm  {nomen  2\/erHum  Twrmm) 
qnod  m€  peumt  adhut  ptKrum  pcUrommm  eooptauit. 
9.  com  plimtMlmo  testixiioiiio,  in  most  complimiaUary  terms. 
Indnlienit :  the  pluperfect  in  pUco  of  the  luoal  narrative 

Erfeot  (like  teri/*^ram  and  obiuteraiit  following)  amiean  to 
used  with  reference  to  retentna  in  §  3,  to  wmch  it  looks 
forward  ('everything  had  been  arranged^  but  I  was  un- 
expectedly detained,  and  only  now  can  go ').  Bat  ef.  I.  2.  1 
(Set  '2)  n.  promuemm  exhibeo. 

decnilonlbQS :  see  iv.  7.  2  (SeL  31)  n.  decmionibua, 
adalgiiarsnt  s(flnm  :  t.e.  provide  a  site  at  public  ezpoise, 
or  on  land  under  the  control  of  the  municipality.  Inscriptions 
commemorating  the  erection  of  public  buildings  by  private 
munificence  frequently  conclude  with  the  formula  L  -  d  •  d  •  D 
(i.e.  loco  dato  dtcrtto\i€crtrionum),  or  the  like. 

templum :  the  choice  of  a  deity  to  whom  the  structure 
should  be  consecrated  appws  to  have  been  a  matter  of 
indifference.  The  only  public  art  ^pdleries  of  the  day  were 
temples,  and  Pliny,  giving  a  ooUection  of  portrait-statues  to 
the  town,  wishes  to  give  the  collection  proper  shelter.  The 
dedication  of  the  temple  is  referred  to  in  iv.  1. 

8.  mea:  in  x.  5  (apparently  of  the  year  98)  Pliny 
asks  Trajan  to  grant  Roman  citizenship  to  an  Egyptian 
physician  who  had  cured  him  of  a  very  serious  illness  the 
year  before. 

patris  tui  ualetudine :  doubtless  Nervals  last  illness. 

delegatl  a  nobis  officii :  4c.  the  prefecture  of  the  treasury 
of  Saturn,  to  which  Pliny  was  probably  appointed  in  Jan.  98, 
but  upon  the  duties  of  which  ne  did  not  actually  enter  till 
some  months  after  Nervals  death :  see  x.  3a.  1  (Sel.  75)  n. 
utstra. 

In  rem  praesentem  excnrrere,  to  tabe  a  run  to  the  apoL 

menstruum  meum,  my  month^s  duty :  apparently  the  two 
prefects,  like  the  menil)crs  of  other  official  colleges,  took  turns 
in  discharging  the  routine  duties  of  the  position.  Extra- 
ordinary matters  or  decisions  doubtless  required  the  con- 
currence of  both. 

Kalendis  Septembribus :  the  year  was  probably  99.  For 
the  series  of  events  that  had  thus  far  prevented  Pliny  from  a 
journey  to  Tifernum  were  his  own  serious  illness  (towanl  the 
end  of  97,  as  may  be  inferred  from  this  letter  and  also  from 


77.5.  NOTES.  411 

X.  5-7  in  their  connection),  Nerva's  fatal  illness  (he  died  Jan. 
27,  98),  and  the  pressing  duties  of  Pliny's  new  prefecture  (of 
the  treasury  of  Saturn)  on  which  he  probably  entered  in 
August  or  October,  98  (see  the  editor's  article  in  ArMr.  Jour. 
Phil,  XXIII.  4).  At  the  time  of  writing  the  present  letter  he 
has  been  in  steady  attendance  upon  his  work  for  some  con- 
siderable time,  and  feels  that  he  has  earned  a  somewhat 
extended  holiday.  But  Sept.  101  (which  Mommscn  adopts 
as  the  date)  is  much  too  far  removed  from  the  beginning  of 
his  prefecture  to  be  the  possible  dat«,  even  if  it  were  true  (as 
it  apparently  is  not)  that  Pliny  was  at  that  time  still  prefect 
of  the  treasury.  Moreover  such  a  determination  conflicts 
with  the  strict  chronological  order  of  the  letters  in  Book  x. 
(see  Introd.  p.  xxxviii.),  for  x.  10  was  evidently  written 
shortly  before  Trajan's  return  to  Rome,  toward  the  end  of  99. 
The  mention  of  this  furlough  in  connection  with  the  case  of 
Caecilius  Classicus  in  iii.  4  introduces  no  difiSculty,  though 
the  argument  about  the  chronology  of  that  case  is  too  lone;  to 
be  entered  upon  here. — As  Trajan  was  still  beyond  the  Alps, 
some  weeks  must  have  been  allowed  for  this  letter  to  reach 
him  and  for  an  answer  to  be  returned  before  Sept.  1. 

complures  dies  feriatos:  on  which  no  public  business 
would  be  transacted.    In  the  month  of  September  fell,  besides 
a  number  of  individual  holidays,  the  great  ludi  Romani  (Sept. 
4-19). 
6.  locatio  :  see  v.  14.  8  (Sel.  38)  n.  circumibam  agelloa, 

alioqoi,  particularly :  the  large  amount  of  revenue 
concerned  makes  the  business  important. 

CCCC :  t.e.  400,000  sesterces  (about  £4375  or  «21,000). 
Apparently  the  total  annual  Income  is  meant,  though  the 
locatio  was  for  five-year  periods ;  cf.  ix.  37.  1  f.  cum  me 
neceaiUas  locandorum  praediorum  plures  anno«  crdinatura 
detineai^  in  qua  mihi  notia  coimlia  sumenda  sunt :  nam  priore 
lustro,  quanquam  po^t  maifuoM  remisaiones^  reliqna  crtuerunt, 
Pliny  goes  on  to  speak  of  his  new  plan  as  being  to  let  his  lands 
*  on  shares '  instead  of  for  a  fixed  rental,  whence  it  may  be 
concluded  that  the  latter  had  been  his  custom  up  to  that  time, 
and  hence  at  the  time  when  the  present  letter  was  written. 

adeo  non,  etc.,  cannot  possibly  he  postponed,  for  the  uew 
tenant  «hould  attend  to  the  approaching  jyruniwj  {cideo  non  .  .  . 
ut=tantum  aJbest  ut  ,  .  .  ut).  The  grape-harvest  {uindemia) 
would  be  over  in  October  (Varr.  i.  2^  and  Plin.  N,H,  xviii. 
319  say  between  the  equinox  and  the  setting  of  the  Pleiades, 
— Nov.  8,— thouch  Pliny — ibid.  315 — notes  that  the  date  was 
sometimes  anticipated  in  his  day).    Thitf  concluded  the  annual 


♦.-  C   J1Z>.  CMSTVI..AE  z^ELBCTAE.       77.1 

^^^■■L  ^IUUIU^    JL   jK^^^n^B^MIft  BHT  SMft  BEKt    W^OHmM  CVOBL     ^H 

miiUBidaa*  -jmk  w  'suc  prroaes'  pi  i^»  »^»^  ^  the  wmm aad tk 

^Msuaa  inuikii  Mt  «Buiiaiwic  "aft  voamnoa  m  tone  to  aUmi 
-1  Tsum.  w  icatK-w»t  liat  a^si  yo^'m  yield  «otU  be 
umuuHMiL  — tdiL  -ijis  ausvicv  ^f  ip-  coKjd  baldly  be  «- 
3«tmii  «1   ia  rax»  ymanrTry^rvarm-  azi.2e  ht  mold  iwp  do 


'ui!  «aatnBBBof  thegxBpe-crop  ii  1^ 
ly  ?'iay  klim  a  rn:.  11  1 :  SL  ML  I  :  Mod  ix.  jQ.  2. 

SHBmnaBii  Li.  mrwT^j^  m  vlMik  or  ia  pmrt  of  the 
jiiUHscdiiaasai  :.;  lua  jc  koi  scaaat-iuvMn^  who  vciv  wwUUm 
u  uv  :a«ir  fali  naSAJi :  mk  OL  C.  1,  qaoted  sborc 

BUf-v-tt  Mu/;<-  -.if  ^nnncHM  ^fm^  act  afdenHtm  (je.  is 
r?iia*T:n;r  'in*  semslifr  t^:  «eooeaniate  the  «tatnes  oif  the 
«iic«rm'  i.ifS\»V :.«  «r- >Mnff  *f  Bjr  a.vatnpt,  ijjor  both  iktm 

IftiMfli :  «M  o.  17.  ^  iScL  21)  n.  ^o^Kie. 


78.  »x  §[«].) 
Ib  awwer  to  the  pneedb^  letter, 
tt  uuiaea-yWlf  1  cuiaa  iff  ommt*-=(t  ta*  qnidem  omaiet) : 
for  ice  g^ncrocs  adjmtiiMiit  of  the  mterests  of  tenant-fiumen 
was  a  xnaner  that  ooooemetl  public  welfare  as  much  as  the 
bnildiiig  of  a  temple,  and  the  aanscaiiL-e  of  Uua  dasa  of 
people  had  oceapwd  the  attention  of  Ker\*a,  as  Inter  of 
Trajao.  Varioos  emeodaUons  of  the  text  have  been  prt>- 
poeed,  bat  none  ^ipean  iifrfiiy. 

Daqac  cnlm  ditUto  to ...  Teaemmm :  cf.  iv.  19. 1  <Sel.  34} 
n.  Noa  dnhitofan. 

tam  dlstrietiini  ofllflimn  :  cf.  Pliny's  wonls  of  the  same 
office,  apparently  in  his  early  incumbency,  in  I.  10.  9  (Sel.  7) 
fiiMtriuffor  ofirio  «/  fnortfiio  «iV  molrMisHtmo :  ami  in  Pati,  91 
iR  ojiao  la/torioMVfnmo  tt  maximo. 

eioi  modi  lumonini  pardssimni:  Domitian,  like  some  of 
his  predecessors,  had  been  especially  fond  of  such  honours, 
and  iioth  Suetonius  {Dom,  13)  and  Pliny  (Pan.  5*2)  comment 
on  the  many  statues  of  Domitian  in  ^olil  and  silver  in  and 
about  the  temple  of  Jupiter  on  the  Capitoline,  Pliny  contrast- 


79.  NOTES.  413 

ing  them  with  the  one  or  two  bronze  statues  of  himself 
which  were  all  Trajan  would  allow.  Nerva  also  forbade 
statues  of  himself  to  be  made  in  gold  (cf.  Dlo  Lxviii.  2.  1). 


79.     (X.  12  [7].) 

Asking  the  praetorship  for  a  friend. — The  date  is  indeter- 
minate, but,  as  the  letters  of  the  tenth  book  are  apparently 
arranged  in  chronological  order,  it  must  fall  after  Trajan's 
return  to  Rome  (in  99),  and  before  102  or  103,  the  probable 
date  of  the  succeeding  letter. 

in  hoc  quoque,  in  thu  matter  also :  apparently  the  mean- 
ing is  that  Trajan  had  told  Pliny  to  remind  him  of  his 
promise  when  a  vacancy  occurred  or  the  time  for  fresh 
nominations  came.  But  rliny  puts  the  thing  with  exceeding 
delicacy  of  courtesy,  —  *  I  am  sure  that  you  need  no  re- 
minder, but  since  you  are  good  enough  to  permit  me  to  press 
my  request  to  that  extent,  1  do  venture  both  to  remind  you, 
and  to  emphasise  the  earnestness  of  my  former  petition  that,' 
etc. 

Accium  Soram :  otherwise  unknown,  though  Mommsen 
(without  good  reason)  would  identify  him  with  the  Saberinns 
mentioned  in  vi.  33.  6. 

praetura  exomare  digneris :  with  regard  to  the  regular 
offices  of  the  seuatoriiU  curswi  hanorum  below  the  consulship 
the  emperor  shared  with  the  consuls  the  right  of  nominatio, — 
that  is,  of  passing  upon  the  legal  qualifications*  of  such 
persons  as  presented  themselves  as  candidates  for  any  given 
office,  and  of  declaring  their  eligibility  or  non -eligibility,  in 
advance  of  the  election.  In  the  case  of  the  consulship  the 
emperor  alone  had  this  right  of  nomination  and  regularly 
named  only  so  many  candidates  as  there  were  places  to  fill, 
so  that  his  nomination  was  always  followed  by  election. 
Furthermore  the  emperor  had  an  independent  right  of 
rommentkUiOy — that  is,  of  distinctly  recommending  certain 
persons  for  election  to  any  of  the  offices.  In  case  of  such 
commendatio  the  electors  were  bound  to  elect  the  persons  so 
named,  as  a  catheth-al  chapter  in  Kngland  is  1>ound  to  elect  as 
bishop  the  pci*son  named  in  the  letters  commen<latory  from 
the  Crown.  But  one  emperor  certainly  (Tiberius, — Tac.  Ann. 
I.  15),  and  very  probably  others,  limited  himself  in  the 
exercise  of  coitimmdafio  to  a  certain  proportion  only  of  the 
posts  of  each  .sort  to  l>e  filled.  In  Pliny's  letters  there  are 
indications  of  conte.«t  in  the  elections,  though  in  this  instance 
Pliny   seems   to  expect    the  emperor   to   use    his    right    of 


414  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  7». 

commendatio,  or  else  of  exclnsive  nominaiio.  Since  the  time 
of  Tiberius  the  elections  were  held  in  the  senate,  and  not  by 
the  people  in  the  comitia  (Tac.  Ann.  i.  15)^  though  (but 
perhaps  only  at  intervals)  there  seems  to  have  been  the 
preservation  of  a  Himulticrum  of  comitia,  especially  in  regard 
to  the  election  of  consuls. — See  Moniinsen  StaaUr,  ii.'  pp. 
915  ff.  ;  Greenidge  Roman  Public  L\ft  pp.  371  fT. 

cum  ('  since ')  locos  uacet :  apparently  by  the  death  of  a 
praetor  during  his  year  of  service. 

bonam  consdentUm :   see  i.  12.  8  (Sel.   8)  n.  apUmam 
conscietUiam. 

80.     (X.  18  [8].) 

Asking  a  priesthood  for  himself.— Pliny  was  made  angnr  in 
succession  to  Sex.  Julius  Frontinus  (see  iv.  8),  and  thisletter 
is  doubtless  his  successful  application  for  that  place,  since  an 
unsuccessful  application,  if  such  were  possible  from  him,  would 
certainly  not  have  been  included  m  his  published  corre- 
spondence. CoMuiarts  were  usually  promoted  to  the  high 
priesthoods  some  considerable  time  after  their  service  as 
consuls,  and  the  position  of  iv.  8  in  the  body  of  corre- 
spondence, as  well  as  the  consideration  of  some  minor  points» 
makes  it  likely  that  this  letter  was  written  about  102  or  103. 

tam  bonl  prindpis  indido  ezomarl :  cf.  iv.  8.  1  greUn- 
iarw  mihi  t^uod  acetj^erim  angwrtUnm.  iurt  grcUtUaris^  primum 
quod  graj^twimi  princi/ns  ittdicium  in  minoribus  etiani  rebna 
conaequi  ptUchrttm  esi^  etc.  ;  x.  3a.  3  (Sel.  75). 

dignitati :  8c.  the  consulship. 

angnratom :  the  college  of  augurs  consisted  originally  of 
three  members,  but  by  successive  increments  arriv^  mider 
Julius  Caesar,  at  the  number  of  sixteen,  where  it  remained 
throughout  the  empire.  It  was  one  of  the  four  great  priestly 
colleges  (see  note  cited  l>elow),  and  under  the  republic  attained 
immense  political   importance  because  no  great  matters  of 

Sublic  business  could  be  conducted  if  an  augur,  duly  called  in, 
eclared  the  will  of  the  gods  to  be  unfavounvble«  as  expressed 
in  due  and  prescribed  form,  chiefly  by  the  flight  of  birds,  the 
flash  of  lightntni;,  or  the  lack  of  voraciousness  on  the  part  of 
hens  kept  for  the  pur[K>8e  of  such  observations,  and  fed  in 
prescribed  form  and  at  prescribed  times.  The  political 
importance  of  the  college  vanishetl  under  the  empire,  but 
its  dignity  remained.  See  Mommsen  SlcuUftr,  i.'  76  ff. ; 
Manjuardt  Sttiatst-enc.  iii.*  397  ff. ;  Pauly-Wissowa  Jfeai- 
encycl.  ii.  2313  ff.  {aKguren), 


81.  NOTES.  416 

septemuiratum :  see  ii.  11.  12  (Sel.  17)  n.  septeimur 
epuUmum. 

quia  iiacant :  the  augurship  by  the  death  of  Frontinus 
(see  introd.  note  to  this  letter).  The  cause  of  the  other 
vacancy  is  unknown. 

adicere  digneris  :  see  ii.  1.8  (Sel.  15)  n.  solent  noniinare, 

81.     (X.16[26].) 

Announcing  Pliny's  arrival  at  Ephesus  on  his  way  to 
Bithynia. — Pliny  arrived  in  Ephesus  in  the  hot  season,  and  in 
Bithynia  on  Sept.  17  (see  x.  17a.  2, — Sel.  8.3).  He  remained 
there  at  least  till  after  the  next  winter  but  one  following  his 
arrival,  for  the  usual  uota  upon  the  anniversar}'  of  the 
emperor's  birth,  of  the  new  year,  and  of  his  accession,  are 
mentioned  twice  in  due  order  and  succession  (17a,—  Sel.  83, — 
and  88,— Sel.  102;  35,— Sel.  90,— and  100;  62,— Sel.  94,— 
and  102),  and  the  chronological  series  of  letters  continues  for 
some  time  after  the  last  letter  of  this  class.  His  appointment, 
therefore,  had  extended  over  about  two  years  at  the  time 
when  the  correspondence  ceases.  The  inscription  in  which 
Pliny's  cursus  hononim  appears  (see  Introd.  p.  xl.)  gives  the 
titles  of  the  emperor  without  that  of  optimus  which  he 
accepted  in  114.  Pliny's  governorship  therefore  terminated 
(probably  by  his  death, — see  Introd.  p.  xxviii. )  aa  early  as  1 13. 
The  beginning  of  his  term  cannot,  therefore,  have  been  later 
than  111  (and  for  other  reasons  also  than  that  specified).  It 
could  hardly  have  been  earlier  than  108,  or  probably  109, — 
if,  indeed,  as  seems  certain,  all  the  letters  of  i.-ix.  were 
written  before  the  appointment ;  for  vm.  23  must  have  been 
written  not  before  108.  Another  indication  is  given  by  the 
fact  that  Calpurnius  Macer  was  imperial  legate  in  Moesia 
Inferior  in  the  first  calendar  year  after  Pliny's  appointment 
(X.  42,  61,  62,  77),  and  an  inscription  shows  him  to  have  l)een 
governor  there  in  the  year  112  (C./.i/.  ill.  77).  But  Maoer 
might  have  l)cen  governor  for  as  much  as  three  years,  his  term 
beginning  in,  say,  109,  or  as  late  as  112,  and  still  satisfy  the 
indications  of  the  inscription  quoted.  And  to  satisfy  the 
condition  specified  of  contemporaneity  of  his  government  with 
that  of  Pliny  in  his  second  calendar  year,  Pliny's  tenn  may 
have  been  as  early  as  109-111,  or  as  late  as  111-113.  It  seems 
iiiipossible  to  fix  the  date  more  precisely  than  this.  Trajan 
appears  to  have  l>een  in  Italy  during  the  period  of  Pliny's 
otnce.  He  hjul  celebrated  his  great  triumph  over  the  Dacians 
m  107,  and  does  not  appear  to  have  left  the  country  again  till 
he  started  on  the  Parthiiin  expedition  in  the  autumn  of  113. 


416  C.  PUNl  EPISTVLAE  8ELEGTAE.  SL 

Pliny  reached  the  province  on  Sept.  17»  after  «XMisidflnbIa 
deUy  «ince  leaving  Kphesus  (tee  x.  17a,— ^iSeL  83).  Mbnofvr 
the  eie$iae  were  still  blowing,  and  their  period  wmm  for  thirty 
days  from  Jnly  20.  This  letter  was  probably  written,  than- 
fore,  by  about  the  middle  of  August. 

£ldiesum :  the  great  commercial  sea-port  of  Aatia  Minor, 
which  would  be  the  natural  destination  of  the  more  important 
vessels  sailing  to  that  country  from  Italy. 

meis :  including  here  his  wife  and  his  official  as  well  as 
personal  retinue ;  but  see  IL  17.  7  (SeL  21)  n.  sieortim. 

iv)p  MoXlav :  i.e.  rounding  the  Pelepomiesns  ynf*f^  of 
taking  the  shorter  and  safer  course  through  the  golf  of 
Corinth  and  across  the  isthmus  by  land,  embarking  again  for 
Asia  at  Genohrea.  The  southern  route  was  noted  for  danger 
from  storm  and  piracv,  and  the  Greek  phrase  may  have  been 
proverbial ;  see  Frieduinder  SiUengeach.  u.*  28  f. 

qtuunnis,  etc. :  t.e.  'I  am  kept  here  for  the  present  by 
head  winds ;  but  my  intention  is  to  surmount  this  difficulty 
by  making  short  stages  by  sea,  as  the  wind  may  allow,  and 
connecting  these  by  trips  overland.  I  would  make  the  entire 
journey  by  land,  but  the  weather  is  too  hot ;  I  would  make  it 
all  by  sea,  but  a  continuous  voyaffe  is  impoMible  by  reason  of 
the  etenae  (as  I  have  intimated  aix>ve).'  The  emendation  of 
Stephanus  seems  unnecessary.  Moreover,  in  x.  17a  (Sel.  83) 
Plinv  contrasts  the  journey  after  leaving  Ephesus  in  point  of 
head  winds,  as  of  other  difficulties,  with  the  favourable 
▼oyage  as  far  as  that  place. 

etesiae:  see  Plin.  N,H,  ii.  123  f.  ardentinaimo  autem 
OfeatcUis  tempore  exoritur  Cantctdae  sidu*  sole  primam  parUm 
leonis  ingreaierUe,  qui  dies  X  V,  ante  Augustan  KcUendas  tut .  , . 
past  bicluum  autem  exortus  iidem  a^Uones  constantius  perJUMMt 
diebns  XXX.  quos  etesias  appellant ;  ibid.  127  in  Hispania  el 
Asia  ah  oriente  flatus  est  eorum  [sc.  etesiarum]^  in  fionto  ab 
aquilone^  reHquis  in  partibuji  a  meridie. 


82.     (X.16[27].) 

In  answer  to  the  preceding. 

animnm:  as  elsewhere,  Trajan  indicates  his  friendshin 
by  a  warmer  word.  Pliny  wrote  airam  (*  attention ') ;  Tra^n 
writes  animum  (*  regard '). 

loca,  local  conditions. 


83.  3.  NOTES.  417 

83.     (X.  17  a.  [28].) 

The  journey  from  Rphesns  to  nithynia. — The  date  of  the 
letter  is  fixed  as  not  many  days  after  Sept.  17  l»y  the  refer- 
ences in  §§  2  and  4. 

1.  Fergami :  the  most  important  city  of  Mysia,  capital  of 
the  realm  bequeathed  tx)  Rome  hy  Attains  ill.  in  133  B.G.  It 
was  about  eighty  miles  distiint  in  a  straight  line  from 
Ephesus.  Pliny  indicates  that  he  had  travelled  by  land  thus 
far,  doubtless  on  the  main  road  that  ran  northward  through 
Smyrna  and  Pergamum  to  Cyzicus  on  the  Propontis.  But 
the  rest  of  the  journey  from  the  port  of  Pergamum  (at  least 
as  far  as  Cyzicus)  was  apparently  made  by  sea,  the  periodical 
winds  having  ceased,  though  contraiy  breezes  were  plenty. 
From  Cyzicus  the  natural  route  to  Prusa  would  be  by  the 
road  that  led  through  Apollonia. 

