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Pliny · Epistulae X

Pliny, Letter 10.58

The case of Flavius Archippus

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Ep. 10.58.1Cum citārem iūdicēs, domine, conventum incohātūrus, Flāvius Archippus vacātiōnem petere coepit ut philosophus.When I was summoning the jurors, sir, about to open the assizes, Flavius Archippus began to claim exemption as a philosopher. Ep. 10.58.2Fuērunt, quī dīcerent nōn līberandum eum iūdicandī necessitāte, sed omnīnō tollendum dē iūdicum numerō reddendumque poenae, quam frāctīs vinculīs ēvāsisset.There were some who said that he should not be freed from the duty of serving as a juror, but removed from the roll of jurors altogether and returned to the punishment which he had escaped by breaking his chains. Ep. 10.58.3Recitāta est sententia Velī Paulī prōcōnsulis, quā probābātur Archippus crīmine falsī damnātus in metallum: ille nihil prōferēbat, quō restitūtum sē docēret;The sentence of Velius Paulus as proconsul was read out, by which it was shown that Archippus had been condemned to the mines on a charge of forgery: he produced nothing to show that he had been restored; Ep. 10.58.3allēgābat tamen prō restitūtiōne et libellum ā sē Domitiānō datum et epistulās eius ad honōrem suum pertinentēs et dēcrētum Prūsēnsium.he did, however, put forward in support of his restoration both a petition he had given to Domitian and letters of Domitian's relating to his honour, and a decree of the people of Prusa.

Ep. 10.58.3Addēbat hīs et tuās litterās scrīptās sibi, addēbat et patris tuī ēdictum et epistulam, quibus cōnfirmāsset beneficia ā Domitiānō data.To these he added a letter you had written to him, and he added too an edict and a letter of your father's, in which he had confirmed the favours granted by Domitian. Ep. 10.58.4Itaque, quamvīs eīdem tālia crīmina applicārentur, nihil dēcernendum putāvī, dōnec tē cōnsulerem dē eō, quod mihi cōnstitūtiōne tuā dignum vidēbātur.And so, although charges of this kind were laid against the same man, I thought that nothing should be decided until I had consulted you about a matter which seemed to me worthy of your ruling. Ep. 10.58.4Ea quae sunt utrimque recitāta hīs litterīs subiēcī.I have appended to this letter the documents which were read out on both sides. Ep. 10.58.4EPISTULA DOMITIĀNĪ AD TERENTIUM MAXIMUM Flāvius Archippus philosophus impetrāvit ā mē, ut agrum eī ad c circā Prūsiadampatriam, suam emī, iubērem cuius, reditū suōs alere posset posset.LETTER OF DOMITIAN TO TERENTIUS MAXIMUS. Flavius Archippus the philosopher has obtained from me that I should order land up to the value of a hundred thousand sesterces to be bought for him near Prusias, his native town, from the income of which he might support his family.

Ep. 10.58.5Quod eī praestārī volō.I wish this to be provided for him. Ep. 10.58.5Summam expēnsam līberālitātī meae ferēs.You will charge the full expense to my generosity. Ep. 10.58.5EIUSDEM AD LAPPIUM MAXIMUM Archippum philosophum, bonum virum et professiōnī suae etiam mōribus respondentem, commendātum habeās velim, mī Maxime, et plēnam eī hūmānitātem tuam praestēs in iīs, quae verēcundē ā tē dēsīderāverit.LETTER OF THE SAME TO LAPPIUS MAXIMUS. I should like you, my dear Maximus, to regard as commended to you the philosopher Archippus, a good man whose character matches his profession, and to show him your full kindness in the things he modestly asks of you. Ep. 10.58.6ĒDICTUM DĪVĪ NERVAE Quaedam sine dubiō, Quirītēs, ipsa fēlīcitās temporum ēdīcit, nec exspectandus est in iīs bonus prīnceps, quibus illum intellegī satis est, cum hoc sibi cīvium meōrum spondēre possit vel nōn admonita persuāsiō, mē sēcūritātem omnium quiētī meae praetulisse, ut et nova beneficia cōnferrem et ante mē concessa servārem.EDICT OF THE DEIFIED NERVA. Some things, citizens, are beyond doubt proclaimed by the very happiness of the times, and a good emperor need not be waited for in matters in which it is enough for him to be understood, since even without being reminded my citizens' confidence can assure itself of this, that I have preferred the security of all to my own ease, so that I might both confer new favours and preserve those granted before me.

