Pliny, Letter 4.30

The intermittent spring at Comum

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Ep. 4.30.1Attulī tibi ex patriā meā prō mūnusculō quaestiōnem altissimā istā ērudītiōne dignissimam.I have brought you from my home country, as a little present, a problem most worthy of that profound learning of yours. Ep. 4.30.2Fōns orītur in monte, per saxa dēcurrit, excipitur cēnātiunculā manū factā;A spring rises in the mountain, runs down over the rocks, and is received in a little dining room made by hand; Ep. 4.30.2ibi paulum retentus in Larium lacum dēcidit.held back there for a while, it falls into Lake Larius. Ep. 4.30.2Huius mīra nātūra: ter in diē statīs auctibus ac diminūtiōnibus crēscit dēcrēscitque.Its nature is remarkable: three times a day it rises and falls with fixed increases and decreases. Ep. 4.30.3Cernitur id palam et cum summā voluptāte dēprenditur.This can be seen plainly and is observed with the greatest pleasure. Ep. 4.30.3Iūxtā recumbis et vēsceris, atque etiam ex ipsō fonte - nam est frīgidissimus - pōtās;You recline beside it and eat, and you even drink from the spring itself — for it is very cold; Ep. 4.30.3interim ille certīs dīmēnsīsque mōmentīs vel subtrahitur vel assurgit.meanwhile at fixed and measured intervals it either withdraws or rises.

Ep. 4.30.4Ānulum seu quid;A ring, or anything; Ep. 4.30.4aliud pōnis in siccō, alluitur sēnsim ac novissimē operītur, dētegitur rūrsus paulātimque dēseritur.else you place on the dry ground is gradually lapped by the water and at last covered, then is uncovered again and little by little left dry. Ep. 4.30.4Sī diūtius observēs, utrumque iterum ac tertiō videās.If you watch longer, you may see both happen a second and a third time. Ep. 4.30.5Spīritusne aliquis occultior ōs fontis et faucēs modo laxat modo inclūdit, prōut illātus occurrit aut dēcessit expulsus?Is it some hidden current of air that now opens, now closes the mouth and throat of the spring, according as it meets it when drawn in or has left it when expelled? Ep. 4.30.6Quod in ampullīs cēterīsque generis eiusdem vidēmus accidere, quibus nōn hiāns nec statim patēns exitus.This we see happen in flasks and other vessels of the same kind, which have no wide or immediately open outlet. Ep. 4.30.6Nam illa quoque, quamquam prōna atque vergentia, per quāsdam obluctantis animae morās crēbrīs quasi singultibus sistunt quod effundunt.For they too, although tilted and inclined downwards, check what they pour out in frequent gulps, as it were, through certain delays caused by the resisting air.

Ep. 4.30.7An, quae oceanō nātūra, fontī quoque, quāque ille ratiōne aut impellitur aut resorbētur, hāc modicus hic ūmor vicibus alternīs supprimitur ēgeritur?Or does the spring too have the nature that the ocean has, and by the same principle by which the ocean is driven forward or sucked back, is this modest body of water by turns held back and discharged? Ep. 4.30.8An ut flūmina, quae in mare dēferuntur, adversantibus ventīs obviōque aestū retorquentur, ita est aliquid quod huius fontis excursum repercutiat?Or, just as rivers that flow down to the sea are turned back by contrary winds and the opposing tide, is there something that drives back the outflow of this spring? Ep. 4.30.9An latentibus vēnīs certa mēnsūra, quae dum colligit quod exhauserat, minor rīvus et pigrior;Or is there a fixed amount of water in hidden channels, so that while it is collecting what it had drained off, the stream is smaller and slower; Ep. 4.30.9cum collēgit, agilior maiorque prōfertur?but when it has collected it, it flows out livelier and larger?

Ep. 4.30.10An nesciō quod lībrāmentum abditum et caecum, quod cum exinanītum est, suscitat et ēlicit fontem;Or is there some hidden and unseen balance, which, when it has been emptied, stirs up and draws out the spring; Ep. 4.30.10cum replētum, morātur et strangulat?and when it is full, holds it back and chokes it? Ep. 4.30.11Scrūtāre tū causās - potes enim -, quae tantum mīrāculum efficiunt: mihi abundē est, sī satis expressī quod efficitur.Do you investigate the causes — for you can — that produce so great a marvel: it is quite enough for me if I have described clearly enough what is produced. Ep. 4.30.11Valē.Farewell.