2.  natalem  (sc.  diem) :  the  day  of  Trajan's  birth  is  fixed  an 
Sept.  18  (XTIII.  Kal.  Oct.)  by  the  calendar  of  Philocalus,  and 
by  the  comi^rison  of  Pan.  92  with  Suet.  Dom,  17.  The  year 
is  variously  given,  but  was  perhaps  52  a.d.  (See  De  La  Berge 
E88ai  aiir  le  r^jiie  de  Trajan^  pp.  299  f. ) 

celelnrare  :  see  iii.  7.  8  (Sel.  25)  n.  rdigumus  q^utm  mum. 
The  celebration  of  the  emperor's  birthday  (and  of  that  of 
meml)ers  of  his  family)  was  the  duty  of  a  pious  people 
since  the  time  of  Julias  Caesar ;  see  Marquardt  StcuUsifetno.  iii.^ 
p.  268  n.  10,  and  Henzen  Acta  Fratnim  Aruafium  ind.  p.  213 
s.u.  ncUcUes  prinripum.  The  letter  referring  to  the  celebration 
of  Trajan's  birthday  one  year  later  is  x.  88  (Sel.  102).  On  the 
New-\ear  vows  see  x.  35  (Sel.  90),  100,  and  on  the  accession- 
day  vows,  X.  52  (Sel.  94),  102. 

a.  Pmsenslaiii :  Prusa  lay  in  the  extreme  western  corner 
of  Bithynia  at  the  northern  foot  of  the  Mysian  Olympus,  and 
was  the  third  city  of  the  province,  being  surpassed  only  by 
Nicaea  and  Nicomcdia.  It  was  founded  by  King  Prusias  I.  in 
accordance  with  the  plans  of  Hannibal,  who  lived  as  an  exile 
at  his  court  (Pliii.  iV.  H.  v.  148).  Its  modem  representative, 
Bmssa,  is  a  large  and  important  city. 

impendia  . .  excutio  :  the  authority  of  the  emx>cror  (an<l 
therefore  of  his  kifcUu'*)  over  the  local  governments  in 
imperial  provinces  was  extreme.  Besides  thosw;  of  the  citv  of 
Prusa  (see  also  x.  23,  70)  Pliny  regulated  the  financial  affiiirs 
and  buihlin<4  o|>crations  of  the  cities  «»f  NiconuMlia  (x.  37, — 
Sel.  92,— 41',  49,  (»l),  Nicnca  and  Claudiopolis  (39).  Bywintiuni 
(43).  A|ximea  (47),  Sino|M;  (<M»).  AniiitUH  (92),  and  Amastris  (98). 
2i> 


418  C.  PLINI  EPISTTLAE  SELECTAE.         8SL1 


a  pzinatifl  d«tla«iitDr :  by  the  iex  Imiia  de  rtgidmB  a 
penon  keeping  bsck  money  toe  ezpenditiire  of  which  wm 
entniiite«l  to  him  hy  the  state  for  a  qiecific  poMic  purpoee, 
won  <'<Mii|ielle<l  t»  ixqitore  the  full  anKmnt,  and  furthcrinore 
WA»  |>iiiiiiiheil  liy  a  rinee<|ua1  to  one-third  ot  the  moa^  thus 
«IctaiiuHl  (/>»';/.  xi.viii.  13.  5).  Labeo,  however,  held  him  to 
Iw  guilty  of  pf^rn/atHM,  the  punish ineut  of  which  {Dtg  xlviil 
13.  3)  was  dt/iortatio  (see  I.  5.  5,— Sel.  4, — n.  rtteffolw),  in- 
volv'tng  lr>ss  of  civil  rights  and  confiscation  of  property  {Dig. 
XLviii.  13.  11.  6).  The  monies  Pliny  thus  recalled  in  other 
cities  he  had  difficulty  in  investingat  favonrable  rates  (see  X. 
M,--8el.  96).  That  recalled  at  Pmsa  was  naed  in  meeting 
part  of  the  expense  of  restoring  the  public  baths  (see  X.  23). ' 

wrtirtme  Isfttimis  lomptltms:  sudi  were  the  public 
expenditure  for  oil  at  Prusa  (x.  23.  2),  and  at  Byauitium  for 
special  messengers  with  complimentaiy  resolutions  sent  each 
ytmr  to  the  emperor  and  to  the  governor  of  lower  Moesia 
(X.  43). 

4.  In  ipso  Ingxena  meo :  Pliny  could  hardly  be  expected 
to  beffin  work  on  the  accounts  of  the  Pkusenses  on  the  very 
day  <3  his  arrival  there,  nor  yet  perhaps  on  the  festival  i 
the  emperor  s  birthday.  A  leeway  of  two  davs  or  so  most  be 
allowed,  and  no  strict  interpretatjon  of'the  phrase  beinsirted 
npoQ. 

M.     (X17S.) 

Renorting  arrival  and  asking  for  a  snrv^or.— This  letter 
was  clearly  a  postscript  to  the  preceding,  despatched  a  day 
or  two  later  by  another  courier.  In  the  uncertamty  whether 
it  might  not  reach  the  emperor  before  its  predecessor,  Pliny 
repeau  here  in  brief  form  the  news  he  had  before  given. 

aa :  cf.  I.  IS.  5  (SeL  12)  n.  on. 

isasoirEm :  t.e.  an  tarchtUctua,  or  surveyor,  whose  duty 
:t  «xwld  be  to  determine  the  measurements  of  the  mason- 
W4x^  for  which  the  contractor  was  to  receive  payment  aocord- 
:n^  lA  ci;V>ic  dimensions.  For  false  measurements  he  was 
«saS^e  to  penalty  as  for  fraud  (Dig.  XL  6.  7). 

ccratodbos  opemm :  public  officials  delegate«l  to  let  con- 
ic-fc^-i*  Mi>«i  ox-erst^e  the  work.  They  might  connive  with  the 
x"\*»i.:i*c<^'xr.  an<l  draw  more  money  from  the  treasury  than 
WAS  pr<i>perly  «ine  him  under  the  contract,  turning  a  consider- 
a>^  Ty»?4^ne  into  their  own  pockets. 
^finannal  coHdittotu 

with  fJtptrkJ  cart :    not  *  at  this  precise 
nvwxT.ts'  «hich  would  be  «mnc  cnm  maxime. 


86.  1.  NOTES.  419 


85.  (X.  18[29].) 

In  answer  to  the  two  preceding  letters. 

1.  cuperem  :  for  the  more  common  iielleni^  as  also  in  vi.  C.  1 
si  quaiido  nunc  praeciptie  ru}tcrem  es.se  te  Raniae, 
tuorum  :  see  x.  15  (Sel.  81)  n.  meis. 

3.  lis  operibus,  etc.  :  tlie  most  important  public  work  in 
process  of  construction  at  Rome  was  the  great  Forum  of 
Trajan,  with  its  magnificent  adjacent  buildings.  The  Ostian 
harbour  must  have  been  begun  at  about  this  time,  and  also 
that  at  Ancona.  Other  well-known  works  were  constructed 
earlier  in  Trajan's  reign.— Pliny  was  continually  asking  for 
architects,  surveyors,  or  the  like,  and  Trajan  usually  declining 
to  send  them,  or  ignoring  the  request :  cf.  e.g.  x.  37,  38  (Sell. 
92,  93),  39,  40. 

modo  uelis  :  modo  is  not  '  equivalent  to  si  modo^  but 
udis  is  a  hortatory  subjunctive  of  the  second  person  with 
definite  subject  (ct.  i.  10.  11, — Sel.  7,  n.  uenids,  permiUaa)^ 
and  is  co-ordinated  with  detrunt^  thus  taking  the  place  of  a 
conditional  protasis.  Cf.  for  an  analogous  use  1. 12.  8  (Sel.  8) 
n.  dedisses. 

86.  (X.29[88].) 

The  discovery  of  slaves  among  recruits. 

1.  Sempronins  Caelianus :  otherwise  unknown,  but  ap- 
parently a  military  tribune  or  prefect. 

tirones :  the  size  of  the  army  was  usually  kept  up  at  this 
time  not  by  the  levying  of  entirely  fresh  ))odies  of  troops,  but 
bv  the  annual  supply  of  new  men  to  fill  vacancies  in  the 
already  existing  companies.  The  best  account  of  the  system 
of  levies  in  imperial  times  is  by  Mommsen  in  Hermes  xix. 
1-79,  210-234. 

seruos:  in  the  earlier  days  of  the  republic  service  in 
the  army  was  the  privilege  as  well  as  the  duty  of  Roman 
citizens  only.  Even  in  Trajan's  time  the  regular  legions  were 
composed  entirely  of  Roman  citizens,  though  non-burgesses 
might  be  admitted  to  sen'ice  in  the  auxiliary  troops  (and  in 
legioiiea  I.  et  II.  adiiitrirfs)^  and  even  freedmen  might  serve  in 
the  fleet  and  the  mtjileM.  Slaves  had  always  been  excluded 
from  service  except  in  times  of  great  emergency  or  of  revolu- 
tion, as  after  the  Ixittle  of  Cannae  (Seni.  on  Aen.  ix.  544),  or 
in  the  civil  wars  under  Marius.  Pompcy,  Brutus,  and  others. 
See  Dig,  XLix.  16.  11  ah  omni  mtlilia  serui  prohiberUur: 
alioquin  caftite  jnmiuntur. 


42U  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTTAE.         ge.L 

condltorem,  etc.  :  cf.  Pan.  6  corrtipta  est  dMciplim 
rwttrarum  fi/  /n  rarrerior  emendaforqtte  ctm/tfifferts ;  ibid.  18 
qMttm  sjirnoHum  oU  etiim  qfutti  dtHcipfifmtn  raMimftun  fapwm 
.  i-H/iiic/aMqitc  vf/ouUtiy  etc. 

2.  at  ...  ita  :  the  (Nirticlcs  stiuid  in  tiiat  adversative 
i.orrclatioii  (*  although  .  .  .  yet  *)  which  occurs  now  and 
then  in  Cicero,  but  much  more  frequently  in  later  writers. 

aacmnento  (sc.  milUari) :  the  oath  taken  by  all  soldiers, 
and  esteemed  of  an  especially  binding  character,  so  that 
violation  of  it  was  ne/as^  and  punishable  by  death ;  see 
Pionys.  X.  18  9ti  irdrrei  6fuafi6KCuri  t6p  arpoTKariKbv  Hpic», 
aKoKovOifiaet»  roii  vrdrois  i^*  o&s  &v  KaXwpreu  woXi/iaut  koI 
tdfTt  diro\eltf/eiv  rd  arifuta,  fii/fT€  AWo  irpd^iv  /tridhf  ^^orr/or  rtfi 
p6fufi  (cf.  Veg.  II.  5) ;  Sen.  Ep.  95.  «35  jnimum  milifiae 
ninculum  Mi  rdigio  et  nfjnorum  amor  et  deserendi  n^/as.  The 
oath  was  taken  anew  on  the  accession  of  a  new  emperor,  and 
renewed  on  each  anniversary  of  his  accession  (see  x.  />2,  — SeL 
94),  and  (at  least  in  the  earlier  empire)  at  the  1>eginning  of 
each  calendar  year  (see  Tac.  //tV.  i.  55),  though  Pliny  does 
not  mention  it  expressly  then  (see  x.  35, — Sel.  90 ;   1 02). 

nmneros  :  a  general  name  for  any  military  troop  under  a 
single  command  (see  Mommsen  in  Hermes  Xix.  219  tf.).  The 
point  here  is  that  until  the  assignment  was  made  the  recruits 
might  be  regarded  as  not  fully  mustered  in.  So  Pliny  in  iii. 
8.  4  remarks  that  the  military  tribunate  promised  Suetonius 
can  lie  readily  passed  on  to  his  friend,  neque  enini  cuUkne 
nomen  in  numeros  rekUum  est. 


87.     (X.S0[39].) 
In  answer  to  the  preceding  letter. 

1.  uoluntarii :  poverty,  and  the  rewards  of  the  militaiy 
(yirccr,  c»pccially  to  the  sons  of  veterans,  iiiducc<l  many  to 
vohmtccr. 

an :  on  the  absence  of  an  interrogative  particle  from  the 
first  mcnilKjr  of  the  double  question  see  i.  KS.  2  (Sel.  12) 
n.  an. 

lecti :  the  large  mass  of  troops  composed  of  non-burgrsses 
(n^Lritia)  was  recruited  in  tlic  iinpcrial  provinces  by  authority 
of  the  legatfiH  through  sul)ordinate  officials  of  equestrian  rank 
{dUertatorea).  Italy  and  the  senatorial  provinces  were  drawn 
u|)oii  for  the  moat  part  only  for  lecjionariei»  and  for  the 
garrison  of  the  e^ipital,  an<l  this  without  conscription,  save  in 
exceptional  cases. 


88. 2.  NOTES.  421 

uicaxii  :  this  is  t)ie  earliest  reference  to  the  provision  of  a 
sul)6titnte  by  a  conscript  unwilling  to  serve,  though  the 
practice  of  allowing  such  substitution  grew  to  great  propor- 
tions in  later  days. 

2.  inqulsitio  :  the  formal  examination  of  conscripts  and 
volunteers  as  to  their  civil  and  physical  status. 

animaduertendum  (sc.  inorte) :  see  note  on  sertioit  in 
preceding  letter. 

probati,  accepted  :  ac.  after  the  inquisilio. 

88.     (X.  33  [42].) 

Proposing  the  formation  of  a  volunteer  fire-company  at 
Nicomedia.  —  At  Rome,  where  destructive  fires  were  lament- 
ably frequent,  Augustus  organized  as  a  fire  brigade  and 
night-police  seven  cohortts  uvfUum  of  a  thousand  or  more  men 
Ciich  under  the  command  of  a  special  prefect.  But  in  other 
places  such  protection  was  left  to  private  initiative,  or  to  such 
collegia  fabrorum  as  Pliny  wished  to  organize. 

1.  Nicomedia:  the  capital  city  founded  by  king  Nico- 
medes  1.  (264  B.C.)  on  the  north  side  of  the  nnu%  Aata^enus 
(a  branch  of  the  Propontis).  It  was  the  chief  city  of  the 
province,  and  under  Diocletian,  who  made  it  his  residence 
the  most  important  city  of  Asia  Minor,  yielding  only  in  later 
days  to  the  rising  glories  of  Constantinople.  Its  ruins  are 
still  called  Isnlkmld  (i.e.  eis  Ncxofii^ecay),  or,  more  colloijuinll}', 
Isinld. 

qoanquam  :  see  i.  1*2.  3  (2Sel.  8)  n.  qiurnqtiam,  and  vi.  16. 
12  (Scl.  45)  n.  qua-nqvam, 

Gemsian :  a  sort  of  *old  men's  home,*  or,  like  tlie 
Athenian  vpvra^uov^  an  endowed  establishment  where  deserv- 
ing old  men  couhl  be  ciircd  for  free  of  exiiense  to  themselves. 

Iseon,  t*in])fe  of  lain  :  the  worship  of  this  Egyptian  deity 
ha<l  spread  through  the  Greek  settlements  of  the  Aegean  Sea 
and  of  Asia  Minor  as  early  as  the  third  century  before  Christ, 
following  the  lines  of  commerce  with  Egypt,  |>erhap8  because 
Isis  w«as  especially  revered  as  mistress  of  tlic  sea  and  guardian 
of  Siiilors. 

2.  sipbo,  Jircfuijhir. :  probnbly  on  the  principle  of  a  large 
tubular  syringe,  with  pisUm  ;  cf.  iMitl.  Orhj.  \\.  (i.  0  sifihnu 
luisaftjrtf/atiiin  ((iumI  atfiius  sujjhiinht  fnuihtl  :  ntiinlur  i  ti'nn  Inn- 
orifn((i/rs  .  nam  itld  siwuriiil  tloninm  nrdrrv,^  rnniiuf  rum 
Mip/io»iihiif(  jiliiUM  atfvti^  ct  vxfhujtiiittf  wrtndia.  ttedef  ntt/ianiM 
txprt'stiiH  ad  sujitrioi'a  uz/mm  tmutuluut.     The  alleged  eastern 


422  a  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.         88. 2. 

origin  of  the  oontrivance  probably  explains  the  fact  that  the 
word  occurs  first  here  in  this  meaning.  Sifimea  are  named 
along  with  vinegar,  mats  and  mattings,  pole-hooks,  ladders, 
sponges,  backets  {harma^),  and  brooms  as  fire-apparatus  for  a 
private  house  by  Ulpian  in  Dig,  xxxnL  7.  12.  18. 

8.  collegium  Ikteomm :  voluntary  associations  of  this  sort 
date  often  from  tolerably  early  republican  days,  and  appear, 
like  certain  of  the  *  priesthoods,'  to  have  been  orsanixed 
ori|(inaUy  on  a  religious  basis.  In  their  form  during  uie  late 
republic  they  may  he  diflerentiated  into  ritual-clubs,  composed 
of  especial  devotees  of  some  particular  divinity  ;  burial-clubs, 
chiefly  of  poor  people,  to  provide  a  common  burial-plaoe  and 
conduct  the  obeeouies  of  members  at  common  expense ;  and 
trades-unions,  unaer  which  name  were  often  concealed  mere 
political  associations.  These  last  caused  no  end  of  dis- 
turbance in  Rome  and  elsewhere  as  centres  of  riot  and  revolt, 
and  often  had  to  be  put  down  by  the  stem  hand  of 
authority. — Collegia  fdbrum,  collegia  cetUonariorum,  and 
collegia  denflrophorum  are  often  mentioned  in  municipal 
inscriptions,  either  separately  or  jointly ;  and  as  ceiUofies,  or 
especially  prepared  mattings,  were  soaked  in  vinegar  and 
used  to  protect  inflammable  objects  from  fire  (Non.  91  8.0.), 
and  perhaps  also  to  smother  flames,  some  scholars  are  of  the 
opinion  that  the  municipalities  were  accustomed  to  organise 
fire-brigades  under  these  titles.  The  meaning  of  dendrcphori 
in  this  connection  is  not  dear;  but  cf.  De-Marchi  Chdto 
PrivcUo  II.  (Milan,  1903)  pp.  102  ff. 

dumtaxat,  only :  see  i.  2.  2  (Sel.  2)  n.  dunUaxat, 
ne  qnis  nisi  fiiber  redpiatnr:    so  that  no  demagogue 
might  sain  membership  and  manipulate  the  organization  for 
political  purposes. 

lure  concesso  :  Trajan  had  ordered  the  dissolution  of  all 
clubs  {hetaeriae ;  see  x.  96.  7, — Sel.  104),  and  none  could  lie 
fomied  without  his  special  license ;  cf.  also  Marcianus  in  Dig. 
XLvii.  22.  1  mandatia  prificipalifnis  praecipitur  praetiidibua 
proHinciarum  ne  paliantur  esne  collegia  sodalicia  (the  section 
goes  on  to  state  that  purely  religious  and  benevolent  associa- 
tions may  be  permitted,  h\x%  the  Tatter  must  hold  no  more  than 
one  meeting  u  month,  and  no  man  may  be  a  member  of  more 
than  one  cUlegiuvi). 

89.     (X.  34  [43 1.) 
Ill  answer  t«>  the  prccc<ling  letter. 

1.  eas  ciuitates :  t.r.  Nicomcdiu  and  the  cities  that  lay  ueai 
it, — especially  perhaps  Nicaea. 


92. 1.  NOTES.  423 

in  idem, /or  a  common  purpose, 

hetaeriae  :  see  Gaius  in  Dig.  xlvii.  22.  4  sodales  sftnt  qui 
eitisdem  collegii  sunt  ;  qnam  Graeci  h-aipeiav  uocant. 

inMbeant,  use  :  the  necessary  apparatus  is  to  be  provided 
at  public  expense,  but  the  owner  of  property  attacked  or 
endangered  by  fire  is  to  use  it  himself  (through  his  slaves), 
and,  when  necessary,  the  chance  crowd  that  may  gather  is  to 
be  pressed  into  temporary  8er\'ice  as  a  fire-brigade.  The 
futility  of  such  a  scheme  is  self-evident,  and  the  proposition  is 
surprising  when  Trajan's  usual  practical  good  sense  is  con- 
sidered. But  evidently  he  thought  clubs  more  to  be  di'eaded 
than  fires. 

90.     (X.  35  [44].) 

New- Year  congratulations  and  good  wishes. — The  date  is 
the  January  after  Pliny's  arrival  in  the  province.  The  cor- 
responding letter  of  the  next  year  is  x.  100,  which  is  the 
same  in  substance,  though  slightly  fuller  in  expression. 

soUemnia  acta,  ctmtomary  vows :  cf.  Tac.  Nist.  i.  55 
solemni  KcUendarum  lanitariai-um  Sacramento ;  Aim.  xvi.  22 
principio  anni  vitare  Thraseam  sollemne  ius  iuraiidum.  In 
republican  times  the  consuls  on  each  first  day  of  January  went 
in  state  to  the  capitol,  offered  sacrifices  of  white  bulls  (see 
VIII.  8.  1, — Sel.  57, — n.  Clitumnum  foutem)  in  payment  of 
vows  made  the  year  b<;fore  for  the  welfare  of  the  state,  and 
made  new  vows  for  the  year  to  come.  From  the  year  30  b.c. 
additional  vows  in  behalf  of  the  emperor  were  introduced, 
and  at  an  early  period  in  the  first  century  a.d.  these  were 
transferred  to  the  third  day  of  January  (the  second  being  dies 
cUer),  See  Marquardt  Staaisreno,  iii.^  p.  266  f. ;  cf.  on  the 
celebration  of  the  emperor's  birthday,  x.  17a.  2  (Sel.  83)  n. 
cdebrare ;  on  the  anniversary  celebration  of  his  accession,  x. 
52  (Sel.  94). 

signari,  sealed  (i.q.  suscipi  or  ntincujxiri) :  the  figure  is 
taken  from  the  formal  sealing  of  a  legal  dr^cunient  that  its 
terms  might  not  be  made  accessible  to  alteration  without 
detection. 

92.     (X.   37  [46].) 
An  aqueduct  for  Nicomedia. 

1.  HS.  |Xni  CCCXXVIIII:  i.e..  ;^,;{J0,0OO  sesterces  {tfr  tf 
Iricies  cenlena  milia  et  uujhUi  nouun  milia  scsiwdum);  aliout 
£36,400,  or  $175,000. 


I 


434  a  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.         92. 1. 

destructos  :  eN-idcutly  for  the  sake  of  using  the  blocks  of         w 
cut  stone  for  bailding  material  elsewhere   (see  §  2),  as  so  I 

many  ancient  rains  at  Rome  were  destroyed  in  the  middle 
and  later  ages. 

CC  :  i.«.  200,000  sesterces  {durenia  miiia  aesteriiutn) ; 
alx>ut  £2,200  or  910,500. 

2.  areiiato  opere :  i.e.  with  the  cement-lined  channel 
i^pecws)  for  the  water,  open  to  the  air  at  certain  points,  car- 
ried at  a  gradual  rate  of  descent  from  the  source  to  the  city 
upon  continuous  supports  of  arched  masonry,  like  those  that 
still  remain  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Rome,  as  in  other  parts 
of  the  Roman  world.  The  Romans  were  perfectly  accjuainted 
with  the  principle  of  hydrostatics  that  water  in  a  closed  pipe 
'  finds  its  own  level,'  and  this  principle  they  followed  in  the 
distribution  of  water  through  lesser  mains  and  service-pipes 
of  lead  within  the  city.  But  the  lack  of  cast-iron  pipes, 
which  would  withstand  the  great  pressure  of  an  underground 
atjueduct,  and  the  demands  of  their  system  of  settling  and 
filtering  the  water,  and  cleaning  the  conduits,  as  well  as  the 
cheapness  of  labour,  led  them  to  conduct  their  water-supply 
into  reservoirs  within  their  cities  in  the  fonn  of  strnuns 
flowing  at  a  gentle  rate  in  an  artificial  channeL 

ne  tantam,  etc.  :  i.e.  the  expense  of  lofty  arches  of 
masonry  might  I)e  saved,  to  be  sure,  by  leading  the  water 
quicklv  down  from  the  hills  to  the  plain,  whence  the  channel 
could  be  built  near  or  below  the  surface  of  the  ground  for  a 
considerable  portion  of  its  length  (as  was  the  case  witli  some 
of  the  aqueducts  at  Rome) ;  but  in  that  case  the  water 
would  flow  into  the  city  at  so  low  a  level  as  not  to  supply 
its  upper  regions. 

manent,  etc. :  some  completed  arches  of  the  former  work 
were  yet  standing,  and  coula  be  used  ;  certain  othei-s  had  in- 
ductl  been  torn  down,  but  the  S(|uared  blocks  of  stone  of 
which  they  were  oriuiiially  built  had  not  been  carried  oflf, 
and  they  could  easily  l)e  re-erected  ;  the  rest  of  the  structure 
might  better  be  built  of  brick-faced  concrete  {opitA  fe^Uweum), 
from  motives  of  economy,  instead  of  carrying  out  the  original 
plan  of  building  in  cut  stone  {opitx  qvadrntum^  fnpi^  qua- 
firnftui).  Pliny  follows  the  fashion  of  building  in  lloiiic,  where 
the  earlier  form  of  construe tiiiir  walls  and  vaults  in  solid 
at«»iu'  had  very  larg«*ly  iriv«'n  way  to  most  remarkably  strung 
ami  durable  t-oiiervte,  fac*i«l  with  luiok,  and  this  ag:iin,  in 
the  c;iiie  of  more  elegant  structures,  or  of  interiors,  coveretl 
with  tine  decorated  stucco,  or  with  incrustations  of  marble. 


94,  NOTES.  425 

8.  aquilegem,  cujtwdnct-expert :  «c.  to  take  charge  of  the 
building.  The  word  does  not  occur  in  Frontinus  (though  it  is 
found  both  earlier  and  later),  probably  because  at  Home  the 
curcUorea  aquarum,  acting  with  the  advice  of  architecti 
(Front.  Aq.  ii.  119),  discharged  the  duties  of  this  office. 
But  cf.  Corp.  Gloss,  Lot.  in.  439.  57  aguilex  vSpayuryin ;  ii. 
18.  45  (emend.  Goetz)  aquilices  ol  rd  irdpuypa  ipya^dfievoi,  oiov 
dxerdpioi,  iroraft?rat,  vSpwrKoiroi ;  v.  34*2.  5  aquilici  scrutcUores 
aq%iarum, — Trajan  had  before  declined  to  send  any  architect 
(see  X.  17b,  18, — Sell.  84,  85)  and  so  does  not  even  reply  to 
this  i-equest  for  an  expert  of  similar  sort  (see  next  letter). 

quod  acddit :  i.e.  some  jobbery  for  personal  profit  (see 
Trajan's  answer  below). 

saecnlo  :  see  x.  1.  2  (Sel.  73)  dvjna  saecnlo  tuo ;  iv.  11.  G 
(Sel.  32)  n.  scu'cvium  ;  i.  5.  11  (Sel.  4)  n.  sctectUi :  also  x.  41. 
1  oftera  »w»  minius  aetemitoute  tua  qiuini  yloina  digna  qvaiUum- 
qiie  pulchritudinis  tantum  utUitatis  hahitura. 