Ep. 10.58.8Nē tamen aliquam gaudiīs pūblicīs afferat haesitātiōnem vel eōrum quī impetrāvērunt diffīdentia vel eius memoria quī praestitit, necessārium pariter crēdidī ac laetum obviam dubitantibus indulgentiam meam mittere.Yet so that neither the misgiving of those who have obtained favours nor the memory of him who granted them may bring any hesitation to the public rejoicing, I have thought it both necessary and pleasant to go to meet those who doubt with my indulgence. Ep. 10.58.9Nōlō exīstimet quisquam, quod aliō prīncipe vel prīvātim vel pūblicē cōnsecūtus sit ideō saltem ā mē rescindī, ut potius mihi dēbeat.I do not want anyone to think that what he has obtained, either privately or publicly, under another emperor will be annulled by me, if only so that he may owe it to me instead. Ep. 10.58.9Sint rata et certa, nec grātulātiō ūllīus īnstaurātīs egeat precibus, quem fortūna imperiī vultū meliōre respexit.Let those things be valid and secure, and let no one on whom the fortune of the empire has looked with a kindlier face need renewed petitions to secure his rejoicing.

Ep. 10.58.9Mē novīs beneficiīs vacāre patiantur, et ea dēmum sciant roganda esse quae nōn habent.Let them allow me to be free for new favours, and let them know that only those things must be asked for which they do not have. Ep. 10.58.9EPISTULA EIUSDEM AD TULLIUM IŪSTUM Cum rērum omnium ōrdinātiō, quae priōribus temporibus incohātae cōnsummātae sunt, observanda sit, tum epistulīs etiam Domitiānī standum est.LETTER OF THE SAME TO TULLIUS JUSTUS. Since the arrangement of all matters which were begun and completed in earlier times is to be observed, so too must we abide by the letters of Domitian.

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Grammar in this passage: gerunds and gerundives ×9, ablative absolute ×1, indirect statement ×6