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Grammar in this passage: ablative absolute ×4

Latin vocabulary for this passage (185 words)

adferō, adferre, attulī, adlātus	bear to, bring
tū, tuī, pers. pron.	thou, you
ex, ē (prep. + abl.)	out of, from; of (ē only before consonants)
patria, -ae, f.	fatherland, country
meus, -a, -um	my, mine
prō, prep. with abl.	before, in front of; for, in behalf of; for, as; in return for, for
mūnusculum, -ī n.	small gift, little present
quaestiō, -ōnis f.	inquiry, examination
altus, -a, -um	high, deep; altum, -ī, n., the deep
iste, ista, istud, dem. pron.	that of yours, that
ērudītiō, -ōnis f.	learning, scholarship
dignus, -a, -um (+ abl.)	worthy (of), deserving
fōns, fontis, m.	fountain, spring
orior, -īrī, -tus	arise, come forth, spring up; ortā lūce, at dawn
in, prep. with acc. and abl.	with acc.: into, onto, against; with abl.: in, on
mōns, montis, m.	mountain
per, prep, with ace.	through, by means of
saxum, -ī, n.	rock, stone
dēcurrō, -currere, -cucurrī, -cursus	run down
excipiō, -cipere, -cēpī, -ceptus	take out or up, receive, welcome, entertain
cēnātiuncula, -ae f.	small dining room
manus, -ūs, f.	hand
faciō, facere, fēcī, factus	make, do; iter facere, see iter
ibi, adv.	in that place, there
paulum, adv.	a little, somewhat
retineō, -tinēre, -tinuī, -tentus	hold or keep back, keep, restrain; hold fast
lār, laris m.	Lar, a household god; lār familiāris: one's home
lacus, -ūs, m.	lake
dēcidō, -cidere, -cidī	fall down
hic, haec, hoc, dem. pron.	this; ille ... hīc, that ... this, the former ... the latter
mīrus, -a, -um	wonderful, strange
nātūra, -ae, f.	nature, character
ter (adv.)	three times
diēs, -ēī, m. and f.	day
sistō, -ere, stitī, status	stop, halt; set up
auctus, -ūs m.	growth, increase; swelling (of a river)
atque, ac (conj.)	and; after comparisons: as, than (ac only before consonants)
dēminūtiō, -ōnis f.	lessening, loss
crēscō, -ere, crēvī, crētum	grow, rise (in power)
dēcrēscō, -ere, -crēvī, -crētum	grow less, decrease, go down
que, enclitic conj.	and
cernō, cernere, crēvī, certus or crētus	discern, perceive, make out
is, ea, id, dem. pron.	this, that; he, she, it, they
palam (adv.)	openly, publicly
et, conj.	and; et ... et, both ... and
cum, prep, with abl.	with
summus, -a, -um	uppermost, highest, greatest
voluptās, -tātis, f.	pleasure
dēprendō, -prendere, -prendī, -prēnsus	seize, catch; take by surprise
iūxtā (adv. and prep. + acc.)	nearby; next to
recumbō, -cumbere, -cubuī	lie back or down
vēscor, -ī	feed on, eat
etiam, adv.	and now, also, too, even
ipse, ipsa, ipsum, intensive pron.	self, himself, herself, itself, themselves; often to be rendered by very
nam, conj.	for
sum, esse, fuī, futūrus	be
frīgidus, -a, -um	cold
pōtō, -āre, -āvī, pōtus	drink, drink heavily
interim (adv.)	meanwhile
ille, illa, illud, dem. pron.	that; he, she, it, they; ille ... hīc, see hīc
certus, -a, -um	determined, fixed, certain; certiōrem facere, to make more certain, inform
dīmētior, -īrī, dīmēnsus sum	measure out (perfect participle often passive)
mōmentum, -ī n.	weight, importance; levī mōmentō: as a slight matter
vel	or; vel … vel: either … or
subtrahō, -ere, -trāxī, -tractum	take away, withdraw
assurgō (adsurgō), -ere, -surrēxī, -surrēctum	rise up
ānulus, -ī m.	ring, finger-ring
sīve or seu, conj.	or if; sīve ... sīve, whether ... or
quis, qua, quid, indef. pron.	any one, anybody, anything, some one, somebody, something
alius, -a, -ud	another, other; aliī ... aliī, some ... others
pōnō, pōnere, posuī, positus	place, put; pōnī with in and abl., to be placed in, rest or depend on
siccus, -a, -um	dry; (n. as noun) dry land
alluō (adluō), -ere, -luī	wash against, wash
sēnsim, adv.	gradually, little by little
novissimē (adv.)	lastly, finally, at last
operiō, -īre, -uī, -ertus	cover
dētegō, -ere, -tēxī, -tēctus	uncover, unroof; reveal
rūrsus, adv.	again
paulātim (adv.)	little by little, gradually
dēserō, -serere, -seruī, -sertus	desert
sī, conj.	if
diū, adv.	for a long time, a long time or while, long; comp
observō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum	watch; keep, respect
uterque, utraque, utrumque	each, either, both
iterum, adv.	again, a second time
tertiō (adv.)	for the third time
videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsus	see; pass., seem
spīritus, -ūs m.	breath; (pl.) pride, arrogance
aliquī, -qua, -quod, indef. pron. adj.	some, any
occultus, -a, -um	hidden, secret
ōs, ōris, n.	mouth
faucēs, -ium f. pl.	throat; narrow pass, gorge
modo, adv.	only