93.  (X.  38  [47].) 
In  answer  to  the  preceding  letter. 

2.  ne,  etc. ,  th<U  they  may  not  go  on  beginning  atui  abandon- 
ing aqueducts  loith  mutual  comjdaisance :  the  implication  is 
that  the  appropriations  were  managed  with  the  purpose  of 
diverting  the  funds  into  the  pockets  of  officials  and  con- 
tractors, who  purchased  mutual  concealment  by  sharing  the 
spoils. 

94,  (X.  52[60].) 

The  celebration  of  the  anniversary  of  I'rajaii's  accession. — 
The  letter  was  written  upon  or  soon  after  the  27th  of  January 
next  following  the  entrance  of  Pliny  upon  his  governorship. 
I'he  corresponding  letter  of  the  year  later  is  102,  which  is 
couched  in  similar  but  briefer  terms. 

diem :  sc.  Jan.  27  ;  see  introd.  note  to  x.  1  (Sel.  73). 

seruasti  Imperium  dum  suscipis,  yon  nared  thf  empire  by 
a^ntnmvuf  empire  :  for  a  similar  se([nence  of  a  present  indica- 
tive with  (hun  following  an  aoristic  perfect  indicative  sc<: 
V.  ().  1  nefaccrem  simsisti  dvm  /mfa.^  iiisn/nbrcs  ('thinking  it 
unhcjilthful ').  In  such  c<'isc>.s  tiic  f/i/7?f-(:Iausn  refers  to  an  act 
contemporaneous  with  that  expressttd  1>y  the  princifKil  clause, 
and  iH  entirely  d(;|>endcnt  of  tiu:  nu-tital  altitude  nr  time  of 
the  writer. 

geueri  humane,  etc.  :  cf.  ilic  .>intil<ir  c\prcsi»iuu&  in  .\.  1 
(Sel.  73). 


426  a  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  M. 

incolnmem  florentemque :  cf.  x.  1.  2  (Sel.  73)  forUm  U  et 
hUarrm ;  SS  (SeL  102)  incclximis  et  /artis ;  IQO  te  remque 
pubficam  flortiUem  et  incolumem, 

praeluimuB,  we  have  administered :  by  first  taking  the 
oath  himself,  and  then  dictating  it  to  his  sulK>rdinate8  for 
their  repetition,  through  whom  finally  it  M'as  administered  to 
all  the  soldiers. 

comxnilitonitnui :  the  word  occurs  not  infrequently  in 
writings  of  the  empire,  but  rarely  earlier,  for  the  simple 
viiiites.  Julius  Caesar  is  said  to  have  used  it  as  a  term  of 
flattery  in  addressing  his  soldiers  (Suet.  Jul.  67). 

las  iurandnxn :  i.e.  the  sacrarmrUum  milUare,  which  was 
taken  by  the  entire  army  of  uU  grades  on  the  accession  of  a 
new  emperor,  and  repeated  on  each  anniversary  thereof,  and 
at  the  beginning  of  each  calendar  year ;  see  x.  29.  2  (Sel.  86) 
n.  Sacramento, 

more  sollemnl,  c^fter  the  established  form :  cf.  x.  35  (Sel. 
90)  sollemnia  uota, 

e&dem  prouinclalibuB  iurantibas:  persons  engaged  in 
military  service  were  the  only  ones  who  were  compelled  to 
take  the  oath,  but  others  mieht  take  it  as  a  volantary 
testimony  of  loyalty  {e,g.  Tao.  Ann,  l  7),  and  some  instances 
are  recorded  of  provincial  governors  administering  it, 
apparently  as  a  I'equirement,  to  the  populace,  or  its  repre- 
sentatives (Taa  Ann,  i.  34 ;  Joseph.  Anttq.  xviu.  5.  3). 


Se.     (X.84[62].) 
The  investment  of  public  funds. 

1.  pecuniae  publicae :  sc.  such  as  the  funds  mentioned  in 
X.  17a.  3  (SeL  83). 

ezigontur :  cf.  x.  23  erit  enim  pecunia  ex  qua  fiat  \sc,  a 
public  bath  at  Prusa],  primum  ea  quam  reuocare  a  prituUis  et 
exifi^re  iam  coepi. 

«ttoiae,  unprodmtivei  jier  contra  to  lay  out  or  invest 
money  is  pecnniam  occujxire. 

nan  €t,  etc. :  for  little  real  estate  is  offered  for  sale,  and 
>y>rt'<m'ers  prefer  private  individuals  as  creditoi-s  rather  than 
^e  mWM<5ipality^  at  tlio  same  rate  of  interest, — doubtless 
bcn«i<*o  tV  muuiciivility  (loin;iii<lo«l  hetter  security  and  had 
niorc  strmgcnt  means  available  to  compel  prompt  |>aynicnt 
o(  interest  or  repayment  of  the  loans  (cf.  x.  108,  109).— 
Invesitment  ^  public  funds  in  real  estate  which  might  be 


97.  NOTES.  427 

worked  by  public  slaves  or  leased  was  common  ;  cf.  Cod.  lust. 
XI.  70  f.  de  praediis  ciuitatum ;  Gaius  Inst.  iii.  145  ;  Dig.  vi. 
3.  1-3;  PL  £Jp.  VII.  18. 

daodenis  assibos :  the  expression  is  unique  as  that  of  a 
rate  of  interest,  but  must  mean  an  annual  rate  of  twelve  asses 
in  every  hundred, — that  is,  twelve  per  cent.,  the  ordinary 
expression  for  which  is  wmrae  ceiUesimae  {i.e.  one  per  cent,  a 
month).  This  is  the  rate  that  Cicero  fixed  for  his  province  of 
Cilicia  as  the  maximum  (Cic.  AU.  v.  21.  11),  and  it  is 
mentioned  as  prevailing  elsewhere ;  though  Pliny  seems  to 
have  considered  six  per  cent,  a  normal  rate  in  his  time  in 
northern  Italy  (see  vu.  18).  On  the  whole  subject  see 
Marquardt  StcuUsveno.  ii.^  58  fif. 

2.  idoneos  deUtores  inuitandos  :  Pliny  had  a  special  duty 
in  supervising  public  investments,  not  merely  because  of 
Trajan's  particular  command  (x.  18.  3,— Sel.  85),  but  as  a 
part  of  his  regular  functions  as  a  provincial  governor;  see 
Ulpian  in  Dig.  xxii.  1.  83  jyrcieterea  jn-ospicere  debet  [praeses 
protUndae]  iie  jiecuniae  ptiblicae  credantur  sine  pignorihus 
idoneis  uel  hypothecis. 

nee  8ic : =ne  ^  qmdem. 

distrilmendam  inter  decoziones  peconiam :  ».e.  force  the 
decurions  to  take  the  money  and  pay  the  (reduced  rate  of) 
interest  upon  it.  Pliny  usually  does  not  originate  wildly 
extravagant  notions  of  administration,  but  either  follows 
precedents  or  shows  good  common-sense  and  justice.  In  this 
case  the  probability  is  that  such  action  as  he  suggests  had 
been  taken  in  Domitian's  reign  (see  the  close  of  Trajan's 
reply). — The  financial  burdens  of  municipal  office  came  to  be 
so  great  that  citizens  had  to  be  forced  to  assume  them  unless 
exempted  for  special  reasons  (see  Dig.  L.  4-6). 

deooriones :  see  iv.  7.  2  (SeL  31)  n.  decurianibns. 

ita  ut  recte,  etc.,  requiring  them  also  to  give  proper 
security  to  the  commune  [for  the  loan"]. 

(X.  55  [63].) 
In  answer  to  the  preceding  letter, 
modom  eius,  etc.  :  the  amount  of  the  reduction  is  to  be 
determined  according  to  the  law  of  supply  an<l  demand  by 
the  num1>er  of  intending  borrowers. 

fortassis :  a  f<»rin  (cf.  /m'/assf,)  occurring  not  infrer|uently 
in  the  mss.  of  Cicero,  but  generally  ruled  out  by  his  editors, 
a.s  by  tho»e  of  writers  of  the  following  age.  But  it  occurs 
very  frequently  in  late  Latin. 


428  C.  PUNI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  97. 

non  est  ex  iottitia  nostrorum  tempomm :  cf.  x.  i)7.  2 
(Sel.  10.5)  nam  ft  peHttimi  exeniidi  nee  luMri  «aentli  eM^  wlicre 
Trajan  is  referring  to  Domitiaii's  admiuistration.  Nor  were 
public  officials  compelled  to  pay  interest  ou  puhlic  funds  left 
in  their  charge  ;  see  Ditj.  l.  1.  24  constUtUumibtitt  pj-inei/nim 
catUinelttr  ul  pecuniae  qnae  ex  delrimento  soluitur  umircLe  non 
proMtentur, 

98.     (X.  66  [71].) 

Oo  the  civil  status  of  castaway  children. 

1.  de  condidone  et  alimentU  :  t.e.  whether  infanta  of  free 
birth  (see  Trajan's  answer)  who  were  exposed  by  their  parents 
and  rescued  and  reared  by  strangers  lost  thereby  their  con- 
dition of  freedom  ;  and  if  they  did  not  lose  it,  how  the  persons 
rearing  them  could  get  reimbursement  for  the  expense  involved 
therein  ;  and  as  few  persons  would  rear  these  castaways  as  a 
purely  charitable  act  (should  it  be  ruled  that  reimbursement 
could  not  be  gained  by  detaining  them  as  slaves),  whether  and 
how  their  support  should  be  provided  for  by  the  commune. 

Opfirrovs :  cf.  Corp,  Olo8S,  IxU.  ii.  329.  8  $p€TT&s  alitntntu 
nuiriciua ;  though  the  word  appears  to  be  usea  sometimes  of 
an  ordinary  slave  bom  and  reared  in  the  fantUia  (Liat.  uenia), 
its  meaning  here  is  defined  in  the  first  sentence  of  Trajan's 
answer  (see  below). — According  to  the  strict  logic  of  the 
fKLtria  potentcu  among  the  Romans,  the  father  of  a  child  had 
the  right  to  determine,  immediately  upon  its  birth,  whether 
it  should  be  reared  or  not.  In  case  of  his  decision  in  the 
negative  the  infant  w^is  either  put  to  death  or  exposed  in  sumc 
frequented  or  unfrequented  spot  to  whatever  lot  fate  might 
bring.  Slave-dealers  found  it  to  their  advantage  to  be  on  the 
lookout  for  such  abandoned  infants,  and  other  people  were 
often  not  averse  to  rearing  them  for  the  sake  of  their  later 
service.  The  theoretically  uin-estricted  ri^jht  of  the  father  thus 
to  expose  his  children  wjus  early  limited  (IMonysius  ii.  15  says 
under  lloumlus),  and  this  legal  circumscription  in  the  intei-csts 
of  humanity  proceeded  until  Alexander  Severus  made  such 
exposure  the  equivalent  of  murder  (/>/V/.  XX v.  3.  4).  But  it 
wjvs  not  infrccjucntly  practised  during  all  the  ancient  pcrio<l. 

2.  constitutionibus  prindpum :  sec  x.  2.  1  (Sel.  74)  n. 
reacripio.  Of  the  other  main  forms  of  the  goiicric  rmistihUio, 
th<!  eilictum  was  tin?  successor  <»f  the  pi;M»tor'M  LMlict  of 
republican  times,  but  din'crcd  from  it  iu  liciiig  not  tiic  sUiti' 
niout  of  ii  ^unt;ral  program  of  hr^al  procedure  and  inturprrUi 
tiou,  but  the  enunciation  often  of  a  single  point  of  law  ;  while 


98. 3.  NOTES.  429 

the  decrefnm  was  technically  the  decision  of  an  individual  issue 
niade  b3'  the  emperor  sitting  in  court.  These  forms  of  utter- 
ance (like  in  many  cases  the  reHrripta)  ha<l  theoi-ctioal  validity 
only  so  far  as  the  authority  of  the  cnqHjror  extended  during 
his  own  lifetime  ;  hut  as  suotuieding  emperore  ciunc,  almost  of 
natural  necessity,  to  regard  carefully  the  precedents  of 
decisions  made  by  their  predecessors,  the  cmistitutiotiea  prin- 
cipvm  came  to  have  a  standing  application  and  force  of  law, 
though  of  course  subject  to  reversal  by  imperial  authority. 
In  Plin^^'s  time  this  point  had  hardly  been  reached  ;  but  see 
Ulpian  in  Dig.  i.  4.  1  quod  pnncipi  jicKiiU  letjis  habet  mtjorem 
.  .  .  qtuxicumque  igiinr  intperator  jter  ejmttdam  et  stibscrip- 
tionem  statuit  [i.q.  rescriptum],  wl  cogitMcewt  decrenit  [i.q. 
decrctum],  ttel  de  piano  interloaUus  esly  nel  enlicto  praecepitf 
Utjem  esse  ronatcU, 

ant  proprium  ant  uniuersale  :  i.e.  either  establishing  a 
precedent  by  the  decision  of  an  individual  case,  or  laying 
down  a  general  course  of  action. 

quod  ad  Bithynos  referretur :  Trajan  seems  inclined  to  lay 
stress  upon  local  customs  and  precedents  (cf.  e.g.  x.  69,  109, 
113),  and  Pliny,  finding  no  record  of  decisions  directed  to  the 
Bithynians  specifically,  desires  an  authoritative  utterance 
{auctoritatem  Itiam),  particularly  as  the  matter  seemed  of  too 
great  importance  to  be  determined  by  mere  precedent. 

3.  redtalMitnr :  t.e.  looked  up  and  read  to  him  by  one  of 
his  official  secretaries,  or  perhaps  cited  by  the  counsel  in  a 
contested  case  brought  before  Pliny  fof  decision. 

edictnm :  see  note  above  on  coiistiltUionihus  jnHncijmm. 
Edicts,  to  be  sure,  usually  concerned,  if  not  general  principles, 
at  least  classes  of  people  rather  than  individuals,  but  it  is  by 
no  means  certain  that  this  was  always  true. 

dini:  see  iv.  11.  14  (Sel.  32)  n.  diui. 

ad  Annlam  pertinenB  :  the  omission  of  the  mention  of  the 
province  within  which  this  unknown  Annia  lived  may  l>e 
explained  by  the  fragmentary  condition  of  the  rccoras  or 
rc|iorts  which  is  mentioned  just  lielow.  But  furthermore  it  is 
l»y  no  means  certain  that  edicts  (or  other  cwiMihUioius)  were 
published  officially  through  all  the  provinces. 

epistulae  :  written  directions  to  some  official  or  people, 
usually  in  answer  to  some  petition  or  representation.  In  the 
latter  case,  especially  \%*hen  <lirected  to  a  responsible  official, 
they  arc  proptTly  *re5*cTif»ts'  (see  l>'nj.  i.  4.  I  cited  on  §2). 

[Achaeos] :  apparently  an  early  gloss  on  fa<*ffem.  The 
emperor  wouhl  l>e  unlikely  to  address  directly  the  people  of 


4»  a  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.        98. 3 

aa  cBtine  prorioee,  where  be  was  daly  represented  by  the 
aopoaited  gorerBor,  thoagfa  be  might  address  directly  through 
ttrir  «lagnttates  the  people  of  a  eiwUvf  foederata  like  Sparta 
4aee  \ni.  i4.  2» — SeL  60, — n.  lUterarttm  duUatuw), 


I :  doabtless  of  the  province  of  Achaia,  within 
Um-  «rritorr  of  which  Uy  Sparta  and  other  'free  cities '  (see 
»oc«»  OB  Tin.  34, — SeL  GO).  C.  Anidias  Nigrinus  appears 
ala»  u>  hare  been  at  one  time  a  special  legate  of  Trajan  to 
AchAiA :  see  C./.L.  m.  567,  =  Wilmanns  874. 

imeorrectly  copiedL 

lldAi,  tome  jMuaagtsofdtnihtfvl 


\  vn.  27.  14  (SeL  54)  n.  acrtnsb. 


m.   (X.  «6  in\) 

1m  WKPrntf  to  ihe  preceding  letter. 

1.  CHiMHttKtii,  rtewdsi  apparently  in  the  same  meaning 
at  JcriBtM  aft  tlie  doae  of  the  preceding  letter.  Cf.  also 
X.  MB  Madias  nc  im»  QbiViYict  lyerri  m  commaUanM  mt09 

%,  mA  iHttm^  cte. :  oa  Trajan's  regard  f <Nr  local  usage  and 
i^gBlataoB  «ea  aote  oa  $2  ^mnI  md  HUkjfmM  r^errtiwr  of  the 
preoeaii^  letter. 

«dsstioani,  e(e. :  in  case  of  the  claim  of  a  person  that 
he  was  iUegally  held  in  slavery  be  was  represented  before  the 
osvrft  o£  the  praetor  by  an  cutierior  who  laid  his  hand  upon 
hna  («MHw  mkmrerr)  wjdA  claimed  posncnnion  of  him  in  a  set 
font  of  wxkrds^  The  presomptive  owner  did  the  same,  and 
the  issBe  thus  joined  was  decided  by  the  court  in  settled 
form  <see  Gatas  nr.  16).  Trajan  decides  that  the  claim  to 
li^ertT  made  in  behalf  of  a  slave  on  the  ground  that  he  was 
Worn  Yinee^  bat  expoeed  as  an  infant,  a»d  so  brought  up  in 
slaT«ffy«  is  noc  to  he  denied ;  nor  can  the  person  thus  declared 
free  be  hdil  to  the  pA3rment  of  the  allied  cost  of  his  bringing- 
op.  Coostantine  (in  331  a.d.)  reversed  the  decision  of 
TVajoa  (CW.  Tkeod^  v.  7.  1),  ruling  that  the  man  who  rescueil 
aa*!  Wo^ht  op  an  exposed  child  acquired  a  property  right  in 
boa  Kk«  that  of  the  folria  or  tiamndca  poieMas,  Justinian 
Wc»««««r(ia  St29  a.d.)  reverted  to  Trajan's  ruling  {CodL  IwU. 
wn.  ^K  3K  iu»i  even  went  beyond  it,  declaring  that  such  a 
chiM  evea  thon^  of  servile  ongin  should  be  adjudged  free. 


100.  1.  NOTES.  431 

100.     (X.  79  [83].) 
On  a  question  of  membership  in  municipal  senates. 

1.  Pompeia  lege  :  Niconietles  III.  (l*hiIopatoi),  who  died  in 
74  B.C.,  left  his  realm  by  will  to  the  llomans.  Mithradates, 
king  of  the  neighbouring  Pontus,  immediately  retorted  by  in- 
vading the  newly  acquired  territory,  and  onlj»^  after  his  final 
subjugation  by  Pompey  (0*5  a.d.)  was  Bithynia  finally 
organized  as  a  province,  with  the  addition  to  it  of  a  large 
part  of  the  territory  of  Pontus.  The  lex  prmiinciae  (here 
called,  from  the  name  of  the  officer  promulgating  it,  the  lex 
Pompeia ;  of.  also  x.  112.  1  lex  Pompeia  qua  Bithyni  et 
PorUici  tUuntur ;  also  114,  115),  by  M'hicli  the  constitution 
and  administrative  forms  of  the  new  province  were  established, 
was  doubtless  determined  in  this  case,  as  regularly,  by  a 
commission  of  ten  senators  from  Rome  acting  in  conjunction 
with  the  conquering  general,  under  instructions  from  the 
senate.  This  lex  was  subject  to  correction  and  supplement  by 
specific  decrees  of  the  senate,  or  rulings  of  the  governor, 
or  under  the  empire  by  the  ordinary  forms  of  imperial  leffisla- 
tion.  Remains  of  such  leges  are  printed  t;onveniently  in 
Bnms  FonUs.* 

magistratiim  :  Bithynia  proper  was  divided  into  twelve 
citUtcUes  (PL  N.ff.  v.  143)  and  Pontus  (by  Pompey)  into 
eleven.  £!ach  of  these  had  its  local  senate  and  masistrates, 
organized  doubtless  as  far  as  possible  upon  the  model  of  the 
Roman  municipal  governments.  But  here  as  elsewhere  the 
Romans  doubtless  did  not  destroy  entirely  already  existing 
forms  of  local  government. 

miiior  annomiii  tiic^ixita :  here  and  in  §3  (of.  also  Trajan's 
answer)  quam  is  omitted  after  the  comparative  of  the 
adjective  wit^umt  affecting  the  case  of  the  following  nonn 
('  genitive  of  quality ') ;  in  §  4  however  the  more  commcni  txm- 
struction  ia  employed  of  the  ablative  modifying  the  compara- 
tive. Cf.  in  the  lex  MalacUana  coL  1 ,  11.  62.  65  (Brnns  FanUt* 
p.  148)  qtd  minor  annorum  XX  V.  erii  .  .  .  ([ui  minor  qtiam 
annorwn  XXV.  erit;  and  not  infrequently  elsewhere.— The 
quaestorship  was  at  Rome  the  lowest  office  of  the  regular 
cwTAWi  hoHontm^  and  earned  with  it  admission  to  membership 
in  the  senate.  The  age-qualification  for  holding  it  was  in 
Pompejr's  time  thirty  years  ;  and  Julius  Caesar's  lex  mumiei' 
palif  fixed  that  ace  as  necessary  for  the  holding  of  office  in  a 
municipality,  unless  certain  military  ser\'ice  had  prece<1ed 
(see  text  in  Brnns  Fottfes*  p.  100).  Pompey *8  /«'x  doubtless 
followed  the  same  R4muui  principle. 


4^:^  C.  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.      100.1        | 

ut  qui  ceperint  magistratom  sint  in  senata :  cf.  amiUrW       < 
the  lex  IfUia  munidpcUis  11.  135-137  in  Brans  Fonie»*  p.  Ill 
a.  edictnm :    sec    x.    65.    2    (Scl.  98)  n.    conntitfUionii>w 
jjrindjrum, 

dial:  cf.  IV.  11.  14  (Scl.  32)  n.  diui. 

Augasti :  Dio  Cassius  (liv.  7.  4)  esj^ially  refers  to  his 
ordering  of  affairs  in  Asia  and  Bithynia  in  his  journey  there 
in  tlie  spring  of  20  b.c. 

mlnores  magistratus :  doubtless  the  two  quaestorshipB 
which  usually  existed  in  each  municipality  or  colony.  Two 
curatwts  fanorum  also  existed  in  some  oases,  but  it  Is  not 
likely  that  they  w«Te  necessarily  decurions. 