Latin vocabulary for this passage (194 words)
cum, conj.when, while, after; since; although
citō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusset in motion, urge on; citātus: swift, rushing
iūdex, iūdicis, m.judge
dominus, -ī m.master, owner
conventus, -ūs m.meeting, assembly
incohō (inchoō), -āre, -āvī, -ātusbegin, start
vacātiō, -ōnis f.freedom, exemption
petō, -ere, -īvī or -iī, -ītusseek, ask; attack
coepī, coepisse, coeptus (used in tenses of completed action)have begun, began
ut, conj.as; when; that; ita ut, as
philosophus, -ī m.philosopher
sum, esse, fuī, futūrusbe
quī, quae, quod, rel. pron.who, which
dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictussay, speak; diem dīcere, to appoint or set a day
nōn, adv.not
līberō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusset free, free, liberate, release
is, ea, id, dem. pron.this, that; he, she, it, they
iūdicō, -āre, -āvī, -ātumjudge, decide
necessitās, -ātis f.necessity, compulsion
sed, conj.but
omnīnō, adv.altogether, wholly, entirely
tollō, tollere, sustulī, sublātuslift, raise; take away, remove; ancorās tollere, to weigh anchor
dē, prep, with abl.down from, from, out of; about, concerning, of
numerus, -ī, m.number
reddō, -dere, -didī, -ditusgive back, return, restore; render
que, enclitic conj.and
poena, -ae, f.penalty, punishment
frangō, frangere, frēgī, frāctusbreak; dash to pieces, wreck
vinculum, -ī, n.bond, chain
ēvādō, -vādere, -vāsī, -vāsusgo forth, get away, escape
recitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusread aloud
sententia, -ae, f.opinion; purpose
prōcōnsul, -ulis m.proconsul, governor
probō, -āre, -āvī, -ātumprove, show; approve
crīmen, -inis n.charge, accusation; crime
falsus, -a, -umfeigned, pretended, false
damnō, -āre, -āvī, -ātumcondemn
in, prep. with acc. and abl.with acc.: into, onto, against; with abl.: in, on
metallum, -ī n.a mine; metal
ille, illa, illud, dem. pron.that; he, she, it, they; ille ... hīc, see hīc
nihil, n., indecl.nothing
prōferō, -ferre, -tulī, -lātusbring forward, bring out
restituō, -stituere, -stituī, -stitūtusset up again, put back, restore
suī, sibi, sē or sēsē, reflexive pron.himself, herself, itself, themselves
doceo, -ēre, -uī, -tusteach, explain
allēgō (adlēgō), -āre, -āvī, -ātuscite, plead, put forward (in support); depute
tamen, adv.however, yet, nevertheless
prō, prep. with abl.before, in front of; for, in behalf of; for, as; in return for, for
restitūtiō, -ōnis f.restoration; reinstatement (to a former position)
et, conj.and; et ... et, both ... and
libellus, -ī m.little book; written document; libellus repudiī: certificate of divorce
ā, ab (prep. + abl.)away from, from; by (ā only before consonants)
dō, dare, dedī, datusgive
epistula, -ae f.letter
ad, prep. with acc.to, toward; at, near; for
honor, -ōris, m.honor
suus, -a, -umhis, her, its, or their own; his, her, its, their
pertineō, -ēre, -uīextend, reach; tend toward, concern
dēcrētum, -ī n.decision, decree
addō, -ere, -didī, -ditusadd, put to
hic, haec, hoc, dem. pron.this; ille ... hīc, that ... this, the former ... the latter
tuus, -a, -umthy, thine, your
litterae, -ārum f. pl.letters (of the alphabet); a letter, dispatch
scrībō, scrībere, scrīpsī, scrīptuswrite
pater, patris, m.father
ēdictum, -ī n.proclamation, edict (of a magistrate)
cōnfirmō, -firmāre, -firmāvī, -firmātusstrengthen, establish; declare, assert
beneficium, -ī, n.well-doing, kindness, service, benefit
itaque, adv.and so, accordingly, therefore
quamvīs (adv.)however much, as … as you like
īdem, eadem, idem, dem. pron.the same; sometimes to be translated likewise, also
tālis, -esuch
applicō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusattach; (with sē) lean against
dēcernō, -ere, dēcrēvī, dēcrētumdecide, decree
putō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusthink
dōnec (conj.)until; while, as long as
tū, tuī, pers. pron.thou, you
cōnsulō, -ere, -uī, -tusconsult
ego, meī, pers. pron.I
cōnstitūtiō, -ōnis f.setting up, establishing; ante cōnstitūtiōnem mundī: before the world was founded
dignus, -a, -um (+ abl.)worthy (of), deserving
videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsussee; pass., seem
utrimque, adv.on either side or both sides
subiciō, -icere, -iēcī, -iectusthrow or place under
impetrō, -petrāre, -petrāvī, -petrātusgain one's end, obtain (a request)
ager, agri, m.field, land
centum, indecl. adj.one hundred
circā (adv. and prep. + acc.)around, about
patria, -ae, f.fatherland, country
emō, -ere, ēmī, ēmptumbuy
iubeō, iubēre, iussī, iussusbid, order, command
reditus, -ūs, m.return
alō, -ere, -uī, -tusnourish
possum, posse, potuībe able, have power, can
praestō, -stāre, -stitī, -stitusstand in front; show
volō, velle, voluīwish
summa, -ae f.total, sum; supreme command
expendō, -ere, -pendī, -pēnsusweigh out; pay (a penalty)
līberālitās, -ātis f.generosity
meus, -a, -ummy, mine
ferō, ferre, tulī, lātusbear, bring
bonus, -a, -umgood
vir, virī, m.man
professiō, -ōnis f.public declaration, registration