laxō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum	loosen, open out
inclūdō, -clūdere, -clūsī, -clūsus	shut up in, inclose, imprison
prōut (conj.)	just as, according as
īnferō, īnferre, intulī, inlātus	bring in or against, wage against; inflict
occurrō, -currere, -currī, -cursus	run against, meet
aut, conj.	or; aut ... aut, either ... or
dēcēdō, -cēdere, -cessī, -cessus	go away, depart
expellō, -pellere, -pulī, -pulsus	drive out, expel
quī, quae, quod, rel. pron.	who, which
ampulla, -ae f.	flask, bottle
cēterī, -ae, -a, plur. adj.	the other, the remaining, the rest of
genus, generis, n.	kind, nature
īdem, eadem, idem, dem. pron.	the same; sometimes to be translated likewise, also
accidō, -cidere, -cidī	fall to or upon; befall, happen
nōn, adv.	not
hiō, -āre, -āvī	gape, open the mouth
neque or nec, conj.	and not, nor; neque ... neque, neither ... nor; neque enim, for ... not
statim, adv.	on the spot, forthwith, at once, immediately
pateō, -ēre, -uī	lie open; extend, stretch
exitus, -ūs m.	way out; outcome, end
quoque, adv.	also
quamquam, conj.	however much, although
prōnus, -a, -um	leaning forward; inclined, prone (to)
vergō, -ere	slope, lie (toward)
quīdam, quaedam, quoddam, indef. pron.	a certain, certain
obluctor, -ārī, -ātus sum	struggle against, strain against
anima, -ae, f.	breath, soul, life
mora, -ae, f.	delay
crēber, -bra, -brum	frequent, numerous; close together
quasi, conj.	as if
singultus, -ūs m.	sob; hiccup
effundō, -fundere, -fūdī, -fūsus	pour out
an, conj.	or (in questions)
quisque, quaeque, quidque, indef. pron.	each
ratiō, -ōnis, f.	plan, means, method, manner; reason; account
impellō, -pellere, -pulī, -pulsus	drive or urge on, incite, urge
resorbeō, -ēre	suck back, draw back in
modicus, -a, -um	moderate, small; modicum: a little
ūmor (hūmor), -ōris m.	moisture, liquid, water
vicis (gen.), vicem f.	change, turn; in vicem: in turn
alternus, -a, -um	one after the other, alternating
supprimō, -ere, -pressī, -pressus	press down, hold back, check
ēgerō, -gerere, -gessī, -gestus	carry out, bring out; throw up, vomit
ut, conj.	as; when; that; ita ut, as
flūmen, -minis, n.	river
mare, maris, n.	sea
dēferō, -ferre, -tulī, -lātus	bear or carry away or off
adversor, -ārī, -ātus sum (+ dat.)	oppose, resist
ventus, -ī, m.	wind
obvius, -a, -um	in the way, meeting; sē obvium dare: come to meet
aestus, -ūs m.	heat; tide
retorqueō, -ēre, -torsī, -tortus	twist back, turn back
ita, adv.	in this manner, thus, so; ita ut, as
aliquis, -quid, indef. pron.	someone, any one, something, anything, some, any
excursus, -ūs m.	a running out, charge, sally
repercutiō, -ere, -cussī, -cussus	strike back; reflect (light or an image)
lateō, -ēre, -uī	lie hid, be concealed
vēna, -ae f.	vein
mēnsūra, -ae f.	measurement, measure
dum, conj.	while, as; as long as; until
colligō, -ere, -lēgī, -lēctum	gather, collect (sē colligere: recover oneself)
exhaurio, -haurīre, -hausī, -haustus	drink up or off, drain
parvus, -a, -um	little, small
rīvus, -ī m.	stream, brook
piger, -gra, -grum	sluggish, slow
cum, conj.	when, while, after; since; although
agilis, -e	nimble, quick, active
magnus, -a, -um	large, big, great, mighty; loud
prōferō, -ferre, -tulī, -lātus	bring forward, bring out
nesciō, -scīre, -scīvī	not know, be ignorant; nesciō quis, I know not who, some one or other (nesciō is thus used with other interrogative words also)
quī, quae, quod, interrog. pron. adj.	what?
lībrāmentum, -ī n.	balance, counterpoise; level
abdō, -dere, -didī, -ditus	put away, hide
caecus, -a, -um	blind
exinaniō, -īre, -īvī, -ītus	empty out, strip bare
suscitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	raise up, rouse; raise (the dead)
ēliciō, -ere, -uī, -itus	lure out, draw out, entice
repleō, -plēre, -plēvī, -plētus	fill again or up, fill
moror, -ārī, -ātus	delay, linger, stay
strangulō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus	strangle, throttle; choke, stifle
scrūtor, -ārī, -ātus sum	search, examine closely
causa, -ae, f.	cause, reason; abl. causā, for the sake of
possum, posse, potuī	be able, have power, can
enim, conj.	for
tantus, -a, -um	so great or much
mīrāculum, -ī, n.	wonder, marvel, miracle
efficiō, -ficere, -fēcī, -fectus	make or work out, accomplish, effect
ego, meī, pers. pron.	I
abundē (adv.)	in plenty, more than enough
satis, adv.	enough, sufficiently
exprimō, -primere, -pressī, -pressus	press out
valeō, -ēre, -uī, -itūrus	be strong or effectual, have effect, prevail

Pliny, Epistulae IV. 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.