ZXV. :  the  age  for  the  quaestorship  at  Rome,  the  lowest 
office  of  the  curtma  ftonorunit  and  the  one  that  gave  admission 
to  membership  in  the  senate,  had  been  lowered  since  the  time 
of  the  republic  from  thirty  (see  note  al)ove  on  miliar  aimortm 
triffinta)  to  twenty -five  years,  and  that  seems  to  have  lieen 
the  prevailing  age  qualification  everywhere  else  for  the 
similar  office ;  cf.  the  lex  Mal<icitana  coL  1,  11.  60  ff.  dumfu 
atiiuH  comitia  rafioneni  hahecU  qui  Iluiratum  petet  qui  mtnor 
annortim  xxv.  erit  .  .  .  item  qui  ciedilitaietn  quaeiiureunut 
petet  qui  minor  quam  annorum  xxv.  erit ;  Ulpian  in  Dig,  L. 
4.  8  ad  rem  p^ihlicam  a*lminutrandam  ante  ttteefutmicm 
q^iintum  annum  uel  ad  munera  quae  ncn  jtatrimanii  suni 
admitti  minores  non  oportet ;  denique  nee  decurionea  creonter, 
etc.  :  et  al. 

a.  censoribas :  the  ordinary  form  of  municipal  organization 
provided  for  dttouiri  iure  dicundo  as  the  chief  administrative 
officers,  corresponding  to  the  two  consuls  at  Rome.  Subor- 
dinate to  these  came  duauiri  aediles,  all  four  bein^  sometimes 
united  in  a  single  college  of  qncUtttomirif  two  with  the  title 
aud  functions  of  qtuUtuorviri  iure  diamdo,  the  other  two  of 
quaUummiri  aedilea  (or  aedilida  potentcUe).  Every  fifth  year 
these  diioniri  (or  qftattiioruiri)  iure  dicundo  exercised  also  tlic 
functions  of  censors  in  revising  the  lists  of  members  of  the 
hx^al  senate  {deairionefi)  and  of  the  citizen -l)ody,  and  in 
certain  financial  matters.  They  were  then  entitled  duouiri 
(or  qualfuoruiri)  cen.toria  potestate  quinquennales^  or  with 
some  variation  of  that  title  down  to  the  most  abbreviated 
form  quinquennaJes,  or,  as  here,  censored.  The  list  {album)  of 
decurions  was  made  up  by  the  qvinquennales  from  (I)  the 
previous  list  (excluding  those  who  had  \yeei\  convicted  of 
crime,  or  had  otherwise  lost  qualification),  (*2)  the  magistrates 
from  quacsUirs  up  elected  since  the  last  revision  of  the  aJfmm 
and  not  already  in  the  nfhum  (these  by  virtue  of  their  office 


102.  NOTES. 

already  had  seats  and  votes  in  the  curia^  l)ut,  as  at  Rome,  were 
not  on  the  regular  list),  and  (3)  other  citizens  {adlecti)  with 
due  property  and  age  qualificatious  for  at  least  tlic  quaestor- 
ship.     See  Marquaiilt  Stuatartrw.  i.-  151  If. 

honestorum  homlnum,  plebe  :  these  were  in  imperial 
times  the  two  legally  recognized  and  distinguished  classes  of 
society.  The  honesti  {honestiorc'*,  or  other  easily  understood 
designations  also  occur)  included  Roman  senators,  eqnifes^ 
soldiers,  veterans,  and  their  children,  and  municipal  decu- 
rioDB ;  plebs  {humUioreSy  tenuiores)^  all  others.  Here  the 
hanestoi'um  hominum  liberos  would  be  for  the  most  part,  in 
the  nature  of  the  case,  sons  of  decurions. 

in  curiam  admitti :  the  numl>er  of  decurions  varied  for 
different  places  according  to  the  terms  of  the  specific  lex 
municipcUts.  A  common  number  was  one  hundred,  but 
smaller  places  sometimes  had  fewer  and  larger  places  more 
than  that.  In  Bithynia  there  seems  to  have  been  difficulty 
in  mustering  the  necessary  number  of  otherwise  qualified 
adlecti  of  the  age  of  thirty  yeai*s  without  drawing  upon  the 
plebs,  and  there  was  a  conservative  prejudice  against  noui 
homineSi  as  at  Rome. 

5.  capita,  chapters :  sc,  those  that  concerned  this  matter. 


101.  (X.  80  [84].) 

In  answer  to  the  preceding  letter, 
bactenos:  Trajan  holds  to  the  safe  principle  that  the 
later  decision  nullifies  and  supersedes  the  earlier  only  so  far 
as  it  expressly  contradicts  it.  Mei*e  adlecti  must  therefore 
still  be  of  the  age  of  thirty  years,  and  the  former  practice  of 
admitting  them  from  the  age  of  twenty-five  must  be  abro- 
gated. Nor  does  Trajan,  himself  the  son  of  a  nouiin  homo, 
and  with  thoroughly  democratic  sympntliies,  take  fright  at 
the  idea  of  enrolhng  as  decurions  '  plebeians '  who  had  held  no 
office. 

102.  (X.  88  [89].) 

Congratulations  and  good  wishes  on  the  emperor's  birth- 
day.— This  was  just  a  year  after  Pliny  entered  the  province  ; 
see  X.  17a.  2  (Sel.  83)  nn.  vatafem  and  cdelrrare. 

incolumis  et  fortis :  cf.  x.  1.2  (Sel.  73)  fortem  te  et 
hi/arem ;  100  te  remqitt  puhliram  florentem  et  incolumem  ;  52 
(Sel.  94)  te  incolumem  ftorentemqne. 


'«.J.XI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.  19L 

r*ftilA  :  i.q.  moffis  nuujisqne ;   cf.   vil.  8.  I  ottw 

tiii»  t  ftiiunitM;  Pan,  14  fin.  alii*  miper  alia^  txpedilMm- 

> .  -.14%«  .M»  V.  ;">.  2  (Sel.  37)  u.  mper. 

103,     (X.  89  [90].) 

((■«isiAbowieiiginent  of  the  prececUng  letter. 
T>a  prtiitnig  Bostrae  :  Trajan  very  characteristically  and 
MU4y  «Hi|ibaai8cs  the  prayers  for  the  welfare  of  the  state, 
*  >iilii   J 'tiny  aMtrteoiisly  and  loyally  put  forem^t  the  em- 
•v««M- «  pttTBooal  welfare! 


lOi.     (X.  96  [97].) 

On   tbe   prosecution   of    Christians  in   Bithynia. — Earlier 

I  iLtc»  have  misplaced  gmat  ingenuity  in  assailing  or  defend- 

a^  iIm  authenticity  of  tk»  and  the  following  letter,  which 

-oold   never  be  reasonably  doubted. —The  Christian  apolo- 

^i«u,  eepecially  TertuUcan  (ApolJ^  arraign  bitterly  the  logic 

iud  spirit  of  both  Plinv  and  Trajab  as  therein  displayed,  bat 

without  doe  reason.     Il  is  Bot  at  all  strange  that  neither  was 

able  to  compreliend  Uie  i^i^;kHBS  principle  that  dictated  the 

'  obstinacy  '  of  the  ChrisUMK.   There  was  no  contact  between 

the  respective  spheres  of  thought  of  the  two  parties.     But 

Pliny  certainly  is  so  6ar  affected  by  the  evident  lack  of 

immoral  intent  in  the  Christian  association   as  actually  to 

venture  to  suggest  to  Trajan  a  suspension  in  its  behalf  of  the 

working  of  his  cherished  antl  swecning  edict  against  collegia ; 

wliile  Irajan,  though  naturally  and  properly  insisting  on  the 

majesty  of  law,  yet  modifies  its  pn>oe8s  so  as  to  throw  the 

)>uril6n  of  prosecutions  upon  individual  accusers,  and  to  make 

:t  possible  for  a  governor  not  disposed  to  favour  prosecutions 

>i  that  sort,  to  reiluce  the  cases  to  very  few.     On  the  whole, 

■  iXM  r«j*cript  is  distinctly  protective  of  the  interests  of  Chris- 

lAu^s  so  far  as  was  consistent  with  the  edict  against  coUetfia. 

■•N»4   that  disobedience  of  this  edict  formed  the  {jravamen  of 

tc  vtU'eiioe  of  the  Bithynian  Christians  under  Pliny *s  rule 

Aviu*  lu  the  present  writer  manifestly  assui*e<l.     Other  views, 

A  uv h  ciuiaot  l)e  discussed  within  the  limits  of  these  ])age8, 

ti.u    Ik)   found  in   Th.    Mommsen    Der    I*fJi*jiofm/rrirtl  nach 

li<t'Ucu  h*ecfU  (in  HvHoriitrkr  Ztititchrifl  vol.  xxviii.,  1890) ; 

■\      M.    Uamsay  The  Chtirrh   in  the  Roman  Empirr.;  E.  (». 

*aiii\  Chri^ianity  and  the  Roman  itot'emvieiit  ;  Bp.  Lightfoot 

;  :^  v.»ih:  AVi/Arr-s  l*t.  II.;  Th.  Keim  Rom  nud  tloM  Cht-vUen- 

it4iu  ;  K.  .).  Neumann  Ihir  rihHische  Staal  vnd  dir.  a/ltjtme.iftt 


104.  1.  NOTES.  436 

Kirche  ;  C.  F.  AnioM  Sfudnv  zur  Ooichichtt  (Icr  Plimanvichcn 
GhriHtenverfoltjmuj  ;  and  other  works  therein  cited. 

1.  cognitionibus :  tlitfcring  from  the  f>nlina!y  indicia  in 
that  a  coipiitio  was  an  examination  conducted  of  his  own 
motion  by  the  magistrate  holding  imperiuniy  and  not  linnted 
to  any  set  form,  while  the  iudkium  wtis  a  set  trial  which 
regularly  required  a  formal  written  accusation  (accujiatio) 
lodged  and  supported  by  a  voluntary  accuser.  In  either  case 
the  ma|;i8trat«  had  power  to  indict  punishment  on  coDvietion 
of  criminality. 

Christianis  :  during  tlic  age  preceding  this,  and  especially 
in  the  west,  the  Romans  had  great  diiHcuIty  in  understanding 
that  the  Christians  were  anything  more  than  a  sect  of  the 
Jews,  with  whom  they  seem  to  be  continually  confused,  in 
spite  of  the  enmity  l>etween  the  two  bodies.  But  in  Asia 
Minor  the  spread  of  Christianity  and  the  residence  pf  large 
num1)er8  of  Jews  had  made  the  difference  between  the  two 
clear  even  to  the  Romans. 

interftil  nunquam,  /  have  never  been  concerned  in:  the 
phrase  itself  indicates  that  such  trials  were  known  to  Pliny  to 
have  been  held.  It  is  doubtful,  however,  if  at  Rome  trials  of 
Christians  as  such  (that  is,  as  clearly  differentiated  from  Jews) 
had  been  held  during  Pliny's  mature  life.  Certainly  the  so- 
called  persecution  of  Domitian's  reign,— which  is  referred  to 
by  the  later  Christian  writers,  but  not  by  others,  as  a  general 
movement, — seems  not  to  have  been  directed  against  Christians 
as  such  (cf.  Dio  Cass,  lxvii.  14.  1-3).  But  that  considerable 
persecution  had  taken  place  in  the  vaiious  provinces  of  Asia 
Minor  is  certain,  and  especially  in  Asia  and  Bithynia,  where 
party  feeling  ran  high,  among  l>oth  Jews  and  heathen.  Of  the 
trials  in  these  regions  Pliny  must  have  become  well  informed. 
And  probably  in  this,  as  in  other  questions  of  his  adniwistra- 
tion,  ne  is  not  thinking  of  precedents  or  practices  at  Rome, 
but  in  his  own,  and  perhaps  other  adjacent,  provinces,  ui)on 
the  specific  and  local  laws  and  decisions  concerning  which 
Trajan  is  continually  insisting  that  his  administration  must 
be  founded. 

quid  et  quatenns  :  quid  apparently  goes  with  pttniri  and 
quatennH  with  quatri.  Quid  does  not  refer  to  tlie  charge,  nor 
to  the  crime,  but  is  the  neuter  'definitive  '  accusative  become 
the  subject-nominative  in  the  passive  construction.  Pliny's 
doubt  is  sweeping.  He  does  not  know  what  the  precedent 
«leciftions  r(H|uirc  cither  concerning  the  matter  of  punishment 
when  ChriKtiuns  are  l>rought  to  his  l>ar,  or  concerning  thi> 
extent   to   which,  under  tlie   general   police  duty  especially 


496  0.  PUNI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.      104.1      \ 

incmnbent  upon  a  provincial  governor  (Ulpian  in  Dig.  L  \%.       | 
13),   he  should  posh  the  investigation.     The  more  specific 
|w>iiit8  coiiccniiiig  his  hesitation  about  the  actual  adjudication 
of  cases  arc  iletailed  in  the  imnieiliatelv  following  passage : 
his  hesitation  abont  the  degree  to  which  his  inquiry  should  be 
pushed  is  caused  by  what  is  later  stated,  that  is,  his  conviction 
that  the  association  is  at  least  harmless,  if  not  of  a  decidedly 
moral  tendency,  and  his  knowledge  that  its  membership  is 
very  large.     '  One  cannot  reasonably  and  justly  execute  whole 
masses  of  good  people  simply  because  they  are  technically 
violaters  of  a  decree  against  collegia.     Would  it  not  be  better 
discreetly  to  shut  one  b  eyes,  so  long  as  no  overt  or  immoral 
act  seems  likely  to  be  committed  ? ' 

2.  discximen  aetatnm  :  Pliny  doubtless  found  that  minon 
were  as  likely  to  be  brought  before  him  as  those  of  adult  years, 
—as  was  the  case  in  later  and  true  persecutions.  Roman  law 
provided  for  a  lessening  of  penalties  in  certain  cases  on  account 
of  the  youth  or  female  sex  of  the  culprit ;  see  Mommsen  R(Hn, 
Strafrecht,  p.  1042. 

qiuunlibet :  see  ii.  14.  6  (Sel.  20)  n.  qtuimlibet. 

detnr  paenltentlae  nenia :  naturally  penitence  did  not 
change  ffoilt  in  the  eye  of  the  law,  bat  if  the  breach  of  law 
consisted  merely  in  former  membership  in  a  collegium  illieihanj 
there  might  well  be  question  whether  an  earlier  consummated 
withdrawal  (see  §6)  should  not  be  oonsidei^  a  ground  for 
mercy.  The  more  serious  question  arose  from  the  fact  that 
the  Christians  were  popularly  charged  with  grave  crimes  (see 
below),  which  might  not  be  forgiven. — The  omission  of  -ne 
from  the  first  member  of  the  second  and  third  of  the  three 
double  questions  is  noticeable ;  but  cf.  i.  18.  2  (Sel.  12)  n.  an. 

nomen  ipsum  :  t.e.  the  fact  of  membership  in  the  associa- 
tion of  Christians  as  a  collegium  UHcitum,  irrespective  of  the 
inner  character  of  the  organization  or  acts  of  the  individuals. 
That  Trajan  had  in  general  forbidden  the  existence  of  collegia 
throughout  the  provmce  is  clear  from  §  7,  and  the  decision  of 
his  feeling  on  the  subject  is  shown  by  such  letters  as  x.  34 
(Sel.  89)  and  93.  The  matter  of  the  Christians  probably  came 
to  Pliny's  attention  in  the  course  of  his  attempts  to  crush  out 
these  iraipiai^  especially  in  the  eastern  part  of  his  province, 
where  Christianity  seems  to  have  got  a  stronger  hold.  He 
knew  that  the  Christians  formed  in  each  community  a 
mysterious  and  puzzling  but  widespread  and  determined 
ircupla  {collegium^  wdalifcut).  A  confessed  Christian,  then, 
was  indeed  condemned  by  the  very  name  as  a  member  of  such 
a   forbidden  club,  against  which   form  of  organization   the 


104. 3.  NOTES.  437 

efforts  of  emperor  and  governor  were  now  especially  directed  ; 
but  the  apparently  itinocuous  character  of  the  organization, 
and  perhaps  also  the  willingiiess  of  confession,  and  the  in- 
comprehensible fortitude  and  joy  with  which — to  judge  from 
the  reports  of  other  persecutions — the  condemned  probably 
went  to  their  death,  made  a  man  of  Pliny's  good  sense  and 
kindliness  of  feeling  halt  in  the  plain  and  simple  interpreta- 
tion and  execution  of  the  law,  and  appeal  to  the  emperor  for 
specific  instructions. — There  is  no  reason  to  suppose  that 
nomen  has  any  reference  to  the  Sacred  Name,  the  bearing  of 
which  is  alleged  by  later  Christian  apologists  (e.g,  Tertull. 
Apol.  2)  to  be  in  itself  declared  a  crime  by  the  Roman  law. 
At  a  later  date  the  Christians  were  indeed  punished  for  their 
lack  of  conformity  to  the  established  state-religion,  but  it 
cannot  be  clearly  shown,  in  spite  of  attempts  in  that  direction, 
that  such  was  the  principle  of  Roman  administration  at  this 
time  (see  not«s  below). 

flagitia  cohaerentia  nomlni :  see  §  7  nn. 

a.  iterum  ac  tertio :  doubtless  adjourning  the  hearing 
between  times  to  give  the  accused  opportunity  for  considera- 
tion, as  we  learn  was  often  done  in  later  trials  of  Christians 
elsewhere  (cf .  Passio  Sanctorum  ScUitanorum  11  ff.  ScUunxinua 
jtroconsttl  diacit :  numquid  ad  deliberandum  spatinm  uultis  ?  .  .  . 
moram  xxx.  dierum  hahtte  et  recordemini).  Indeed,  later,  as 
here,  every  effort  seems  to  have  been  put  forth  by  the  judges, 
who  naturally  failed  to  comprehend  the  principle  involved,  to 
force  a  denial  from  the  prisoners  rather  than  a  confession,  and 
therefore  to  find  ground  for  acquittal.  Tertullian  actually 
bends  his  ingenuity  to  censure  the  judges  for  this  action. 
Pliny's  procedure  seems  to  have  been  dictated  by  humanity 
rather  than,  as  has  been  suggested,  by  the  principle  laid  down 
by  Ulpian  in  Dig.  XLViii.  18.  1.  17  diuus  Seuenm  rescripsit  con- 
/e^siones  reorum  pro  exphratis /acinoribus  haheri  von  oporftre, 
n  nidla  probatio  religionem  cogiwftcentis  instruat  (cf.  also  of  the 
same  chapter  §§23,  27),  for  further  questioning  of  the  culprit 
on  the  spot  might  bring  all  the  proof  necessary. — The  ad- 
journments Pliny  mentions  have  nothing  to  do  with  those 
provisions *in  case  of  criminal  prosecutions  at  Rome  on  which 
see  VI.  2.  6  (Sel.  41)  n.  coniperendinationes, 

dud  (sc.  ad  snpplicium  [nlfimum]),  to  be  taken  to  execution : 
cf.  PaMs.  SS.  Scilifan.  16  duci  iusn  .  .  .  et  nfatim  drcollati 
mint.  The  penalty  of  belonging  to  a  coUeginm  Uliritum  was 
the  same  as  that  of  armed  riot  {Dig.  XLVii.  22.  2),  and  armed 
riot  was  a  form  mnicMtatis  lacMoe  {Dig.  xlviii.  4.  1),  the 
punishment  of  which    was    death    (Paul.   Sent,   v.    29.    1), 


438  C.  PUNI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE.      104. 8. 

humifiorf,H  (cf.  x.  79.  H, — Sel.  100, — n.  honaUorum  Aomiuwii, 
ftleitf.)  being  exposed  to  wild  beasts  (in  the  arena)  or  baroed 
alive,  while  honcHtiores  were  decapitated. 

qoalecumque  Mset  qnod  fitterentor :  I.e.  whatever  the 
internal  character  and  purpose  of  the  organization. 

pertixiaciam  . . .  debere  puniri :  for  to  persist  that  they 
were  Christians  was  to  persist  in  defiance  of  the  law,  and 
that  fixed  the  penalty  of  death  for  membership  in  a  collegium 
illicit um.  Pliny  was  apparently  willing,  however,  to  accept  a 
denial  of  membership,  or  an  abjuration  of  membership,  as  the 
ground  for  discharge  from  custody. 

4.  amenUae :  for  to  refuse  to  abjure  membership  in  the 
face  of  certain  death  as  its  penalty  could  be  only  a  sign  of 
ci'azincsd. 

adnotaoi  :  «c.  in  recording  action  on  the  case. 

in  orbem  remlttendos :  t.e.  to  1>e  conveyed  to  Rome  to  be 
tried  before  the  emperor*s  court.  While  the  judicial  power 
of  the  provincial  governor  over  mm-Uoman  burgesses  was 
practically  supreme,  he  could  not.  under  heavy  penalties, 
punish  a  lUnnan  citizen  even  by  iuiprisonnicnt  or  flogging, — 
to  say  nothing  of  death  (Paul.  Seiit,  v.  26.  1 ;  Ulpian  in  Dig. 
XLViii.  6.  7 ;  cf.  the  case  of  St.  Paul  in  Act.  ApaH,  16.  37 ; 
22.  25  ;  25.  11),  but  must  allow  him  the  right  of  a  hearinc  at 
Koine.  The  emperor  might,  however,  by  express  delegation, 
give  a  particular  governor  within  the  limits  of  hiB  provinoe 
his  o^^ni  itis  gladii  over  even  Roman  citizens,  but  this  right 
Pliny  does  not  appear  to  have  had.  Later  on  it  was  more 
commonly  exercised  by  governors  (see  Mommsen  Strafrtchi 
pp.  248  ff. ).  Cf.  notes  on  the  offences  charged  against  Marias 
Priscus,  II.  11.  8  (Sel.  17). 

ipso  tractatu,  etc.  :  not  merely  that  one  case  led  to 
knowledge  of  another,  nor  that  accusers  came  forward  in 
greater  numbers  when  their  information  wtvs  favourably 
received  and  acted  upon,  but  that,  as  has  been  frequently 
rein<irke«l,  active  niciisures  appeivred  to  stimulate  instead  of 
crushing  tlic  propaganda. 

plures  species  inciderunt,  a  varitty  of  cases  came  to  notice. 

5.  libellus  sine  auctore,  an  anonymous  rnfomiation.  It  is 
little  to  Pliny's  creilit  that  he  needed  the  emperor's  direction 
(sec  the  following  letter)  to  disregard  such  accusations. 

praeeunte  me,  at  my  dictation :  cf.  x.  52  (Sel.  94) 
fn'afhii7niis. 

decs  appellarent :  i.t.  uttere<l  a  brief  pi-ayer  to  the 
recognized  gods. 


104. 7.  NOTES.  439 

ixnagini  tuae  . . .  supplicarent :  this  formal  reverence  of 
the  emperor  as  a  diviuc  being  even  in  his  own  lifetime  had 
been  earlier  initiated,  and  had  met  with  more  euthusiiistic 
acceptance  in  Asia  Minor  than  elsewhere  in  the  Roman  woild. 
To  the  Christians  it  was  peculiarly  abhorrent,  for  they 
acknowledged  one  only  incai^ation  of  the  Divine, 
male  dicerent,  remled. 

quorum  nibil,  etc.  :  these  tests  were  common  enough  in 
later  persecutions  as  a  requirement  by  which  the  accused 
should  purge  himself  from  the  charge  of  non  conformity  to 
the  state  religion.  They  had  perhaps  been  earlier  employed 
locally  and  temporarily  (especially  in  the  province  of  Asia, 
M  here  imperialism  was  a  fanatic  cult)  for  a  similar  purpose. 
But  there  is  no  indication  at  all  that  Pliny  employed  them  as 
anything  else  than,  according  to  the  information  given  him 
by  others,  an  infallible  means  of  determining  the  truth  as  to 
membership  in  the  illicit  organization,  which  fact  alone  was 
the  one  at  issue  in  his  examination.  The  «juostion  was  to 
Pliny  one  of  politics,  not  of  religion.  That  is  where  he  and 
the  Christians  were  at  cross-purposes,  and  they  seemed  to 
him  to  be  simply  insane. 

7.  adflrmalMUit :  the  Christians  were  usually  chary  about 
divulging  details  concerning  their  more  solemn  rites,  and  this 
for  more  than  one  reason  :  but  these  perverts  had  no  scruples 
about  telling  the  whole  truth,  and  Pliny,  troubled  1>y  the 
peculiar  aspects  of  the  administrative  question  that  con- 
fronted him,  took  occasion  to  learn  from  them  the  real 
character  of  the  mysterious  association  for  which  people  of  all 
ages  and  both  sexes  were  willing  to  die. 

nel  colpae  suae  uel  erroris :  cf.  i.  13.  5  (Sel.  9)  audi- 
torum  uel  desidia  uel  superhia.  j 

stato  die :  undoubtedly  Sunday.  Inw  v 

ante  lucem  :  partly,  doubtless,  for  the  sjike  of  privacy  or^^^.-^ 
concealment ;  partly,  probably,  because  most  of  the  Cliristian  7^*  * 
comnmnity   were   slaves,    or  at    least   working-people,    and  pf**-^ 
needed  the  daylight  hours  for  their  lalKuirs,  from  which  they  ^^  ,c 
could   not    free   themselves   even    for    the    Lord's-day   {(/its 
domiuira)   festival;    but   also   because    in    tin*    semi-tropical    3.  o^ 
climate  of  the   East,   the  coolness  of  early  morning  and  of 
evening  Wcis  the  most  comfortable  time  for  such  gatherings, 
and  also  the  fitness  of  beginning  the  day  with  worship  was 
readily*  felt  by  those  accustomed  to  other  rituals  where  the 
same  form  was  practise<l.    The  cust<»m  of  an  early  Kucharistie 
celebration  has  held  its  place  in  Chri.stian  worship,  piissing 
from  the  Eastern  to  the  Western  Church.  .  , 


44U  C.   PUNI  EPISTVLAE  SfiLECTAE.      1017. 

