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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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