etiam, adv.and now, also, too, even
mōs, mōris, m.way, manner, habit, custom
respondeō, -spondēre, -spondī, -spōnsusreply, answer
commendō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusentrust, commit; recommend
habeō, -ēre, -uī, -itushave, hold; consider
plēnus, -a, -umfull
hūmānitās, -tātis f.culture, refinement
verēcundē (adv.)modestly, with restraint
dēsīderō, -āre, -āvī, -ātuslong for, miss; require
dīvus, -ī m. (gen. pl. also dīvum, dīvom)god
quīdam, quaedam, quoddam, indef. pron.a certain, certain
sine, prep. with abl.without
dubium, -ī n.doubt; sine dubiō: without doubt
Quirītēs, -ium m. pl.Quirites, the Roman citizens in their civil capacity (used in addressing the people)
ipse, ipsa, ipsum, intensive pron.self, himself, herself, itself, themselves; often to be rendered by very
fēlīcitās, -ātis f.good fortune, luck
tempus, temporis, n.time, season
ēdīcō, -dīcere, -dīxī, -dictusdeclare, proclaim, appoint
neque or nec, conj.and not, nor; neque ... neque, neither ... nor; neque enim, for ... not
exspectō, -spectāre, -spectāvī, -spectātuslook out for, wait for, await, expect; wait
prīnceps, -ipisfirst, chief; as noun: leader
intellegō, -legere, -lēxī, -lēctusperceive, understand
satis, adv.enough, sufficiently
cum, prep, with abl.with
cīvis, -is, m. and f.citizen, fellow-citizen, subject
spondeō, -ēre, spopondī, spōnsuspromise solemnly; stand surety, guarantee (a debt)
velor; vel … vel: either … or
admoneō, -ēre, -uī, -itusremind, warn, advise
persuāsiō, -ōnis f.belief, conviction; persuading
sēcūritās, -ātis f.freedom from care, composure
omnis, -eall, every
quiēs, quiētis, f.rest, repose
praeferō, -ferre, -tulī, -lātumput before, prefer (sē praeferre: show oneself superior)
novus, -a, -umnew; novissimus, last
cōnferō, cōnferre, contulī, conlātusbring together; grant, confer; sē cōnferre, to betake oneself, make one's way
ante, prep, with acc. and adv.before
concēdō, -cēdere, -cessī, -cessusgrant, yield
servō, -āre, -āvī, -ātussave, preserve
nē, adv.not; nē ... quidem, not ... even; conj., that not, lest
aliquī, -qua, -quod, indef. pron. adj.some, any
gaudium, -ī, n.gladness, joy
pūblicus, -a, -umpublic, of the state (rēs pūblica: the state)
afferō, afferre, attulī, allātumbring, bring to; cause
haesitātiō, -ōnis f.hesitation, indecision
diffīdentia, -ae f.distrust, lack of confidence, mistrust
memoria, -ae, f.memory
necessārius, -a, -um; as noun, -ī m.necessary, critical; (noun) close friend, relative
pariter (adv.)equally, alike; at the same time
crēdō, -dere, -didī, -ditusbelieve
atque, ac (conj.)and; after comparisons: as, than (ac only before consonants)
laetus, -a, -umglad, joyful
obviam, adv.in the way, opposite, face to face; obviam fierī, to meet; obviam īre, to go to meet
dubitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusdoubt, hesitate
indulgentia, -ae f.kindness, indulgence, favour
mittō, mittere, mīsī, missussend
nōlō, nōlle, nōluīnot wish, be unwilling
exīstimō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusconsider, believe, think
quisquam, quicquam, indef. pron.any one, anything
alius, -a, -udanother, other; aliī ... aliī, some ... others
prīvātim (adv.)privately, as individuals
pūblicē (adv.)officially, as a state
cōnsequor, -sequī, -secūtusfollow up, follow; overtake
ideō (adv.)for that reason, therefore
saltem (adv.)at least
rescindō, -ere, -scidī, -scissumcut down, break down
potius (adv.)rather
dēbeō, -ēre, -uī, -itusowe; with infin., ought
ratus, -a, -umfixed, settled, valid; (reor) having thought
certus, -a, -umdetermined, fixed, certain; certiōrem facere, to make more certain, inform
grātulātiō, -ōnis f.rejoicing, congratulation
ūllus, -a, -umany
īnstaurō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusrenew, begin again
egeō, -ēre, eguī (+ abl. or gen.)need, lack, be in want of
prex, precis f. (usu. pl.)prayer, entreaty
fortūna, -ae, f.fortune
imperium, -ī, n.command; sway, rule
vultus, -ūs m.face, expression
respiciō, -ere, -spexī, -spectumlook back
vacō, -āre, -āvī, -ātumbe empty, be unoccupied
patior, patī, passus, bearsuffer, allow
dēmum, adv.at last
sciō, -īre, -īvī, -ītusknow
rogō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusask
rēs, reī, f.thing, matter, affair, circumstance, situation; rē vērā, in truth, in fact, really
ōrdinātiō, -ōnis f.arrangement, putting in order; regulation
prior, priusearlier, former; in front (priōrēs: those in front)
cōnsummō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusbring to completion, finish
observō, -āre, -āvī, -ātumwatch; keep, respect
tum, adv.then, at that time
stō, stāre, stetī, statusstand
Pliny, Epistulae X. Latin text: the Perseus digital text of Pliny's Letters, public domain; digital text from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA. Word analysis: drafted by our own tagger (trained on the hand-checked texts on this site), with every doubtful word checked by hand. English translation and section titles: written for this app, each checked against the Latin by a second reader.