ChrUto  quail  deo :  Pliny  doubtless  was  told  as  much 
about  the  founder  of  the  unauthorized  association  as  at  least 
his  friend  Tacitus  knew  {Ann.  xv.  44).  but  does  not  consider 
the  account  of  any  importance.  That  Christ  was  now  adored 
as  a  god  would  not  attract  the  especial  attention  of  a  Roman 
who  was  acquainted  with  the  cult  of  otficially  deified  emperors 
(cf.  IV.  11.  14,— Scl.  32,—n.  dim),  M'ith  the  vaeariesof  other 
sects, — or  even  with  the  Euhemeristic  philosophy. 

carmen  dicere  secam  In  nicem :  an  interesting  bit  of 
testimony  to  the  early  use  of  autiphonal  hymns,  or  chants,  in 
the  early  Church :  see  also  Act,  Apost.  16.  25  jcard  di  rb 
H€ffO¥VKTiov  IlaDXof  Kol  'LiKaf  Tpo<r€vx6fuvoi  Ofivow  rbv  Beb» ; 
Eph,  5.  19  XaXoDrm  iavroii  \f/a\fidis  Kod  HfiMOis  koI  ificui 
wpevfiariKois,  f6otrr€S  koI  ^pdWotrres  r^  xapSlqi  hfjJav  T<f  KvpUp ; 
Euseb.  Eccl.  Hist.  v.  ^aX/ioI  ^  6aoi  Kal  tfiSal  dd€\4MW  dw' 
dpxv^  ^A  Tierruv  ypa<f>€iffau  rb»  \6yo¥  rod  0€oD  rbf  XP^^^ 
biJL»oo9i  OeoXcywpres. 

y  Sacramento  :  {perhaps  only  in  the  sense  of  '  oath.*    Pliny 

^        supposed  of  course  that  the  members  of  so  commanding  an 

association  were  as  usual    bound    together   by  some  such 

obligation,  and  ascertained  from  the   backsliders  that  such 

was  the  f^t — they,  however,  referring  to  general  obliflatioDS 

and  teachings  of  morality  under  their  profession,  and  he  to  a 

specific  oath,  like  the  military  oath  (on  which  cf.  x.  29.  2,— 

I  Sel.  86).     But  although  true  Christians  might  suppress  all 

I  reference  to  the  sacred  Eucharist  in  the  presence  of  an  un- 

;  believer,  these  witnesses  may  have  had  no  such  scruple,  and 

there  is  therefore  the  possibility  that  as  early  as  this  the 

Latin-speaking  Christians  were  usin^  the  word  sacramentum 

for  the  sacrament  that  bound  them  into  one  brotherhood  in 

!  Christ,  and  that  Pliny  simply  failed  to  comprehend  the  familiar 

term  in  its  strange  meaning. 

non  in  scelus  aliquod  :  for  the  unusual  degree  of  clannish- 
ncss  and  secrecy  of  the  Christians,  and  their  withdrawal  from 
participation  in  those  popular  religious  festivals  and  social  life 
which  members  of  other  collegia  shared  in  freely,  appear 
to  have  given  rise  already  to  the  belief  current  later  that 
their  mystery,  because  great,  was  a  criminal  conspiracy 
against  society.  Tacitus  says  (Ann.  xv.  44)  that  the  Christians 
were  jterjlagitia  muisos. 

ne  depositnm  appellati  abnegrarent :  the  lack  of  banks  and 
a  hanking  system  made  it  necessary  on  many  occasions  to 
entrust  tlie  custody  of  money  or  other  valuables  to  private 
persons.     Temptations  to  embezzlement  were  therefore  many. 


1, 


104. 8.  NOTES.  441 

The  law  governing  in  sach  cases  is  set  forth  in  Dig.  xvi.  3  ; 
Cod.  IV.  34. 

rursnsqne  coeimdi :  sc.  in  the  evening. 

ad  capienduxn  dbam :  i.e.  for  the  diyair-fiy  or  *  love-feast.' 

promiscuum  tamen  et  innoziam,  Jmt  of  the  ordinary  and 
innocetU  sort :  apparently  the  Christians  were  already  charged 
with  partaking  of  banquets  of  human  flesh, — a  charge  brought 
against  them  later  also  (cf.  Athcnag.  Supji,  3  rpia 
iin<pritd^ovaiP  rjfui'  iyxXi^fMra,  iOeinrrra,  Ov4ffTeia  Seiwya, 
Ol8iro5€iovs  fii^eis),  as  against  the  Jews  by  Christians  in  the 
middle  and  later  ages.  The  charge  ma\'  have  arisen  from  the 
great  secrecy  surrounding  the  holy  Eucharist,  a  misunder- 
stood and  perverted  report  of  which  represented  them  as 
eating  and  arinking  the  Body  and  Blood  of  some  Person. 

£Acere  desisse :  one  of  the  commonest  practices  of  a 
collegium  was  to  have  at  stated  intervals  a  common  meal.  On 
the  suppression  of  the  collegia  the  Christians  had  also  so  far 
complied  with  the  law  as  to  give  up  their  iyair-f)^  the  holding 
of  w'hich  had  doubtless  been  the  most  patent  si^n  to  a  Roman 
of  their  being  a  coUegivm.  Their  weekly  Eucharist  they  of  { 
course  did  not  surrender. 

edictmn  memn  qao,  etc.  :  this  general  edict  is  not 
specifically  referred  to  elsewhere  in  the  letters. 

8.  quo'  magis  neoestariiini :  for  Pliny  could  not  believe 
that  the  association  ooold  be  so  innocent,  not  to  say  moral,  in 
purpose. 

andlllB :  he  selects  them,  not  because  as  women  they 
might  be  less  successful  in  keeping  a  secret  than  men, 
but  because  they  were  (bv  a  misunderstanding)  supposed  by 
him  to  be  slaves  of  the  Christian  collegium,  serving  ther^ore 
at  its  meals,  and  perfectly  acquainted  with  its  present  con- 
dition. Apparently  the  local  bishop-presbyter,  or  the 
presbyters,  who  doubtless  existed,  escaped  Pliny's  investi- 
gation, being  perhaps  kept  in  concealment  by  the  faithful. 

ministrae :  evidently  a  translation  of  the  (>reek  htaKbinaacn, 
'deaconesses,.' — whose  service  in  the  community,  or  their 
confession  of  their  standing  in  it  under  this  title,  might  lead 
Pliny  to  understand  them  to  be  its  slaves. 

et  per  tormenta :  for  of  coume  they  gave  evidence  that 
agreed  with  that  of  the  backsliders,  and  Pliny  was  inclined  to 
believe  that  this  could  not  be  true.  So  he  put  them  to  the 
torture,  acconliiig  to  the  regular  procedure  of  Roman  ex- 
aminations of  sla\'es,  to  break  down  their  fortitude.  Hut 
even  then  he  ednceil  no  new  information,  and  so  was  finally 


442  C.  PUNI  EPISTVLAE  SELECT AE.      104.8. 

perhaps  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  information  he  had.— 
Under  Roman  Uw  the  fioneMt.i4>rM  (including  of  coarse  Roman 
citixens;  cf.  x.  79.  3, — Sel.  KK), — n.  fumeslorvm homhium,  jUebe) 
were  not  subjected  to  torture  in  legal  examination  ;  tenitiorefL, 
being  freemen,  were  but  exceptionally  put  to  torture  ;  while 
slaves  were  very  commonly,  if  not  regularly,  tortured  in  case 
they  were  suspected  of  not  telling  the  truth.  They  were 
indeed,  at  least  later,  not  even  allowed  to  bear  witness  against 
their  masters  except  in  cases  of  adultery,  of  false  census- 
returns,  and  of  treason  {Difj.  XLViii.  18.  1.  16  ;  Cod.  ix.  41. 
1) ;  but  slaves  of  a  municipality  or  of  a  corporation  might, 
even  long  before  Ulpian's  time,  be  examined  under  torture  in 
capital  cases  affecting  a  citizen  of  the  municipality  or  a  mem- 
ber of  the  corporation  {Dig.  XLViii.  18.  1.  7). 

snpentitionem  inraiiaiii:  Tacitus  {Ann.  xv.  44)  calls  it 
exitidihilis  super^Uio^  Suetonius  {Ner.  16),  anperatitio  iivua  ei 
meUeJica. 

ideo  :  for  he  could  not  calmly  send  to  death  for  a  technical 
offence  such  a  large  number  of  persons  guilty  of  and  threaten- 
ing no  actual  crime  other  than  that  of  membership  in  a 
forbidden  association,  which,  indeed,  had  given  up  its  most 
distinctive  mark  of  existence,  the  common  meal. 

duitates :  hera  the  cities  as  distinct  from  the  villages 
(nicos),  and  from  the  open  country  (agros)  with  only. scattered 
dwellings.  Politically,  however,  villages  and  country  in  the 
province  belonged  to  the  territory  of  some  eiuUcu ;  see  Mar- 
quardt  StaaUtverw.  I.*  p.  601. 

quae,  etc.  :  a  good  example  of  the  adversative  relative- 
clause. 

lO.  prope  lam  desolata:  probably  a  much  exaggerated 
expression,  due  to  the  highly-coloured  representations  of  the 
persons  whose  trade  seemed  to  be  endangered  by  the  growth 
of  (/hristianity  (cf.  rari<c^miM  emptor  inueiiiehattir^  and  the 
riot  of  the  silversmiths  of  Ephesus  dcscribeil  in  Act.  A f tout. 
19.  21  ff.). 

pastum  uictimarum :  i.e.  fodder  and  piisturage  for  the 
cattle  that  were  brought  into  the  city  from  the  country  to  lie 
offered  in  siicrifice. 

uenire,  Jfnds  a  mar  kef. 

sit  paenitentiae  locus :  not  merely  by  pardon  on  condi- 
tion of  immediate  abjunition  (for  (lending  Trajan's  decision — 
sec  §  2 — Pliny  seems  to  have  a<1  ministered  on  this  sensible 
principle),  but  by  not  pushing  the  law  to  the  extreme,  thus 
allowing  time  for  a  change  of  heart  to  supervene. 


106.  1.  NOTES.  443 

105.     (X.   97  [98].) 
In  answei-  to  the  preceding  letter. 

1.  neque  enim  in  uoiuersum  aliquid  :  not  with  reterence  to 
applicability  throughout  the  Roman  world, — for  Trajan  is 
always  insisting  on  the  necessity  of  decisions  according  to 
local  conditions, — but  to  the  prescription  of  a  full  system  of 
procedure  to  be  followed  in  every  case,  such  as  [*liny  would 
like  to  have.  \Vith  Trajan's  wariness  on  this  point  cf.  x.  }]li 
in  U7iitier«um  a  me  noH  potest  atcUui :  id  ergo  quod  semper 
ttUisnimvm  est,  seguendam  cvhisque  ciuitatis  let/em  puto. 

2.  conquirendi  non  sunt :  this  is  in  answer  to  Pliny's  ques- 
tion about  qtuUenus  qvaeri  in  §  1  of  the  preceding  letter. 
The  governor  is  thus  relieved  in  the  case  of  Christians  of  the 
necessity  that  rested  upon  him  under  his  general  commission 
of  ferreting  out  all  malefactors  on  his  own  initiative  (cf. 
Dig.  I.  18.  13).  What  follows  answers  Pliny's  question  about 
qiu'd  pnviri. 

si  deferantur  et  arguantur,  puniendi  sunt :  Pliny  seems 
to  suggest  at  the  close  of  his  letter  that  the  legal  penalties 
should  be  suspended  or  modified,  though  the  jurists  appear 
to  have  taught  that  penalties  should  be  aggravated  rather 
than  lessened  in  the  face  of  an  increase  in  the  number  of 
offenders  {Dig.  XLviii.  19.  16.  10;  Coll.  11.  7;  Paul.  Sent. 
V.  3.  5  ;  Corl.  IX.  20.  7).  Trajan  replies  that  the  law  must  be 
enforced  in  oase  Christians  are  brought  before  the  court ; 
but  the  process  is  not  to  be  by  cognitio  but  by  regular 
iudiciumt  requiring  prosecution  by  a  voluntary  accuser  legally 
responsible  for  proving  his  charge.  On  informal  and  anony- 
mous information  the  governor  is  not  to  act.  Moreover,  the 
accused  may  purge  himself  of  the  accusation  by  the  worship- 
test  adopted  by  Pliny. 

sappUcando  dis  nostris  :  here  also  it  is  to  be  noted  that 
this  action  of  conformity  to  the  state  religion  is  not  insisted 
upon  for  itself,  but  merely  as  a  convenient  and  sufhcient  ex- 
p«;rimental  proof  that  the  accused  is  not  a  member  of  the 
collegium  illxcitum. 

nostri  saecull,  the  spiHf  o/onr  tinn's  :  see  x.  5/5  (Scl.  97) 
non  est  ex  iuHtitia  no-stromm  (amjKtrmn ;  and  on  xaent/i, 
IV.  11.  6  (Sel.  32)*n.  ^tatctdum,  and  i.  5.  11  (Sel.  4)  n.  satculi. 

106.     (X.  116  [117J.) 
On  the  danger  of  certain  promiscuous  entertainments. 
1.  nlrilem  togam  sumont :  see  i.  ^.  2  (Sel.  6)  n.  officio 
togae  uirilis. 


444  a  PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELEOTAE.      106. 1. 

Bnpttu :  see  I.  9.  2  (SeL  6)  n.  9p<m9oUia,  nupliaa. 
Intuit  maglstratum  :  see  i.  5.  11  (Sei.  4)  n.  in  praetcria 
ojkio. 

opus  pnldleiim  dedicant :  i.e.  formally  pass  over  to  public 
oae  sotne  building  or  other  construction  which  they  have 
built  at  their  own  expense,  or  perhaps  (as  inscriptions  often 
indicate)  over  the  construction  of  which  they  have  had 
•apervision  (cf.  x.  81.  1). 

Imltii :  Lq.  aenatum  or  curiam ;  in  this  Greek-speaking 
province  the  Greek  terms  were  often  used  for  the  Latin. 

•  ptobe :  see  x.  79.  3  (Sel.  100)  n.  Jumestcrum  hommttm, 
pUbe.  Here,  however,  pl^  seems  to  be  practically  used  as 
oppoeed  to  decurionea ;  cf .  also  in  Dtg.  xxii.  5.  3  pr.  ;  XLvm. 
19.  9.  14,  15 ;  L.  4.  7  pr. ;  Cod,  i.  55.  5. 

noean :  «c.  to  a  banquet,  such  as  the  emperors  them- 
selves had  been  accustomed  to  give  on  a  large  scale  at  Rome 
to  great  numbers  of  the  popul^e  (Suet.  Aug,  74  ;  Tib,  34 ; 
datuL  32 ;  Ner.  16 ;  Vesp.  19 ;  Dom,  7,  21).  Inscriptions 
from  various  places  also  mention  similar  celebrations,  on 
such  occasions,  for  example,  as  the  dedication  of  a  temple. 
Sometimes  a  dinner  was  ^ven,  sometimes  a  money-dole  in 
liea  of  a  dinner,  and  sometimes  both.  See  index  to  Wilmanns 
Bxemplajp,  664  s.  u.  Praebentur ;  Fnedlander  SiUengegeh,*  i. 
pp.  164  tL;  Marquardt  PrivaUeben^  pp.  208  ff. 

UnoMiat  denarlos  n«l  slngulos :  perhaps,  as  on  some  of 
the  occasions  mentioned  in  the  inscriptions  referred  to  above, 
the  hone^iores  received  the  larger  and  the  pUheii  the  smaller 
sum,  or  the  different  sums  refer  to  different  occasions.  Per- 
haps also  the  money  was  in  lieu  of  an  actual  dinner.  A 
single  denarins  (about  lO^d.,  or  21  cts.,  at  this  time),  or  more 
up  to  five  denarii,  was  a  common  sum  to  give  as  such  a 
gift 

dianomes :  cf.  Corp.  Gloss,  Lot,  ii.  p.  273  diayoni/i  diuisio, 
distributioi  used  here  of  such  entertainments  and  distribu- 
tions of  money  to  secure  votes  as  were  forbidden  by  law  ;  cf. 
in  late  republican  times  at  Rome  the  lex  Calfmmia  de  ambitn 
of  67  B.C.,  and  the  more  severe  Ifx  Tullta  of  63  B.C.,  as  well 
as  the  frequent  action  against  sodcUitafes  and  rfecurtae,  and 
a^inst  the  employment  of  diuisores. — The  lex  colonicie  Gene- 
ttuae  {lex  Vrsonensis)  contains  specific  provisions  that  no 
candidate  for  office  shall,  in  the  year  of  his  candidacy,  make 

fifts  of  money  or  other  things  to  win  votes,  or  shall  even  give 
inner-parties  of  more  than  nine  persons  (the  full  number  for 
one  triclinium) ;  and  the  laws  for  Bithynian  towns  may  have 


108. 1.  NOTES.  445 

oontamed  similar  provisioDS  (see  lex  Vrson,  c.  132,  in  Bnins 
Fontes*  pp.  139,  1^}.  At  Rome  the  senate  had  lately  decreeil 
'  candidoUi  ne  nmniMtnfnr,  ue  tnitianf  mfmerrty  ne  pemnitvi 
depotianl  *  (vi.  19.  1).  Pliny  fears  that  these  feasts  anil  pre- 
sents may  be  perverted  to  political  purposes. 


107.     (X.  U7  [U8].) 

In  answer  to  the  preceding  letter. 

quasi  per  corpora:  i.e.  as  if  the  invitation  were  to 
organizations  rather  than  to  individuals  of  the  host's  acquaint- 
ance. Such  corpora  were  the  organized  political  dubs  which 
had  caused  so  much  trouble  at  Rome  and  in  the  provinces. 

sincTQlos :  there  is  a  slight  anacoluthon,  this  word,  with 
its  accompanying  uirithn  ex  notitia  corresponding  in  rhetorical 
construction  to  per  corpora  ;  contrahit  therefore  needs  the 
object  homines.  But  Trajan's  rhetoric  generally  is  straight- 
forward rather  than  precise. 

ad  soUemnes  sportulas,  for  the  customary  douceurs :  i.e. 
the  occasions  and  forms  of  celebration  are  the  ordinary  ones 
of  marriage,  inauguration,  and  the  like  ;  but  the  scope  of  the 
invitations  is  abnormal.  In  sportulas  Trajan  uses  the  ordinary 
word  for  the  regular  dole  of  a  patron  to  his  clients  (see  li.  14. 
4,— Sel.  20,— n.  sportvlae ;  Friedliinder  Sittengesch.  !.•  438  flf.), 
and  it  is  also  used  of  such  general  distributions  as  these  in 
many  of  the  inscriptions  referred  to  in  the  note  on  uocare  in 
the  preceding  letter. 

sed  ego,  etc. :  Trajan  apparently  approves  some  ffovem- 
ment  supervision  of  these  unusual  entertainments,  l)ut  in 
accordance  with  his  custom  declines  to  prescribe  himself 
precise  regulations,  leaving  that  to  the  governor  on  the  spot. 


108.     (X.  120  [121].) 

Explaining  why  he  gave  his  wife  an  official  passport. — The 
nuni1:>er  of  letters  intervening  between  this  anci  the  last  which 
can  be  dated  (x.  10*2,  of  the  second  Jan.  27  after  Pliny's 
arrival  in  the  province)  indicates  that  the  year  was  probalily 
somewhat  advanced  when  it  was  written. 

On  Pliny's  death  see  Introd.  p.  xxviii. 

1.  diplomata:  beginning  with  the  time  of  Augustus  official 
communication  between  Konicand  the  provinces  was  facilitated 
by  the  establishment  of  a  regular  posting-system  along  all  the 


..  .«^ix^i  EPISTVLAR  SELBCTAE.      108.1. 

diief  roiuU.  Head  stations  were  maintained  a  day's  journey 
a|Mirt  (nfiiMimM*)  with  facilities  for  accommodating  official 
iravellcm  nntl  messengers  over  night,  intervening  stations  at 
pn>i>or  intervals  {mnicUioneH)  provided  for  changes  of  horses, 
anil  when  necessary  of  carriages,  and  a  Inxly  of  messenj^^ers 
{itfterft/atoret)  made  quick  carrying  of  letters  possible.  This 
provision  for  rapid  transit  could  be  used  by  officials,  or  by 
other  persons  travelling  on  public  business  who  held  diplomata 
('passports')  grante<l,  each  for  a  definite  and  limited  time 
(apparently  a  calendar  year)  and  to  a  specified  person  by  the 
emperor  himself  or  by  provincial  governors,  to  whom  the 
emperor  sent  periodically  a  supply  of  blank  forms  signed  by 
himself.  Cf.  x.  45, 46, 64 ;  Huaemann  QeftrhichU  den  rOminchen 
PoitlwatefM ;  Hirschfeld  VerwaUum/sgescJiiehU  pp.  98  ff. 

oommodani :  ».e.  granted  as  a  favour,  the  traveller's 
business  not  being  officud. 

mill :  %.€,  despatched  a  messenger  fortified  with  a  pass- 
port. 
S.  uxor!  :  OUpumia,  on  whom  see  iv.  19  (Sel.  34)  nn. 

ani :  Calpumius  Fabatus,  on  whom  see  iv.  19.  1  (Sel.  34) 
n.  awo. 

anritam ;  Calpomia  HiapuUa,  on  whom  see  Lc.  in  trod. 
note. 

qnati  oonsiato  te  non  duMtani  Caoere,  etc.,  /  did  not 
htttkUUt  to  take  twtioH  cu  though  I  had  cowndted  you,  nncf,  if 
I  had  consulted  yon,  /  tihouid  have  taken  action  too  late. 


109.     (X.  131  [188].) 

In  answer  to  the  preceding  letter, 
officio  tuo  dedl :  see  x.  46,  and  n.  on  dij^omaJa  in  the 
preceding  letter. 


READINGS  IN   KEIL'S   EDITION  OF   1870  THAT 
DIFFER  FROM  THOSE  IN  THIS  EDITION. 


1. 

I  epistulas  siquas 

1.20. 

24  debeam  tuae 

1. 

I  curatius 

20. 

25  confirmabis 

2. 

I  ante]  umquam 

errare 

2. 

4  esse  non  tristes 

22. 

2  doceri]  discere 

3. 

I  subiectns  et  seniiens 

23. 

2  me  aliquid 

3. 

2  si  te  possideut 

3. 

3  tempus  est  enim 

II.     1. 

I  ciuis  perinde 

3. 

4  exclude 

1. 

12  uolul 

5. 

3  ego  Crasso 

ciues  aliquos 

6. 

5  respondebo  inqnam  si 

6. 

4  fieri  potest  quia 

dehoc 

11. 

23  \€iTo6pyiov 

5. 

8  ferre 

12. 

I  \eiTo6pyiop 

9. 

5  nemo  apud  me  quern- 

12. 

4  aequari  ct  summo- 

quam 

tnm 

10. 

5  tamen  mlhi 

13. 

3  conuerte  te 

KJ. 

12  bono 

13. 

4  primis  citerioris 

12. 

2  arcessita 

ipse  flamcn 

12. 

12  firmissimi  mortem 

U. 

2  pauci    cum    quibus 

16. 

2  alica 

iuuet 

15. 

3  comoedos 

U. 

3  ailulescentibus 

16. 

4  in  orationibus  est 

14. 

6  here 

tantum]  tamcn 

14. 

12  teneris]  taetris 

16. 

5  Caluus  re  uera  qualcs 

17. 

2  recessit 

Catullus  ant  Caluus 

17. 

4  egregium  aduersus 

quantum 

17. 

12  uillas  amoenissimas 

16. 

6  dignus  qui 

17. 

16  sin^ulac  sed  alter- 
nis  paufiores 

16. 

9  uidere  adloqui  audi  re 

oomplecti 

uentis  inquictus 

18. 

4  adco 

17. 

20  [cryptoporticus 

20. 

2  snnt 

horti] 

20. 

8  repurgata 

17. 

29  eum]  iam 

20. 

13  amplectitur 

21 L 

8  lK>na  morte 

m 

14  elegit 

20. 

15  ubi  illo  iuguluni 

111.    1. 

2  confusa  adhue 

446  a  PU  Nl  EH.^! 

chief  itMult.     Hmd  mtMiktn    • 
a|Mirt  (nkiJMkw^^  J  wifK    ^ 
irnveUerfi  ami  *iii«*('ii 
proiwr  iutervids  {iimc 
and  when  necf>«»iiry  ' 
{^peetUatortM)  mftdtj  i^n 
provision  for  mpid  tr 
other  persona  t  nk  vol  1 1 M 
(* passports')  grmitiNl 
(apparently  a  ci Jeiid^t^ 
emperor  himaelf  f>r  !»;j    ^ 
emperor  sent  itorifKtlcAily  -., 
himself.    Cf.x  45,  ll^ni;  i 
ro«tioe4(!iu ;  Hirschfokl  Ftn^ 

commodanl :    Lf.  gi-r^niui 
business  not  beLtig  ofEcuiL 

mifi:  t.e.  deip^u^h^l  a 
port. 
S.  uzori :  CfLlpurnm,  on 

ani:  CalpummsFab0.ru 
n.  auo. 


note. 

quasi  ooiualta  te  non  dubii 
heMUaU  to  takt  wtion  om  thouijh  i 
I  had  eowiuUed  fOH,  /  *fftouM  hmm 


In  answer  to  the  pr&oe<lih 
officio  tno  dedt :  s&e  \ 
preceding  letter. 


READINGS   IN   KEII/S   EDITION. 


449 


1C.36. 

5  lasso 

X.  54. 

40. 

3  nunc  om. 

65. 

ponlant. 

m. 

X.    2. 

3  inaluerunt 

9. 

I    [OIDDCS] 

79. 

15. 

retentum 

18. 

I  ei][ut] 

79. 

18. 

2  eos  [flem] 

80. 

1^    18- 

3  sufficienter 

^  29. 

I  militari  ita  nondum 

»uaa 

2  dies  [pro]  quo 

33. 

3  utantnr 

96. 

34. 

I  earn  cinitatem 
nexatam 

120. 

fuerint...  hetaeriae- 

tf>  ■ 

que  breui  fient 

121. 

^     37- 

2  agenda 

"^     37. 

3et]8ed 
dum  inter 

■'     88. 

2  ne  sic  quidem 

3  emend  ata 

2  intra]  inter 
rescripsit  t  inter  cjuaa 
est  Bithynia 

2  XX v]      duobus     ct 

uigiuti 

3  ma^stratum 
carissime...  ntexis- 

timo 
xxv]     duorum     et 
uiginti 

7  coeundi 

2  eius  quamquam  in- 
consulto  te 

facere  quae  si 

nee  dubitandum  fuit 
tiJn  facere  qvac 
Hero /erisses  si  ex- 
spectasscs  donee 


COMPARATIVE  NUMBERING  OF  THE   LETTERS. 


m.    KKn.'s  BiMTKMi. 

Tim  SojBcnoif . 

Kbil's  Enmoif. 

1 

L  I 

35 

IV.  22 

2 

2 

36 

V.  3 

3 

3 

37 

5 

4 

5 

38 

14 

5 

6 

39 

16 

6 

9 

40 

19 

7 

10 

41 

VI.  2 

8 

12 

42 

4 

9 

13 

43 

7 

10 

15 

44 

10 

11 

16 

45 

16 

12 

18 

46 

20 

1.1 

20 

47 

VII.  4 

14 

23 

48 

5 

15 

ILl 

49 

9 

16 

6 

50 

19 

17 

11 

51 

20 

18 

12 

52 

24 

19 

13 

53 

26 

20 

14 

54 

27 

21 

17 

55 

28 

22 

20 

56 

VIll  4 

23 

m.  1 

57 

8 

24 

5 

58 

16 

25 

7 

59 

20 

26 

11 

GO 

24 

27 

12 

61 

IX.  6 

2S 

16 

62 

10 

20 

21 

&1 

11 

90 

IV.  2 

64 

13 

.11 

7 

65 

19 

.12 

11 

66 

21 

.13 

13 

67 

23 

34 

19 

68 

24 

COMPARATIVE  NUMBERING. 


451 


Thi8  Sbuction.     Kbil'h  Edition. 


Tnis  Sblectiok.     Kril'b  Edition*. 


69 

IX.  33 

90 

X.  35 

70 

36 

91 

36 

71 

39 

92 

37 

72 

40 

93 

38 

73 

X.  1 

94 

52 

74 

2 

95 

53 

75 

3a 

96 

64 

76 

3b 

97 

55 

77 

8 

98 

65 

78 

9 

99 

66 

79 

12 

100 

79 

80 

13 

101 

80 

81 

15 

102 

88 

82 

16 

103 

89 

83 

17  A 

104 

96 

84 

17« 

105 

97 

85 

18 

106 

116 

86 

29 

107 

117 

87 

30 

108 

120 

88 

33 

109 

121 

89 

34 

INDEX  OF  PROPER  NAMES. 


[Refcrcncct  in  Roman  numcraUy  thvt  (xiii),  are  to  parit»  of  the  In- 
trodiidum;  reftrcnre»  in  Arabic  nutneraU  below  158  are  to  page» 
afui  lines  of  the  Text,  thus  (85.  G) ;  above  158,  to  jMujes  of  the  Note». 
OeoffraphirnJ  names  are  omitted.) 


Aooius  74.  12 ;  321 
AcciuB  Sura  140.  1  ;  413 
Acutius  Nerua  33.  24  ;  240 
AefulanuB   MarcellinoB  78.  4  ; 

325 
Aemilia  (uia)  76.  24 ;  324 
Aeschines  19.  15 
Afer,  see  Domitius 
Albinns,  see  Lncoeiiui 
AUifanus,  see  Pontitu 
Ammius  Flaccus  123.  4  ;  388 
Annaeus  Seneca,  L.  74.  5 ;  320 
Annia  149.  2 ;  429 
Antcial21.  6,  14;  383 
ApoUinaris,  see  Domititu 
Aquilius  Regulns,  M.  4.  7,  15, 

20,  24  ;  5.  3  ;  6.  2,  5,  10 ;  7- 

2;  21.  10;  32.2.3,25;  45.  14; 

4«.  2,  5,  10,  17,  21  ;  47.  4; 

62.  4.  7,  14,  19;  63.  7.  11; 

64.  5,  1.3,  17;  81.4,  19;  82. 

13;  169;  3.30 
Ai'isto,  see  Titius 
Armenius  Brocchus  149.  5,  17 
Arria  (maior)  58.  16 ;  59.   17  ; 

292 
Arria  (minor),  see  Caecinia 
Arrianus,  see  MaturuR 


Arrionilla  4.  23  ;  173 
Arteniidorus  56.  8,  26 ;  287 
Arulenus  Rusticus,  see  Inniiis 
Asinius  Callus,  C.  94.  15 ;  95. 

1 ;  345 ;  see  also  Oallus 
Asinius  Pollio,  C.  19.  17 ;  74. 

1 ;  213  ;  318 
Athenodorus  106.  1 ;  360 
AtUins  Crescens  9.  10;  37.  6; 

184 
Attius  Clemens  9.   13 ;  62.  3 ; 

185 
Aufidius  Bassus  51.  7  ;  273 
Augustus  (imp.)  74.  7;  112.  1; 

149.  2;    150.  7,  19,  20,  26; 

151.  4;  320 
Auidius  Nigrinus  149.  5,  17 
Auidius  Quietus  123.  9, 10 ;  .388 
Auitus  27.  12 ;  227 ;  see  also 

Octauius 
Aurelia  46.  10,  22,  25 

Baebiiis  xMaccr  HO.  12  ;  270 
Blaesus,  see  Velleius 

CaeciliuR  Cclcr  5.  10;  175 
Caccina  Paetus  5S.  20;  .'»9.  U), 
16;  60.  5.  13;  292 


INDEX  OF   PROPER  NAMES. 


453 


Caecinia  Airia,  56.  20;  120.  19; 

121.  10;  123.  11,  23;  2S8 
Caelius  Rufus,  M.  19.  17 ;  213 
Caesar    (either    Domitian    or 

Titus)  18.  10 
Citcsiii',  sec  Julius 
Caesares  (  =  emperors)  25.  11 
Calestrius  Tiro  11.  J7  ;  189 
Calpuniia  83.  6;  84.  2;  96.2; 

311  ff. 
Calpuniia  HispuUa  70.  2;  311 
Calpurnius  Fabatus,  (L.  ?)  [70. 

8;  156.  11;]  311 
Calpurnius  Piso,  L.  55.  15;  284 
Calpuruius  Piso,  L.  55.  15 ;  285 
Calpurnius  Piso  Licinianus,  L. 

45.  13 ;  261 
Caluisius    Rufus,    C.    13.    21  ; 

45.  9;  48.  3;  118.  3;  260 
Cameriuus,  see  Sulpicius 
Caninius   Rufus  3.  7  ;   54.  2 ; 

109.  3  ;  129.  19 ;  165 
Carus,  see  Mettius 
Oissianus  103.  22 
Cassius  Longinus,  C   103.  22; 

357 
Catilius  Seuerus,  L.  57.  22;  290 
Catius  Caesius  Fronto,  Ti.  29 

8;  31.  23;  230 
Catius  Lepidus  63.  10 ;  299 
Cato,  ace  Porcius 
Catone8  6].  21 
Catullus,  see  Valerius 
Celer  66.  15 
Celcrina,  see  Ponipeia 
Cerciilis,  sec  Tucciuti 
Ceres  133.  20 
Christianus  152.  6.   11.  14.  16, 

26;  153.  5,  0;  iri4.  17,  21 
Christus  153.  4,  10,  l.i 
Cicero,  sec  Tullius 
Clarus,  sec  Knicins 
CIau«lin.s(iinp.)  U.  I!»;  59    15, 

24 
Clauilius  Drusus,  Ncm  541.  25 

272 


Claudius   Marcellinus  31.   15; 

235 
Clemens,  sec  Altius 
Cluentius  20.  8 
Cluuius  Rufus,  M.  126.  ig,  19; 

393 
CoUega,  see  Ponipeius 
Corellia  [12.  4  ;]  192 
Corellia  HispuUa  [12.  4  ;]  191 
Corellius  Rufus  11.  19,  25;  13. 

3;  121.  16;  190 
Cornelia  65.  17  ;  66.  16,  21 
Cornelius,  C.  20.  9 
Cornelius  Lentulus  Gaetulicus, 

Cn.  74.  4 ;  320 
Cornelius  Miniciaiuis  64.    24  ; 

301 
Cornelius  Ncpos  74.  II  ;  321 
Cornelius  Prisons  60.  19  ;  294 
Cornelius  Sulla  Felix,  L.  74.  2 ; 

319 
Cornelias   Tacitus,  P.    7.  20; 

19.  2 ;  26.  6  ;  29.  3  ;  31.  21  ; 

32.  7 ;  67.  21  ;  86.   15 ;  89. 

22;  101.  5;   119.  2;   128.  9, 

13  ;  179  ;  225  ;  352 
Comutus,  see  lulius 
Crassus,  see  Licinius 
Cremutius  Ruso  125.  18  ;  302 
Curtius  Rufus  104.  26  ;  358 

Uemofitheues    2.    2;     19.    15; 

64.  18;  128.  24;  213;  395 
Diana  8.  8;  119.  4 
Domitianus  (imp.)  xxiii;  4.  8; 

5.  3;  7.  1;   12.17;  [18.  10;] 

65.  16 ;  66.  4,  19 ;  <»7.  1  ;  72. 
7;  107.  16;  120.  11  ;  149.  6, 
17 

Dini.sus,  sec  Claudius 
Domitius  Afer.  Cn.  38.  14,  23; 

247 
Doniiliiis  A|K)lIin:iiiH   122.  27; 

3S7 


I  Eauiu»,  il  74.  12 ;  :<21 


454 


C.   PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE. 


Baphratesg.  16;  10.  4;  11.3; 

185 
EupolU22.  5;  217 
Erucius  CUrus,  Sex.  16.  6 ;  204 

Kabatus,  see  Calpumins 
Fabius  luatus  5.  19 ;  175 
Fabius  Maximinos  123.  1 ;  387 
Fabius  QointUianas,  M.  38.  13; 

247 
FabriciuB  Veiento,  A.    72.   2 ; 

12a  1 ;  124.  9,  13,  16 ;  315 
FadiuB  Rufinufl  128.  19  ;  395 
Faloo,  see  Pompouius 
FannU  56.  20;  58.  15;  99.  9, 

14;  100.1;  120.19;  121.10; 

123.  11,  23;  292;  349ff. 
Fannius,  C.  75.  8 ;  76.  4 ;  322 
Ferox,  see  lolius 
Fettus,  see  Valerias 
Firmiiias,  see  Hoetilius 
FUoina  Mardaniu  29.  28 ;  30. 

2,6;  31.  15;  32.6,  12;  33. 

2,  5 ;  231 
Frontinus,  see  lulius 
Fronto,  see  Catiiu 
Fuudanus,  see  Minucius 
Furius  Catnillus  Scribonianus, 

M.  59.  15,  16,  24,  26;  292 
Fuscus,  see  Pedanius 

Galba(imp.)45.  14 
aallu8  39.  8;  113.  10;  249 
Gall  us,  see  Asiuius 
Geminius,  0.  13.  2  ;  194 
Geininus,  see  Prifernius 
Genitor,  see  lulius 
Gi*acchus,  see  Sempronius 
(>ratilla  56.  20  ;  288 

Heluidius   Priscus  (pater)  99. 

17,25;  288 
Heluidius  [Priscus]  (tilius)  5(». 

19;  120.  7.  17,  20;  121.  7; 

123.  14  ;  288  ;  351 


Herennius  Senecio  4.  16;  56. 

19;  64.  9;  66. 24;  99.25;  171 
Hispulla  13.  2,  6 
Hispulla,  see  Calpumia 
Homericus  23.  1 ;  79.  25;  12i 

18 
Homeru8  37.  7;  110.  1 
Hortensius,  Q.  74.2;  319 
Hostilius  FirminuB  32.  28;  33. 

21;  238 
Hyperides  19.  16 

Italicus,  see  Silios 
lulianus,  see  Pompeius 
lulius  Atticus  13.  7  ;  194 
lulius  Caesar,  C.  19.  17;  58. 

2 ;  74.  7  ;  213 ;  320 
lulius  Comutus  Tertullus,  C 

32.  2.  17,  20;    33.  10,  ©; 

76.  24  ;  77.  1,  2,  27 ;  123. 9. 

13  *  236 
luUus  Ferox,  TL  20.  16 ;  231 
lulios  Frontinus,  Sex.  125.  21; 

126.  21 ;  392 
lulius  Genitor  56.  7  ;  286 
lulius  Seruianus  136. 16 ;  405 
lulius  Vindex  85.  6 ;  125.  21 ; 

222 
lulius,  see  Auitns 
lunia  99.  10 
Junius  Arulenos  Busticus,  L 

4.  11,  13.24;  56.  19;  170 
lunius  Brutus,  M.  74.  2 ;  319 
Junius  Mauricus  6.  6 ;  7.  6, 

12;  56.  19;  71.   18,  22;  72 

12;  176 
lunius  Pastor  18.  6  ;  210 
lunius,  see  Auitus 

Larcius    Licinus    38.    11,  21; 

53,  3 ;  246 
I^pidus,  see  Gatius 
Lilicralis,  see  Saluius 
Liciniunus,  sec  Valerius 
Licinius  Crassus  Frugi,  M.  4. 

18;  172 


INDEX  OF  PROPER  NAMES. 


455 


Licinius  Maoer  Galnos,  C.  2. 

3;  16.24;  17.  3;  74.1;  161; 

206 
Licinius  Sura,  L.  104.  19 ;  358 
Liuia  Augusta  6.  1 
Liuius,  T.  90.  13 
Longinus,  see  Cassias 
Lucceius  Albinus  84.  14  ;  333 
Lutatius  Catulus,  Q.  74.  2 ;  319 
Lyacus  61.  19 
Lysias  19.  13,  15 ;  212 

Maccius  Plautus,  T.  17.  5 ;  207 

Macer,  see  Baebius 

Manilas  Torquatus,  L.  74.  4 ; 

319 
Marcella  [78.  5 ;]  325 
MarcellinuSf  see  Aefulauus 
Marcellinus,  see  Claudius 
Marius  Priscus  29.   1,  5,  16  ; 

30.  7,  8;  31.  19,23;  32.  5, 

13;  33.   1,  4,  19;   137.   U  ; 

229 
Mars,  98.  8 
Martialis,  see  Valerias 
Matnrus  Arrianus  1.  15;  28. 

20  ;  33.  18 ;  81.  3  ;  160 
Mauricus,  see  lanius 
Maximus  36.  21 ;  104.  2  ;  115. 

15;  128.  2;  243 
Maximus,  see  Nonius 
Meinmius,  C.  74.  4 ;  319 
Messalinus,  see  Valerius 
Messius  Maximus  243 
Metilius  Sabinus  Nepos,  P.  58. 

12;  291 
Mettius  Cams  4.  17 ;  100.  2 ; 

107.  18 ;  172 
Mettius  Modestus  5.  2,  4,  9, 

11,  12;  6.23,26;  7.  3;  173 
Minerua  8.  8  ;  61.  14 ;  98.  8  ; 

119.4,5 
Minicianus,  see  Cornelius 
MiniciuA  Fundanus,  C.  8.   II; 

78.  5;  79.  2;  ISI 
Modestus,  see  Mettius 


Mucius  Scaenola,  Q.  74.  3  ;  319 
M arena  (client  of  Cicero)  20. 

4;  (trib.  pi.)  124.  12 
Musa  61.  10 
Musae  35.  24 
Musonius  Rufus,  C.  56.  24  ;  57. 

12  *  289. 
Mustlus  133.  19 ;  401 

Nepos,  see  Cornelius 

Nepos,  see  Metilius 

Neratius  Priscus,  L.  35.  2 ;  99. 

8  (?) ;  241 
Nero  (imp.)  4.  9,   19;   51.   5; 

54.  10 ;  55.  6,  7,  9,  12 ;   75. 

18  ;  76.  8  ;  320 
Neronianus  55.  8 
Ncrua  (imp.)  xiii ;   67.  7  ;   71. 

22  ;  72.  1  ;  74.  7  ;  316 ;  320 
Nerua,  see  Acutius 
Nonianus,  see  Seruilius 
Nonius  Maximus  75.   7 ;  243 ; 

321 

Octauius  Auitus  131.  14  ;  397 

Paetus,  see  Caecina 
Paetus,  see  Thrasea 
Pastor,  see  Junius 
Pateriius,  see  Plinius 
Patroclus  66.  25 
Paulinas,  see  Valerius 
Pedanius  Fascus  Salinator,  Cu. 

96.  15  ;  132.  6  ;  134.  21 ;  347 
Pericles  22.  5,  10,  16 ;  217 
Piso,  see  Calpurnius 
Platonicus  10.  6 
Plautus,  see  Maccius 
Pliny  the  Elder  xvii ;  270  ff. 
Pliny  the  Younger,  his  birth 

XV ;  name  xvi ;  training  x  vi  f. ; 

uncle  xvii  f. ;  mother  xviii ; 

schooling  xviii  f. ;  adoption 

by  uncle  xix  ;   wealth   xix  ; 

cursuHhoiioruni  xx  i\. ;  decern 

uir  stlitibus  iudicandis  xx ; 


49«  a   PUNI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE. 


\ 


tribunos  milituin  zzi;  345; 
•enir  eqoitain  xxi  ;  quaestor 
xxi ;  tribunus  plebis  xxii ; 
praolor  xxiii ;  287  ;  under 
l>umituui  xxiii  f. ;  praefectus 
aeiurii  militariB  xxiv  ;  piue- 
fectus  aerarii  Satami  xxv; 
407 ;  410;  consul  xxvi ;  augur 
xxvi;  curator  aluei  Tiberis, 
etc  xxvi ;  governor  of 
Bithyniaxxviif. ;  415;  death 
xxviii;  marriages  406;  child- 
lesBuessSOQ;  i  us  trium  liber- 
onun  xxii ;  uneventful  career 
xxix  ff. ;  admission  to  bar 
210 ;  orator  xxxi  f. ;  poet 
xxxii  tL  ;  317  fL  ;  charm  of 
character  xxxiv  f.  ;  super- 
Ociality  xxxvi;  chronology 
of  lettem  xxxvii  S.  ;  159 ; 
100;  inscription  concerning 
him  xl  1  ;  MSS.  of  his 
Letters  xli  fL  ;  site  of  his 
house  in  Rome  295 ;  his  villa 
near  Laurentum  249  ff. ;  his 
villa  in  Tuscis  398;  spoken 
of  as  Plinius  5.  22 ;  addressed 
as  Plinius  128.  13,  22;  ad- 
dressed as  Secundus  5.  4 ; 
122.8;  141.3;  142.17;  145. 
17 ;  147.  14 ;  148.  10 ;  151. 
3.  19;  154.  16;  157. 3  (in  the 
addresses  of  Book  X.  always 
P/iiiio) 
l*Uiiiu8  Paternus  112.  11 ;  213 
PoUio,  see  Asinius 
Polyclitus  20.  21 
Pompeia  Celeriiia  [84.  15  ;]  333 
Pompcius    (a<lj.)    I.tO.    3.     19; 

151.  5 
PomiK'ius  Collcga,  Cn.  %2.  11, 

21,  22;  237 
Poinpc'ius  Falco,  Q.  24.  2 ;  219 
P<)iiiI>oitis  luliantis  10.  19;  187 
P<)iii|H:iuSiSatiiniinus  IG.  7;  2<>4 
Poiiipouiaiius  87. 15 ;  88. 12 ;  338 


Pontius  AUifauus  76. 22;  94.3; 


Pomponins  Secundus  50. 
271 


Porcius  Cato  Censor,  M.  19. 14, 

16 ;  213 
Porcius  Cato  Vtioensis,  M.  58. 

1,5,6;  64.  10,  ]2;290ff. 
Prifemius     Paetus     Rosianos 

Geminus,   T.    102.  9;  119. 

16;  353 
Priscus,  see  Cornelius 
Priscus,  see  Marius 
Priscus,  see  Neratius 
Publicius  Certus  123.  2,  4, 18, 

22;  124.27;  125.3,8 

Quadratilla,  see  Vminidia 
Quadratus,  see  Vmmidios 
Quintilianus,  see  Fabius 

Rectina  86.  22  ;  87.  4 
Regulus,  see  Aquilius 
Romanus,  see  V  oconius 
Rufinus,  see  Fadius 
Rnfinus,  see  Trebonius 
Rufus,  see  Caelius 
Rufus,  see  Calvisiu» 
Rufus,  see  Cluuius 
Rufus,  see  Curtius 
Rufus,  see  Musonius 
Rufus,  see  Satrius 
Rufus,  see  Sempronius 
Ruso,  see  Cremutius 
Rusticus,  see  Junius 

Sabinianus  127.  9;  129.  8;  :{94 
Saluius  Liberalis  Nonius  Bas- 

sus,  C.  31.  19;  235 
Satnus  Rufus  6.  14 ;  123.  21  ; 

177 ;  389 
Saturnalia  44.  5 
Saturiiinus,  see  Ponii>ciu.^ 
Scriboniuuus,  sec  Furius 
Sempronius  Ciieliuiius   143.   5, 

15;  419 


INDEX  OF  PROPER  NAMES. 


457 


Sempronius  Gracchus,  Ti.,  C. 

19.  13,  16 ;  212 
Sempronius  Rufus  71.  8  ;  313 
Seiiecio,  see  Hereuiiius 
Seiiecio,  see  Sosius 
Septicius  Clarus,  C.   1.  f) ;    IT). 

12;  108.  2;  159 
Scruilius  Nonianus,  M.  14.  22; 

199 
Seuerus,  see  Catilius 
Silius  Italicus  54.  3  ;  280  11. 
Socraticus  57.  24 
Sophocleis  37.  19 
Sosius  Seuecio,  Q.  14.  6 ;  190 
Sotadicus  73.  14 
Spuriuua,  see  Vestricius 
Suetonius  Tranquillus,  C.    17. 

22 ;  209 
Sulla,  see  Cornelius 
Sulpicius,  Ser.  74.  3 ;  319 
Sulpicius    Camerinus  Peticus, 

Q.  4.  18  ;  172. 
Sura,  see  Licinius 

Tacitus,  see  Cornelius 

Tascus  86.  22 

Terentiua  Afer,  P.  17.  5 ;  207 

Terentius  Varro,  M.  74.  3  ;  319 

Tertullus,  see  lulius 

Tlirasca  Paetus,  P.  Fanuius 
60.  1 ;  99.  17  ;  293 

Tiberius  (imp.)  74.  7  ;  320 

Timon  4.  24  ;  173 

Tiro,  see  TuUius 

Titius  Aristo  73.  3  ;  31G 

Titus  (imp.)  18.  10  (?) ;  149.  4 

Traianus  (imp.)  xiiif.;  30.  22; 
31.  9;  54.  22;  125.  1;  (in- 
stances in  Book  X.  not  spcci- 
Hc<l) 

TrelxMiius  Rufinus  71.  11  ;  ^»14 

Tuccius  Cerealis  30.  7  ;  *2Xi 

Tullius  Cicero,  M.  2.  10;  «.  ir.. 
19;  19.  17;  20.  I;  74.  I;  91. 
10;  95.  2,3;  214;  Jhl;  3IS 

TuUius  Tiro,  M.  95.  8,  12  ;  340 


Valerius  Catullus,  Q.   10.  24  ; 

17.  3  ;  206 
Valerius  Catullus  Messalinus, 

L.  72.  4 ;  315 
Valerius  Frstus,  C.  Calpetanus 

RantiusQuirinalis55. 15;  285 
Valerius  Licinianus  64.  24  ;  00. 

20,20;  67.  2,  12;  301 
Valerius  Martialis,  M.  60.  20 ; 

294  ff. 
Valerius  Messala  Coruinus,  M. 

74.  1  ;  318 
Valerius  Pauliiius  79.  22  ;  327 
Varenus  20.  5 
Veieuto,  see  Fabricius 
Vellcius  Blaesus  46.  8, 10  ;  262 
Venus  98.  9 
Vcrania  45.  13 
Vergilius    Maro,    P.    74.    11  ; 

283 ;  320 
Verginius  Rufus,  L.  25.  6  ;  27. 

7;  74.  6;  84.  16;  85.  6.  12; 

125.   20,   21;    126.    11,    16; 

221  ff. ;  320 
Verres  20.  20 
Vespasianus    (imp. )    51.     2o ; 

149.  3 
Veste66.  2;  99.  12 
Vestricius  Spurinna  5.  21,  25 ; 

48.  6,  13 ;  50.  4 ;  204 
Vettius  Proculus  12;^  2 ;  388 
Vibia  [59.  24  ;]  292 
Vitelliauus  4.  14 
Vitellius(imp.)4.  14;  54.  11 
Vitellius  Houoratus  29.  27,  28 ; 

30.  5 ;  231 
Vnimidia  Quailratilla  102.  10  ; 

1(«.  11  ;  354 
Vniniiclius  Quadratus  102.  25 ; 

103.  8,24;  120.  5;  354 
V*)conius  RonmnuR,  C.  Liciiiiu.s 

4.  0;  ;15.  12;  110.  22;  108 

Xerxes  .')'>.  21 
Zusiuius  79.  28 


:3c:ff3:  of  gxjlmmab  and  style. 

la^  ar-r  a»  pi^t  wad  Hmei/  tMe  Text,  thu» 

13ff  orr  »  fmfm  rf  ikt  XoUs.    Only 

^9  akai  «P  •orar  w  ikt  UUen  induded 

k  Sfar  warn  eked  tmdmau  rtfereacts  to  a 

■  jf-"  vammmkr  f^  dbr  mMmye  n  queKlkm,  rtftr- 

vp«  fAn  MriDitf.     Fmt  imdmdual  woorda  $et 

~   ~    -  y^  "yifwrlM,  wmd  far  a  yoiaiEi/  (ml- 

«fiB^e,  cAe  toorb  ^ 


.■apientem 
-.)doctosia6; 
133.  4;  minoribas 
I  4a21f.;  maltuin 
»  ^  25 :  SMfi  profanique  111. 
I X  31 ;  oQBtnm  la  3 ;  lyrica 
iCS.31:  nula9fi.21;  parU  100. 
^  ex  aofsa.  ad  extreBram,  etc  oflan ; 
il3L€:  KfiroxnBoTa  16 (cf.  ix. 39. 2) : 
ni^  w  aevoc^  aKhm  9L  S ;  184 ;  mille  of  in- 
MBBktxr  itmlsbaoc  131  1$ :  3It  1$ :  5Cl  2 :  63.  19 ;  compan- 
^I9«v  MUznK&ia]^  fwy^trra^  ^S^ :  aaperiaure  with  quantom 
^0  :  aQ.  wiR^  £Baxn^  genitire,  168 ;  diminutiTeB 


IB  «t«r  and  -iter,  173  ;  in  un- 

,-    „ \  sshsutate  for  sabstantive,  carptim 

::  *«4  Z^  ^  iwfettirpii^  wan»  IM :  234 ;  ■odifying  noan  uaed  as 
«4*<«v:^^  ^^  -*  ifcg^^rWt  cxpreBskn  in  place  of  attributive, 
^  5^  i^  ii^;  ♦*.  IT:  56.  10:  91,  13;  134.9;  ac  potiua  242 ; 
adttu.  '  *««^*T!r  ^  »C.  :^  ;  adbac ...  iam  of  sucoeesive  moments, 
3lfr     ««viK  JK  ^ix  13  \c€.  V.  8.  2 ;  vui.  5.  3) ;  374 ;  aeqae 


INDEX  OF  GRAMiMAR  AND  STYLE.  459 

quam  80.  12  (cf.  ii.  15.  1 ;  iii.  4.  9) ;  aeque  ut  19.  4 ;  capital- 
iter  173 ;  dam  with  imperative,  126.  21  (cf.  viii.  6.  13) ;  393  ; 
dumtaxat  112.  20  ;  120.  24  ;  etiam  (*  yes ')  309 ;  gradatim  228  ; 
hie  of  the  more  distant  (former)  instance,  37.  7 ;  iam  of 
emphatic  contratiistinction  from  past,  8.  3 ;  27.  7 ;  30.  27  ; 
iam  (*  moreover*)  181  ;  iam  ...  iam  ...  iam  of  rapidly  succeed- 
ing particulars,  338  ;  illic  of  the  nearer  (latter)  instance,  37. 7 ; 
inde  ( =ob  eam  causam)  96.  5  ;  modo  modo 284 ;  mox  ('later  *) 
5.  19  ;  90.  4 ;  130.  17  ;  175  ;  nunc  ...  nunc  correlative,  130.  7  ; 
130. 14  ;  132.  15  ;  plane  ('surely ')  2.  17  ;  ('of  course*)  119.  7  ; 
('naturally  as')  66.  12;  ('very*)  5.  22;  proximo  ('recently') 
74.  5  ;  quamlibet  246  ;  quamuis  321 ;  quoque  ('even ')  1 12.  17 ; 
368;  sane  ('only  just*)  37.  23;  tum  (=mox)  150.  26;  ut- 
cumque  190 ;  utinam  without  verb,  2.  18. 

Cases:  Genitive;  (possessive) pietatis est totus 79. 9 ;  326; 
fuit  moris  61.  1 ;  moris  est  107.  19;  295;  (of  destination  or 
purpose)  triclinia  paucorum  3.  14  ;  cubiculum  noctis  et  somni 
43.  22 ;  (of  quality)  me  huius  aetatis  26.  23 ;  uxorem  singu- 
laris  exempli  48.  22 ;  erat  somni  paratissimi  51.  21 ;  226 ; 
(partitive)  noc  moris  12.  18 ;  quid  esset  ueri  153.  23 ;  (objec- 
tive modifying  substantive)  suffugium  ...  imbris  ...solis;  ob- 
jective modifying  adjj.  and  partt. )  secreti  capacissima  12. 20 ; 
[amicitiae]  capacem  36.  15;  arborum  ferax  42.  10;  certos 
fugae  87.  12;  proximorum  incuriosi  113.  13;  miraculorum 
ferax  113.  20;  168;  193. 

Dative  :  (nvith  noun)  signum  loco  ponit  106.  22 ;  (with  adjj. ) 
subitum  14.  22  ;  59.  27  ;  capax  39.  25 ;  mollis  et  cedens  42.  9  ; 
sera,  turpis  48.  12 ;  liberum  49.  17  ;  longum  49.  22  ;  arduum, 
immeusum  109.  14  ;  sollemne  152.  3  ;  (ethicus)  5.  3  ;  65.  3(?); 
(of  judgment)  4.  4 ;  101.  27 ;  (with  certain  verbs)  iudormire 
2.  8  ;  inerrare  8.  8 ;  excusare  se  alicui  16.  3 ;  intendere  74. 19 ; 
attendcre  104.  10 ;  innutrire  130.  26 ;  (of  agent  with  finite 
verb)  inhabitantibus  ...  uieiLabantur  105.  20  (?  only  instance 
in  Pliny,  if  real,  of  dat.  of  agent  with  other  than  perf .  part. ; 
probably  rather  dat.  w.  tristes) ;  (of  person,  and  abl.  of  tiling, 
with  inuidere)  188. 

Accusative  :  (of  person  with  euadere)25. 11 ;  (with  inuidere) 
188 ;  (in  place  of  abl.  with  ex)  with  audirc  12.  8  ;  (in  place  of 
abl.  with  dc)  with  excusare  18.  1  ;  audirc  49.  3 ;  63.  4 ;  cogi- 
tare  75.  25 ;  doccri  106.  3 :  quae  Ici^untur  100.  14 ;  narratam 
effigiem  106.  14 ;  (neut.  definitive  of  pronoun)  with  cogcre  46. 
26;  li>3.  4 ;  with  inmierc  UK*».  18;  in  yiaasivc  construction 
with  puniri  152.  7:  435;  (of  exclamation)  9.  3ff.;  45.  15; 
78.  '23 ;  (of  exclanmti<»n  .as  direct  object  in  quotation)  46.  3 ; 
262 ;  ('  of  specification  ')  46.  24  ;  263. 


40U  C.   PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE. 

VoCATiVB :  (with  hens)  15.  13 ;  199. 

Ablative:  (instrnmeDtal  for  causal) 22. 27;  46. 18;  65.20!.; 
73.  7 :  87.  13 ;  88.  1 '> ;  (of  manner  in  place  of  pi-etVicale 
appositive)  65.  20;  (of  manner  in  less  usual  forms)  75.  13; 
88.  4;  92.  23:  93.  3;  102.  13;  143.  10;  (of  material)  402; 
(of  specification?)  134.  9;  (with  inuidere)  1S8;  (with  dam- 
nari)  103.  25;  ('of  approximate  place'  [instrumental])  42.  8; 
91.  9 ;  121.  8  ;  (<  of  approximate  time '  [instrumental])  13.  21 ; 
130.  12;  (of  «extent  of  time'  [instrumental])  31.  6 ;  53.  15; 
67.  24  ;  (in  causa  for  dat.  or  appos. )  334. 

Gannl  cUniet :  see  SabordinatloiL 

CtonditJonal  clanias :  see  Subordinatioii. 

CkMrdination :  {coptdaUve)  ac  quoque  14.  15  ;  et  (*also')  13. 
17;  15.23;  77.  12;  80.  5;  et(=et  tamen)  268;  et  (  =  cum) 
of  surprising  circumstance  78.  9  ;  92.  3 ;  et  quoque  (q.  *  also') 
10.  4;  186;  (q.  «even*)  95.  20;  etiam  (*also')  26.  4;  77.  26; 
80.4,24;  103.21;  115.21;  127.  12;  154.  4;  {consecutive) 
ideoque  1-23.  11 ;  {adversative)  et  tamen  3.  12 ;  64.  8 ;  78.  10; 
95.  24 ;  102.  22 ;  {disfttnctire)  uel  etiam  16.  20 ;  83.  21 ;  aut 
etiam  86.  15 ;  aut  (*  or  [if  that  is  not  so] ')  9.  22 ;  {emphasizing) 
qoin  immo  30.  23  ;  58.  25 ;  {explicative)  quidem  ( =et  quidem) 
4.  17 ;  12.  13;  26.  24;  52.  28;  67.  1 ;  124.  10;  nempe  enim 
59.  18;  parataxis  with  asyndeton  in  vivid  narrative,  360; 
parataxis  with  et-clause  for  cum-clause,  343  (see  also  above, 
et  =  cum) ;  parataxis  with  asyndeton  for  cum-clause,  386 ; 
parataxis  for  relative  clause,  20.  7  ;  parataxis  for  quod-clause, 
55.  8  ;  parenthetical  relative  clause  to  express  cause,  112.  8 ; 
213;  parataxis  by  hortatory  subjunctive  in  place  of  condi- 
tional protasis,  419 ;  parataxis  in  unreal  conditions,  193. 

Figures  and  Forms  of  Speech : 

Anaphora;  3.  8;  8.  25 ff.;  18.  8ff.;  26.  3ff.;  35.  20ff.; 
39.  22;  41.  8;  44.  8;  49.  8;  57.  6;  63.  12;  165. 

Antithesis;  2.  2;  4.  3;  17.  11 ;  27.  1  ;  116.  1  ;  117.  17; 
133.  13. 

ArosioiEsis ;  89.  14  (cf.  iii.  9.  11  ;  iv.  15.  9). 

Assonance;  88.  20;  100.  8 ;  105.  24;  1*20.  15;  370;  382. 

AsYNDCTON;  166;  204;  324. 

Bit.vciivMXJY  ;  cxcusem  =  dilationcm  excusando  impctreni 
18.  1  ;  facilitate  [diccndi]  22.  12;  cadcm  rcgio  =  eadcni  patria 
ubi  nati  eramus  26.  12 ;  modo  =  (|ui  modo  crat  30.  27;  234  ; 
insi^nis  [aliqiia  causa]  37.  1  ;  solcni  =  apricitionttm  in  sole  .'»2. 
4;  ConieIia=Cornclictc  incestus  66.  16;  iiiiirMiiUvH[ualetudini.H] 
70.  28  ;  dcfcctio  [uiriuiii]  99.  10  ;  auucunt  [a  mcditatioiie]  132. 
IL 


INDEX  OF  GRAMMAR  AND  STYLE.  461 

Chiasmus;  20.  15;  35.  20;  48.  12;  73.  13;  104.  5f.; 
195;  324;  368;  370. 

COMMTTTATTO  (dU'TtMera/SoXiJ) ;  28.  5 ;  111.  13;  132.  11. 

Elwpsis  ;  {o/  S7ilhsfantirt's)  uxor  45.  13  ;  261  ;  aciua  52.  4; 
86.  6;  horam  52.  13;  diem  55.  1  ;  141.  17;  tabellac  7.  25; 
uia  368  ;  {ofposs.  gen.  o/*  ;)ro7i. )  eius  59.  16  ;  70.  8  ;  (of  indirect 
pronominal  object)  mihi  50.  2;  tibi  69.  20;  127.  23;  129.  15; 
sibi  6.  21  ;  ei  40.  26;  41.  15  f.;  {of  direct  pronomiiial  otrject) 
me  1.  6;  6.  11 ;  8.  25 ;  110.  25 ;  te  127.  28 ;  129.  14;  cum 
51.  23  ;  62.  16  ;  eam  59.  4  ;  eas  1.  8  ;  {of  pronomincd  object  in- 
dicated by  part.)  59.  2 ;  62.  11 ;  66.  1 ;  {qfpron.  determinative 
before  relaXive  claiuie)  id  28.  7  ;  63.  12 ;  {ofposs.  dat.)ei  51.  17; 
{of  indicative  verbs  in  principal  claiises)  265  ;  sunt  42.  17  (and 
often);  erat  13.  1;  90.  20;  91.28;  92.  17;  fuit  102.  21; 
106.  9 ;  121.  15 ;  inquit  6.  25  (and  often) ;  fecit  130.  25 ; 
fecerunt  136.  24 ;  407  ;  legauit  46.  17 ;  auditur  1:^3.  3 ;  (o/ 
verb  sfipplied  from  another  adjacent  form)  16.  4  ;  18.  23  ;  23. 
22;  38.  19;  44.  2;  48.  21  ;  55.  25;  57.  18;  125.  24;  {of  sub 
junctive  in  princifKtl  clauses)  agam  110.  7  ;  fecisset  81.  2^ ;  {of 
verb  in  Sfiihordinate  datises)  causal  106.  2 ;  113.  13  ;  conditional 
51.  28 ;  95.  17  ;  88.  11 ;  102.  2 ;  132.  14 ;  indirect  questions, 
5.  5;  30.  21;  125.  11;  relative,  61.  25 ;  90.  25 ;  112.  8; 
temporal,  12.  12;  93.  9;  113.  15;  132.  19;  concessive,  228 ; 
{ofpron.  subject  of  infinitive)  te  67.  22 ;  156.  14  ;  se  47.  8  ;  87. 
24;  eum33.  24;  64.7;  67.13;  70.8;  105.  4 E;  127.  14; 
eam  70.  8 ;  illud  6. 18 ;  {of  esse)  105.  3  flF. ;  127.  14  (and  often) ; 
(o/te  uentunim)  199  ;  {of  dicere  or  dicentem)  12.  8  ;  102.  26  ; 
192 ;  (o/'futurum)  122.  19  ;  387  ;  {of  prep,  in  comparison  after 
quam)  117.  lOflf.;  (o/ tanto  tcn7A  quanto)  110.  17,  19. 

Epanalepsis;  13.  18  f.;  43.  11;  63.  18 ;  73.  12;  77.  12; 
112.  1;  169;  308;  326. 

Epiphoneha  ;  183 ;  247  (indirect  double) ;  277. 

Hendiadys  ;  189  ;  374  ;  398. 

Mbtonohy;  368. 

Oxymoron  ;  187  ;  223 ;  333  ;  335 ;  380. 

Poetic  Colouring  ( f'ERSOxiFiCATiON) ;  atrium  frugi  .30.  26; 
cona...frugi  49.  18;  dubius  et  quasi  languidus  dies  00.  20; 
discordantibus  uentis  114.  18;  triclinium  ...  tria  maria  pro- 
spectat  40.  6  (and  often  verbs  like  uidere,  aspicerc,  ]>rospicere, 
respicere,  of  inanimate  objects) ;  8uadenti1>u8  annis  M.  20 ; 
triclinium  ...  excurrit  40.  6;  zotheca  rcccdit  43.  16;  coUis 
adsnrgit  110.  26;  area . . .  surrexerat  88.  9;  cubiculum  . . .  est 
sub<luctum  41.  8 ;  [gula]  in  onlinem  rcdigenda  est  28.  8 ; 
uenti  quiescumt  42.  *20 ;  dies  conditur  133.  6 ;  sol  nascitur 
conditurque  41.  23 


^.   MTuiSil  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE. 


I 


Plbok  ASM ;  oonducti  et  redempti  37.  15 ;  consentite  con-  > 
spirftto  60.  9 ;  ruraua  ...  raddit  103.  25 ;  ranusqae  reuoc&tar  I 
l».  18. 

POLYSYNDBTON  ;  -C|ue  alone  with  third  (final)  member,  21. 
27 ;  69.  9 ;  124.  21  ;  ot  proxime  with  final  member,  74.  I ; 
deniquc  with  final  member,  98.  17 ;  deniqne  et  with  final 
member,  116.  1. 

Pbovb&bs,  etc  ;  see  Index  of  Subjects. 

Rbpktition  ;  of  verb  for  mournful  emphasis,  195 ;  with 
ehiann,  368 ;  370. 

Similkr;  19.  10;  21.  23;  48.  8;  72.  16;  79.  17;  97.  17; 
»7.21. 

Zbugma  :  nee  ipse  ...  nee  Uli ...  obstrepunt  44.  6 ;  fulguribus 
...  aimiles  et  maiores  91.  12 ;  tunc  deos,  tunc  hominem  esse  ae 
maminit  104.  7. 

Spboial  Points:  question  introducing  a  letter,  1()9;  re- 
somptave  phrases  concluding  a  letter,  178;  epigrammatic 
endmg  of  a  letter,  181 ;  184 ;  accidental  hexameter,  324 ; 
nomen  and  cognomen  inverted  in  order,  333. 

Otnmd:  definitive  genitive,  dolendi  uoluptas  113.  6; 
timndi  pudor  130.  27  ;  (and  often). 

JaaMdtkf:  present  historical,  91.  20  fL  ;  92.  10;  130.  14ff: ; 
as mbjeot,  10.  8 ;  22.  12,  13;  48.  6 ;  55.  27 ;  86.  16;  113.16; 
oomfdementary,  9.  18 ;  44.  18;  60.  2;  136.  8;  142.  14;  with 
*  subject  accusative,'  in  dependent  relative  clauses  of  oratio 
obUqoa,  47.  7  ;  12S.  16f. ;  modifying  delectari«  119.  24  ;  with 
personal  for  impersonal  construction,  279 ;  with  non  dubito, 

bitsijections :  heus  with  vocative,  15.  13 ;  199  ;  hercule  198. 

Hoods :  Indicatiyb  ;  in  oratio  obliqua,  32.  5 ;  32.  24 ;  67. 
12 ;  97.  10  (bis) ;  104.  4 ;  present  ind.  in  rhetorical  questions 
of  surprise,  etc.,  208;  with  dum  (* until'),  178;  with  dum 
('provided  that'),  387  ;  with  dum  for  pres.  part.  277  ;  imprf. 
with  subject-inf.  of  present  circumstance,  309 ;  future  for 
mild  imperative,  6.  4 ;  122.  9  ;  385. 

Subjunctive  ;  final  with  non,  364  ;  hortatory,  first  person, 
122.  1,  3 ;  hortatory,  second  person  of  definite  subject,  II. 
11,  12;  188;  potential  (first  pers.,  peri.)  24.  8;  ausim,  392; 
(second  pers.,  imprf.)  92.  5 ;  (third  person,  perf.)  97.  1 ;  HI. 
13;  potential,  with  relatives  (quod)  116.  23;  (quocumque) 
44.  11 ;  84.  20;  (quotiens)  58.  25;  (ut)  111.  13;  potential,  in 
proportionul  clause,  87.  10;  final,  dependent  upon  cfficerc 
176 ;  with  opus  est,  398 ;  present  tense,  in  questions  of  in<lig- 
nation,   59.  25;    293  (of.  also  use  with  an);   imprf.,   thinl 


INDEX  OF  GRAMMAR  AND  STYLE.  463 

person,  in  protasis  of  oft-recurring  action,  205 ;  imprf .  in 
apodosis  of  onreal  condition,  with  protasis  implied,  1S5 ; 
perf.  with  fortasse  of  past  time,  220 ;  perf .  in  prohibitions, 
(ne)  18.  20;  (nihil)  116.  8;  (nee)  116.  18;  (ne)  127.  21  ;  211. 

N^^ves:  non  in  6nal  clause,  364;  non  mode  for  noii 
modo  non,  372;  nee  with  hortatory  subjunctive,  116.  17; 
nee  non  emphasizing  following  statement,  397;  nec.et 
correlated,  129.  5. 

Nomui:  as  attribute,  50.  26  ;  115.  23 ;  272 ;  appositive  to 
clause,  26.  6;  54.  22;  diminutives  from  comparatives,  207; 
substituted  by  adverb,  1 10.  11  ;  sing,  of  concrete  used  collec- 
tively with  adj.  for  plural,  42.  10  ;  111.  15 ;  plur.  of  abstract, 
secessibus  26.  16;  clamores  38.  3;  infirmitates  112.  12; 
moras  124.  14 ;  aestus  140.  22 ;  plur.  of  abstract  in  concrete 
sense,  amoenitatibus  2.  11  ;  amores  43.  11 ;  257 ;  condicioues 
10.  21 ;  abstract  for  adj.  modifying  personal  subject,  321  ; 
attraction  in  number,  374  ;  lyrica  as  substantive,  26i6  ;  sponte 
without  determinative,  190. 

Fuataxis :  see  Snbordiiiation. 

Fartlciides:  present  as  substantive,  masc.  and  fem., 
natantes  41.  18 ;  medentiom  79.  17 ;  metuentium  83.  19 ; 
dolentium  123.  10;  dicentibns  81.  14;  credentibus  92.  14; 
loqoentibos  101.  25 ;  inhabitantibus  105.  20 ;  flnitantibus 
111.  12 ;  intellegentes  38.  5 ;  neuter  plur.,  incidentia  88.  22 ; 
nasoentibus  110.  10  ;  perfect  as  substantive,  masc.  and  fem., 
in  damnatna  5.  10 ;  cum  mortois  4.  17  ;  neat,  plnr.,  oontezta, 
inoohata,  effecto  110.  11  f. ;  electorom  S2.  27 ;  abrupta  109. 
9 ;  future  as  substantive,  audituros  81.  15 ;  euentnra  IS.  3 : 
gerundive  as  substantive,  dioenda  19.  7;  landanda  61.  5: 
scribeDda,  legenda  85.  25 ;  present  for  si-clause,  96.  22 ;  348 ; 
perl  of  depaoeat  verb  as  passive,  16.  12 ;  future  for  protasis, 
61.  25;  107.  16;  future  for  apodosis,  362;  future  for  nt- 
claiiae,93.  la 

Particles  (see  also  AdrertM) :  aeqae...at,  aeqoe...qaani. 
aeqae...ac212;  cum  interim  55.  13;  60.  14;  dam  ('while') 
with  indie,  7.  6 ;  178 ;  dum  ('provided  that') with  indicative, 
122,  25;  387 ;  dam  («provided  that')  with  elUpeis  of  verb, 
122,  15;  386;  et  ('even')  269;  et  (=et  tamen)  268;  et 
quidem  179 ;  i^tur  in  initial  position,  270 ;  licet  concessive 
with  subjunctive,  10.  11;  ne  after  imperMmal,  132.  3 ;  nisi 
with  Doon  and  adj.,  10.  1 ;  nisi  qood  25.  17 ;  nisi  tamen  3.  2 : 
8.  27  ;  134.  12  ;  postqaam  with  present,  8.  22 ;  76.  29 ;  qnani 
omitted  after  comparative,  431 ;  qaam  libet  with  partt.  and 
adjj.,  3K.  I;  60.  II;  152.  9:  quanqoam  191;  quanqoam 
i^Kmiroi)  284;  qnamois  of  sobject  poaability  and  of  actual 


I 


464  C.   PLINI   EPISTVLAE  SELECTAR 

fact,  321 ;  qnam  uoles  23.  19;  quasi  of  actual  similarity,  17.         | 
2 ;  quatenus  (*  rinoe ')  55.  26  ;  non  quia  non  with  sabj.,  23. 4;         I 
quo  minus  121.  20 ;  quod  after  ueroa  sentiendi,  29.  21 ;  qiiod         ' 
referring  to  hoc,  46.  6;   quo<iue  186;   si  ('even  if)  7.  ?6; 
l(>9.  18;  152.   12;  (*in  case  that')  86.  19;  si-clause  for  sub^ 
ioct-claiiso,  117.  3  ;  si  modo  (regularly  with  indie,  except  in 
nicorporated  clauses  adjacent  to  subjunctive)  2.  8, 16 ;  19.22; 
20.  1»;   47.   8;   48.  6;  si  tamen  26.  27;  48.  20;  118.  U; 
tametsi  (corrective)  61.  25;  nbi  with  present,  132.  18;  nt- 
clause  after  impersonal,  1.  11 ;   ut  ('as  if ')  112.  18,  19;  at 
omitted  after  cupere,  77.  28  ;   inhere  91.  22 ;  pacisci  57.  23; 
praecipere  103.  3 ;  praemonere  66.  22  (also  often  omitted  with 
rogo,  and  with  otner  verbs  of  asking,  advising,  desirinjg, 
caring,  etc.);  ut...ita  in  adversative  correlation,  420;  nisi 
ut  (non  ut)  clause  for  present  participial  phrase,  31.  17,  26 ; 
hactenus  ut-clause  for  present  participial   phrase   38.  12; 
utcumque  190. 

Prepositions :  anastrophe  of,  quem  contra  24.  17 ;  hnnc 
subter  111.  1 ;  ab  (for  ad)  43.  17,  18  ;  (*on  the  side  of ')  42. 
13  ;  81.  9  ;  ad  for  apud,  122.  20  ;  citra  for  sine,  25.  17  ;  de 
('  from  being  *)  65.  1 ;  de  with  stipulare,  33.  5 ;  e  uestigio  83. 
10  ;  in  with  abl.  for  abL  alone,  88.  1 ;  usque  in  for  usque  ad, 
156.  8 ;  in  for  ad,  30.  5  (cf.  Trai.  in  X.  32.  1  ;  Tac  Ann. 
XVI.  21) ;  in  ('in  the  case  of)  76.  10 ;  in  of  condition  or 
state,  25.  15  ;  26.  19  ;  55.  4  ;  65.  16 ;  in  causa  (=causae)  84. 
23  ;  96.  3  (cf.  VI.  1.  2) ;  334  ;  in  of  concessive  idea,  62.  22; 
inter  for  ex,  10.  21 ;  intra  for  apud,  72.  15  ;  per  for  in,  88.  4 ; 
90.  14  ;  per  for  ob,  120.  9 ;  per  for  modal  ablative,  3.  4 ; 
150.  24:  per-phrase  for  abl.,  55.  16;  post  dccimum  mortis 
annum  85.  1 ;  sub  with  ablative  in  figure  of  commercial 
accounts,  2.  13 ;  18.  17 ;  28.  14 ;  69.  23 ;  81.  16 ;  super  (tem- 
poral) 52.  6;  72.  10;  129.22;  (  =  de)  30.22;  (=praeter)  109. 
10;  151.  16;  322. 

Pronouns :  neut.  as  substantive,  in  tua  80.  29 ;  hoc  moris 
12.  18  ;  192 ;  ego  ille  7.  21  ;  change  of  number  in  first  person, 
nobis  ...  egi  .^.  21  ;  nobis  ..  rogo  36.  10  ;  possessive  of  regard 
or  affection,  2.  3 ;  16.  7 ;  possessive  of  slaves  and  frcednieu, 
252  ;  hie  . . .  ille  ( *  the  former  . .  the  latter ')  22.  27  (cf .  hie . . .  illic 
37.  7) ;  218 ;  demonstrative  with  quod-ckuse  in  apposition, 
11.  24 ;  quod  for  id  quod  30.  10;  (|uemcumque  without  verb, 
24.  12 ;  si  quid  (  =quicquid)  130.  21. 

Purpose  cUnses :  see  8alx>rdination. 

Questions  :  single  direct  without  particle,  128.  21  ;  particle 
omitted  in  first  member  of  double  (luestion  (direct),  1*28.  11, 13 ; 
(indirect)  .33.  11  (and  often  in  both  forms  ;  cf.  210^ :  indirect 


INDEX   mF  •Vr;A\!MAK   AM»  <rVLH  4(0 

with  cur  as  if  clueci.  52L  24:  ixi^ircct  with  qixantam  as  if 
direct,  76.  14  ;  an  with  pre»  :r:^i.  in  «jrc'-?  •^ire'.-t  •*  rnc-tontHl  ■ 
qucstioiw  of  surprise.  !:-•_■:  T:»::I.:y.  ■■:  :...l:^^c-::•■t.  lid.  IS:  lL^*. 
24;  1S7  ;  20S;  S2.  7  «5ii::.u=  '--iersM.-l  :  V..  12  'an  noni : 
10.  24  (an  ut  ina^^ls  ang.-.:  :  j::..:l^.-Iy  ui:':.  i-rti^  srJ-;..  To.  24  : 
an  with  single  indireci  i:ue*t:.::..  14  13:  1^.  17  ;  24.3:  27.2:^. 
142.  6;  143.  16  JTr.i. ':  144.  i4 :  \r^.  h*z  nunj-.nia  Mitli 
single  indirect  question.  !4>.  2.  r-:sc:«-»  an  21^4  :  f-^aiid  with 
single  direct  question.  vTi.  I  :  c»>;-;:  I  viim  single  indirect  ques- 
tion, 83.  12 :  89.  I  :  -ne  for  nor.rie,  2t». 

Subordination  :  Cat^e  :  ^xpt-ssse-i  l»y  p.irew:h'::ic.il  rtlative 
clause,  112.  8;  371  :  TrKpiriK:  ne  foIli»wiv.i;  impersonal  verh 
(fiet)  1.  11  ;  (sufficit)  132.  3:  following  eTKct^-re.  176:  uith  ut 
nihil,  310 ;  ne  introducin;:  clauses  sugjestive  of  result,  310 : 
Condition  ;  si-clause  I'-r  •«ui»jr:ot-cI'tuae.  117.  3  :  pres.  sul»j.  in 
prot.  with  fut.  ind.  in  ajii^l..  :^79 :  pres.  i»nrt.  for  prut,  of 
unreal  condition,  34H ;  imprf.  3u.>j  in  prot.  of  general  condi- 
tion, 360;  imprf.  subj.  in  ajif-l.  •  :  unreal  C'lidiiion  with  pr»»i. 
implie<^l,  185 ;  coordination  <.'t  prot.  with  ai^xl.  in  unical  con- 
ditions, 193. 

Syntaxis :  see  Subordination. 

Tenses :  periphrastic,  iudicaturi  sunt  5.  8  ;  accepturus  erit 
69.  8;  epistolary  imperfect,  83.  11 :  lUl.  1 ;  Inii.  24:  imprf. 
in  sequence  with  perf.  ('pseudo-epistolary'),  7.  16;  115  12; 
149.  9 ;  plup.  in  sequence  with  pres.,  1. 17  ;  132.  17 ;  160 ;  399; 
pres.  of  {Must  events  yet  current,  4.  13,  16 ;  63.  1 1  ;  80.  13 ; 
pr^nant  imprf.  of  solere,  .3.  16:  5.  10;  causative  imprf., 
338  (?) ;  fut.  for  pres.  128.  23  ;  perf.  inf.  with  cu[>ere,  35.  5 ; 
perf.  as  gnomic  aorist,  112. 12  ;  pluperfect  as  aorist,  160  ;  410. 

Verbs:  active  as  reflexive,  flectit  130.  17  ;  praebentem  131. 
1  ;  passive  as  middle,  10.  25 ;  17.  12  ;  46.  25  ;  48.  15  ;  49. 12 ; 
97.  28;  131.  14;  used  absolutely,  disccrc  68.  15;  studcre 
(reguhirly)  35.  17;  51.  19;  52.  .n ;  68.  9:  70.  6;  86.  7,  20; 
ICKi.  3 ;  1 12.  5 ;  personal  piu«.  coii8tru«:tic»n  with  verl)S  <»f 
telling,  27!) ;  halx^re  as  auxiliary,  372  ;  stare  as  auxiliary,  23:S; 
tuuiderc,  constructions  with,  188. 


2t; 


INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS. 


{Mrftftmet»  mrt  im  pmga  oftkt  NaUt.     On  qmeUunu  o/ grammar  and 
ttfU  9m  mim  At prteedimg  Index.} 


|912 

(m      '  diririoo     of 
i')  219 

>23S 

k  M  Rooian  ptovinoe  372, 
375 
ad  «Km  199 
1 311 

BtoCUw-€uei331 
168 
»430 

182 
i(Satenii,etc)386 
Africa,  prorinoe  of  359 
age  ml  death  194 
a^  uf  girb  at  marriage  326 
agriculture,  invention  of  375 
aiant  enim  Dioltmn,  etc  ^19 
AnMmaiiilla305 
albas  cakolns  \Si 
alphabet,  iDvention  of  375 
Akium  333 
amaritodo  (of  style)  *i06 

•fuMm.  /tip  0piif9t^  ff.T.x.  3nn 

amicitia  Oiesaris  274 

amor. .  .magister  est  optimos  312 

au  1S7 

aiMiroD*251i 


Anticatones  of  Caesar  291 

appeal  from  proviuces  to  em- 
peror 438 

applaose  198 

aqneducts  424 

aqnilex  425 

area  341 

army,  slaves  in  419 

Asiatic  and  Attic  rhetoric  161, 
163 

astrology  261 

athletic  contests  314 

atrium  250 

Attic  and  Asiatic  rhetoric  161, 
163 

angors,  college  of  414 

Angnstanns  oicus  259 

aureus  261 

auspicandi  causa  274 

auspicari  244 

ball-games  267 
ball-grounds  255 
banishment  174 
Basilica  lulia  215 
bath-rooms  254 
beards  186 
beets  as  fowl  201 
betrothal  152 
bibliopolae  164 


INDKX  OF  SURJECTS. 


467 


birthdays,  celebration  of  283 

birthday,  celebration  of  em- 
peror b  417 

boating  on  sacred  streams  370 

book,  form  of  MS.  197 

book-trade  1G4 

breuis  (*  imminent')  286 

bulbi  as  food  2(>2 

burial  alive  of  unchaste  Vestal 
303 

burial,  necessity  of  ritual  361 

calculi  355 

calculus,  see  albus 

capitaliter  173 

Castellamare  :i38 

cathedrae  258 

cauaedium  251 

cavalry  armour  27 1 

censors,  degradation  of  senators 
by  389 

censors  in  municipality  432 

centumuiri  173 

ceras  181 

Ceres,  festival  of  401 

chariot-races  378  S. 

Christians,  persecution  of  434  ff. 

Circenaes  (ludi)  378  flf. 

circulator  301 

Circus  Maximus,  capacity  of 
378 

cithara  346 

citra223 

ciuitates  lilierae  in  Roman  pro- 
vince 375 

clarissimus  as  title  of  senator 
390 

classes  praetoriae  335 

clepsydra  234 

clientela  228 

climacterics  262 

Clitumnus  fons  366 

Clitumnus,  *  temple  of  the  *  368 

clubs  422 

cdchleac  as  food  2<J<  ► 

cognitio  435 


cognomen  in  direct  address  174 
collegia  fabrum  422 
Comitium  307 
commcndatio,  emperor's  right 

of  413 
comnientarii  351 
communia     (  *  common-weal    ) 

331 
comoedus  2{Y2 
comperendinationes  231 
Comum  165 
consilium  183,  216 
consilium  of  emperor  314 
const  it  utio  principum  428 
constructio     (  *  sentence-struc 

ture')  206 
Corinthia  268 
coroUarium  356 
court  of  centumuiri  173 
courts,  applause  in  247  f. 
courts,  disturbance  in  221 
cryptoporticus  256 
cubicula  167 
cucurbitae  as  food  201 
curatorships  324 
cur ren tern  quoque  instigcm  286 
cursus  honorum  of  equites  271 
cymbala  248 

Dacian  wars  of  Trajan  363 

dancers  at  dinners  203 

death  of  children  before  parents 

195,.  298 
deaths  ex   natura  and  fatalis 

190 
decretum  principum  428 
decuriones  300,  432  f. 
deliciae  165 
deos  adfuisse  174 
deportatio  174 
destruction  of  the  world,  final 

343 
diaeta  257,  339 
dies  ( *  day-light ' )  342 
dinner,  fare  at  Koman  2(M» 
dinner,  .<«<'ats  at  315 


2<j2 


41» 


a    PLINI  EPISTVLAE  SELECTAE. 


diplomaUUS 
duKM8io237 

diuoB  as  imperial  title  908 
'  dixision  ot  the  house '  237 
dolphin,  stories  of  397 
flominus  as  title  of  address  405 
dreams,  prophetic  209 
dress  of  matrons  263,  306 
dress  of  Vestals  306 
driving  within  Rome  27S 
dumtaxat  161 
duumuiri  iure  dicundo  314 

echini  as  food  203 

edictum  principum  428 

efficias  ne  176 

eggs  as  food  200 

egregins  as  title  of  eques  314 

Kgypt  08  health-resort  328 

clt  o<W6t,  K.r.X.  211 

emancipatio  297 

Epicurean  vs.  Stoic  ideal  357 

epigrammatic  ending  of  letters 

181,  184 
epistulae  (plur.  for  sing. )  396 
epolones  234 
errauerim  220 
estates  as  farms  325 
et  quidem  179 
etiam  (*yes*)  309 
euripus  166 
ex  cansis  164 
exoeptio  163 
exhibeo  161 
expcrimenta  179 
expositus  (of  person)  185 
exta  duplicia  264 

factions  in  chariot  races  379 
fasces  377 
felix  beatusque  167 
6gurae  orationis  162 
finger-reckoning  261 
fire-engines  421 
flamon  in  Spain  242 
fleets,  imperial  335 


flogging  232 

fortassis  427 

fortes  fortuna  iuuat  338 

Forum  luli  328 

free  cities  in  Roman  provinoe 

375 
freedmen,  discipline  of  394, 396 
Fr^jus  328 
frugalitas  312 
funeral,  public  222 
funerals,  incense  at  326 
funeral  oration  224 
funeral  sacrifices  298 
funus  publicum  222 

Gaditanae,  203 

games,  board-  355 

gestatio  167 

gesture  of  summoning  361 

ghost-stories  358  ff. 

ypufiai  205 

gods,  belief  in  174 

gods  of  rivers  represented  809 

gourds  as  food  ^1 

governor,  criminal  jarisdiotion 
of  provincial  231,  818 

governor,  proseootion  of  pro- 
vincial 408 

gradatim  (*  in  classes  ')  228 

guardianship  225 

guardians,  how  appointed  388 

gubemacula  338 

gynmastic  exhibitions  314 

hair  worn  short    by    nrien  of 

position  186 
halica  as  food  or  drink  201 
halica,  spelling  of  201 
harper  202 
heating  of  rooms  253 
heliocaminus  257 
helm  of  ship  338 
hercule  198 
hetaeriae  422 
hexameter,  accidental  324 
Hispania,  provinces  in  242 


INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS. 


4^ 


Hispellom  370 
iKmio  sum  318 

hocestum,  utUe  175 
b«  filing  180 
hypocaostoQ  254 

iactura  189 

z&ui  ( *  moreover ')  181 

ientacuJiiin  275 

imagiD^  208 

imperium  335 

in  causa  334 

in  diem  uiuunt  322 

in  manibus  esse  164 

in  ordiiiem  cogi  220 

in  summa  195 

inuicem  174,  '286,  313 

incen^  at  funerals  3:2<> 

mclinato  die  255,  359 

infant  children,  abandonment 
of  438 

informers,  penalties  against  170 

Cnquietor  183 
iQBcriptio  32ii! 
inataltation  as  occasion  of  cere- 

ttionious  iit tendance  176 
inter  mAUUS  ('in  hand *)  323 
interest,  rate  of  427 
inuidere,  constructions  with  1 88 
iupilum  ('  point  ^  of  a  case)  217 
luppiter  Clitiimnus  369 
ius  gladii  232 
ius  senatorium  233 
ius  trium  liberorum  243 

jeopardy  twice  for  same  offence 

231 
jockeys,  Roman  379 
jurors,  senators  as  216 

label  of  slaves  328 
lactucae  as  food  200 
lancea  180 
laudatio  f  unebris  224 


Laarentuni,  Pliny*s  villa  netir 

249  flF. 
law  by  imperial  enactment  428 
lector  202 
legacies  353 
XMi'Sci  162 
hoptia  238 
lettuce  as  fwKJ  200 
lex  Aquilia  199 
lex  CaJpumia  de  ambitu  444 
lex  uulumap  Mfii<?^tii,ine  444 
lex    CorncHa    do    sicariis    et 

uejwficig    70 
lex  lulia  de  residuis  418 
lex  lulia  th^  ni  phlion  231 
lex  lulia  tiiubici[kLlJ»  431 
lex  Julia  re|M3tmKhirnm  230 
lex  Malacitana  431,  432 
lex  Ouinia  240 
lex  Pompeia  (de  ui?)  2;U 
lex  Pompeia  prouinciao  Uithy- 

niae  431 
lex  Tullia  444 
lex  Vrsoueiifiia  444 
lil>er,  ffjrtn  of  197 
liberal  ia  «tudiu  185 
Libumica  337 
lima  163 

literature  and  morality  266 
litterae  (=  epistulao)  187,  332 
lots,  method   of  casting  369, 

409 
ludi  culculoruni  355 
hidi  Circenses  378  ff. 
ludi  miljlici  3ri5 
Lugdunnni  :iHl 

lyni  ;m 

lyrici  (of  orotic  verso)  317 
lyiistea  iU2 

maicstas  175 
majority,  age-  182 
manumission  of  slaves  371 
marriage,  age  of  girls  at  326 
marriage  ceremonies  182 
meals,  number  of  268 


470 


C.    PLINl    EPISTVLAE   SKLECTAE. 


MedioUnium  909 

mediUri  180 

inoi  (of  <ine*u  slaves  and  frco<l- 
men) 252 

inclior  nuo  inaior  214 

menu  <>/  Roman  dinner  200 

nieridiatio  276 

milk -diet  in  phthisis  :I29 

mille  of  iudefiuite  multitude 
202 

miroi  317 

minim  est  ut  181 

inodo  mo<lo  284 

morality  and  literature  260 

mox  175 

mulsnm  as  drink  201 

multitude,  expression  of  in- 
definite 202 

muuera  (*  shows ')  ^)5 

manicipalities,  governmont  of 
432f; 

music  at  dinner  202 

most  as  drink  201 

naUles  283,  417 

nescio  an  204 

New-year  vows  423 

Niconie<lia  421 

nijjht  at  end  of  world  343 

noise  in  courts  221,  247  f. 

noise  in  theatres  248 

nomeuclator  245 

nominatio  by  emperor  of  state 

officers  413 
non  dubito  ...  fore  311 
nota  censoria  389 
numcrosa  246 
nuptiac  182 

oath,  inilitiiry  420 
obuitts  (of  a  person)  185 
oflRcia  as  distinct  from  niugi- 

stratus  270 
otficium  praetoris  176 
uthciuui  togae  uirilis  182 


olives  as  food  201 

omnium  bipedum  nequissimus 

178 
opisthographi  278 
optimus  as  title  of  Trajan  313 
optimus  tamen  modus  est  218 
orator  defined  by  Cato  300 
Ostiensis  colonia  259 
ostrea  as  food  203 
oua  as  food  200 
oysters  as  food  203 

palace  198 

Palatium  198 

Palo  333 

panegyric  biographies  299 

xdvra  \lOw  kivCj  217 

pantomimi  355 

passports  445 

past,  preference  for  208 

patch  worn  on  face  330 

pauci  (juos  aequus,  etc  162 

pedes  ducunt  347 

l>er8ecution  of  Christians  434  ff. 

persona  221 

pet  animals  298 

philosophers,  banishment  of  287 

phthisis,  milk -diet  in  329 

plithisis,  voyage  to  Egypt  as 

cure  for  328 
pietatis  totus  326 
pignora  192 
pila  267 
platanon  166 
pleas,  length  of  234 
plebs  433 

poetry  as  relaxation  349 
Fonipeii,  date  of  destruction  of 

330 
iKjrticus  165,  251 
Portico  of  Livia  176 
portraits,   ancient    regatxl    for 

208 
praudia  325 
praefatio  197 
praefcctus  aemrii  Saturni  386 


INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS. 


471 


pnietexta  3(59 
praeuaricatio  212 
prandiiun  27C 
prayer  to  kckU  174 
priestly  colleges  225  f. 
priuatus  221 
probationes  236 
procuratorships  279 
protiteri  301 
propnigeon  254 
prosequi  332 
proverbs,  see 

ad  assem 

aiunt  eniin  multum  legen- 
dum  esse  non  malta 

albus  calculus 

dfiaOla^  «f.r.X. 

amor  . .  magister  est  opti- 
mus 

auspicaiidi  causa 

currentemquoque  instigem 

deos  adfuisse 

eti  ol<ap6st  if.r.X. 

felix  beatus(|ue 

fortes  fortuua  iuuat 

homo  sum 

honcstum,  utile 

in  diem  uiuunt 

in  ordinem  cogi 

iugulum 

lima 

melior  quo  maior 

omnium  bipeduni  nequissi- 
nius 

optimus  tamen  nuKlus  est 

TravTa  \lOov  kivCj 

pauci  quos  aequus,  etc. 

pedes  ducunt 

c|uod  dubites  ne  fcceris 

ratio  constabit 

scntentiae  uumerantur  mm 
ponderantur 

unus  ex  multis 

u»us  nuigister  egregius 
provinces,  choice  of  govenior^ 
of  senatorial  377 


provincial  governor's    judicial 

authority  231,  313 
proxime  188 
Prusa  417 
publicare  199 
pugi  Hares  180 
punishment  of  Vestal  303 

question  introducing  letter  1C9 
quod  dubites  ne  feceris  211 
quoc]ue  186 


races,  chariot  378  if. 

ratio  constabit  170 

re£ulings  at  dinner  202 

recipei-atores  230 

recitations,  public  196 

recunibere  228 

Regia  305 

relatio  ad  senatuni  390 

relegatio  174 

rescriptum  405 

retia  180 

rhetor,  school  of  the  244,  302 

rhetores  paid  by  state  310 

river-gods,  how  represented  369 

sacerdot<28  225  f. 

sacra  as  epitliet  of  cities  376 

sacramentum  militare  420 

sacrameut  of  Eucharist  440 

saeculum  177,  304 

&tdutatiomatutina228, 281,290 

sindals  330 

Saturnalia  25'J 

school  of  rhetor  244,  302 

schools,  public  310 

scriniuin  323,  362 

sea-urchins  as  foo<l  2(i.*{ 

secederc  183 

secessus  168 

secret  uni  177 

8e!nel  atquc  iteruni  .'{4() 

scfiatc,  order  of  siicjiking  in  387 

senate,  pnicwlure  in  384  ff.,  389 


.^     ll-L. 


472 


C.   PUNI   EPISTVLAE  SELBCTAE. 


,  reforenoeof  butiiiess  by 
•nperor  to  390 

,  revision  by  cenaoraof  389 
«atod  from  teachers 

aQ2 

•ententiae  ( '  aphorisms ' )  205 
seotantiae     numerantar     non 

pooderantar  241 
•aptomoir  epalonam  234 
■estertia  as  adjective  239 
shade- trees  166 
siesta  276 
siplio421 

slavery,  basis  of  376 
slaves,  manumission  of  371 
slaves  as  soldiers  419 
slaves,  wiUs  of  371 
snails  as  food  200 
snow  as  refrigerant  201 
soldiers,  slaves  as  419 
soleae336 
sortes369 
8otadici318 
Spain,  provinces  of  242 

^eealaria  251 

spbaeristeriam  255 

spleniom  330 

sponsalia  182 

sponte  190 

sportala245 

Stabiae,  destruction  of  338 

stare  as  auxiliary  verb  233 

stationes  197 

stilus  180 

stipNes  367 

Stoic  vs.  Epicurean  ideal  357 

8tola306 

subscriptio  215 

subterranean  streams  374 

suffibulum  306 

suffragator  225 

suicide,  Stoic  doctrine  of  191, 

193  f. 
sulphur  for  mending  glass,  etc. 

373 


summum  bonum  357 
sun-baths  267 
super  tanta  re  233 
super  ceuam  316 
suppliant  attitude  210 
suspensurae  253 

teachers  created  senators  3(^2 

teachers  paid  by  state  310 

tenet,  haoet,  possidet  205 

theatres,  noise  in  248 

testamenta  353 

ep€TT^42S 

Tiber,  curatorship  of  324 

time  as  healer  327 

toga  praetexta  369 

toga  uirilis  182 

tomb  of  Marcella  discovered 
325 

torture  in  examination  of  wit- 
nesses 441 

Trajan's  Dacian  wars  363 

transmitittur  ( *  is  spanned ' ) 
370 

ti*eason  by  words  175 

treasury  -  administration  at 
Rome  386 

trees  as  sacred  366 

trial  by  coguitio  435 

trial  of  provincial  governors 
408 

tribunal  246 

t  ibunus  plebis  under  empire 
219 

trium  liberorum  ius  243 

tunica  263 

Tuscis,  Pliny's  villa  in  398 

tutor  225 

tutor,  appointment  of  388 

tympana  248 

uenabulum  180 
uersus  {<rrtxoi)  277 
Vestae,  atrium  350 
Vestales  303 
uestibulum  256 


INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS. 


473 


uia  Aemilia  324 

uiae,  curators  of  323 

Ulcus  Angustanua  25'.* 

uilla  in  Tuscis,  Pliny's  398 

uilla  Laurcntina,  PJiny's  249  ff. 

uiuit  uiuetque  227 

underground  streams  374 

unus  ex  multis  167 

uolumen  272 

urbs  used  absolutely  of  Rome 

185 
usus  magister  egrcgius  216 
utcum<)uc  190 
utile,  honcstum  175 
utraque  lingua  266 
uuluae  as  food  203 

Vadimonian  lake  373 
verse  epitaphs  334 
Vestal  buried  alive  303 


Vestal's  dress  306 

Vesuvius,  eruption  in  79  334  ff. 

votive  offerings  to  streams  and 

springs  367 
vows  on  emperor's  birthday  417 
vows  at  New  Year  423 

water-clock  234 
wills  of  foreigners  371 
wills  of  slaves  371 
windows  in  porticoes  261 
women  as  plaintiffs  384 
world,  6nal  destruction  of  343 
writing-tablets  180 

xystus  257 

mv  161 
zotheca  258 


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