Pliny, Letters 6.20

Ep. 6.20.1Ais tē adductum litterīs quās exigentī tibi dē morte avunculī meī scrīpsī, cupere cognōscere, quōs ego Mīsēnī relictus- id enim ingressus abrūperam- nōn sōlum metūs vērum etiam cāsūs pertulerim.

You say that the letter I wrote about my uncle's death at your request has made you want to know what fears, and indeed what dangers, I went through after being left behind at Misenum (for I had begun on that and then broken off).

Note. Like 6.16, this letter is addressed to the historian Tacitus, who after reading the account of the Elder Pliny's death asked to hear Pliny's own story. Ais tē … cupere cognōscere: indirect statement, 'you say that you want to learn'. exigentī tibi: 'to you demanding it', i.e. at your request. quōs … nōn sōlum metūs vērum etiam cāsūs pertulerim: indirect question, 'what not only fears but also dangers I endured'. id enim ingressus abrūperam: 'for having started on that, I had broken off', referring to the end of 6.16.

Ep. 6.20.1"Quamquam animus meminisse horret,...

"Though my mind shudders to remember, …

Note. A quotation from Vergil, Aeneid 2.12–13, where Aeneas begins his account of the fall of Troy: quamquam animus meminisse horret … incipiam. The comparison casts Pliny as an epic survivor of a city's destruction. meminisse: perfect infinitive of the defective verb meminī, 'to remember'.

Ep. 6.20.1incipiam."

I will begin."

Note. incipiam: 'I will begin', future (the end of the Vergil quotation).

Ep. 6.20.2Profectō avunculō ipse reliquum tempus studiīs- ideō enim remānseram- impendī;

After my uncle set out, I spent the rest of the time on my studies (that was why I had stayed behind);

Note. Profectō avunculō: ablative absolute, 'when my uncle had set out' (proficīscor). studiīs: dative with impendī, 'I spent on studies'. ideō enim remānseram: he had stayed behind to study (6.16: studēre mē mālle).

Ep. 6.20.2mox balineum cēna somnus inquiētus et brevis.

then came a bath, dinner, and a short, broken sleep.

Note. A sentence without a verb, listing the rest of the evening: balineum, cēna, somnus. inquiētus et brevis go with somnus.

Ep. 6.20.3Praecesserat per multōs diēs tremor terrae, minus formīdolōsus quia Campāniae solitus;

For many days before there had been earth tremors, which were not very alarming because they are usual in Campania;

Note. Praecesserat: 'had gone before', i.e. there had been tremors for many days. minus formīdolōsus quia Campāniae solitus: 'less alarming because usual in Campania'; Campāniae is dative with solitus. A great earthquake had hit Pompeii in AD 62.

Ep. 6.20.3illā vērō nocte ita invaluit, ut nōn movērī omnia sed vertī crēderentur.

but that night they grew so strong that everything seemed not just to be shaken but to be turned upside down.

Note. invaluit: 'grew strong', perfect of invalēscō. ut … crēderentur: result clause; the personal passive, 'everything was believed not to be moved but turned over'.

Ep. 6.20.4Irrūpit cubiculum meum māter;

My mother burst into my bedroom;

Note. Irrūpit: 'burst into', from inrumpō, here with a plain accusative.

Ep. 6.20.4surgēbam invicem, sī quiēsceret excitātūrus.

I was getting up in turn, meaning to wake her if she was asleep.

Note. invicem: 'in turn', i.e. I was getting up to wake her just as she came to wake me. sī quiēsceret excitātūrus: future participle expressing intention, 'intending to wake her if she was sleeping'.

Ep. 6.20.4Resēdimus in āreā domus, quae mare ā tēctīs modicō spatiō dīvidēbat.

We sat down in the courtyard of the house, a narrow space that separated the buildings from the sea.

Note. Resēdimus: perfect of resīdō, 'we sat down'. quae … dīvidēbat: the courtyard was a narrow strip between the house and the sea; modicō spatiō, 'by a small space'.

Ep. 6.20.5Dubitō, cōnstantiam vocāre an imprūdentiam dēbeam- agēbam enim duodēvīcēnsimum annum-: poscō librum Titī Līvī, et quasi per ōtium legō atque etiam ut coeperam excerpō.

I don't know whether to call it steadiness or recklessness (I was in my eighteenth year): I call for a volume of Livy and, as if I had nothing else to do, I read it and even go on making the extracts I had begun.

Note. Dubitō … vocāre an … dēbeam: indirect question, 'I doubt whether I should call it…'. agēbam enim duodēvīcēnsimum annum: 'I was in my eighteenth year', i.e. 17 years old. poscō … legō … excerpō: vivid presents. ut coeperam: 'as I had begun'; Pliny, like his uncle, made notes and extracts from what he read.

Ep. 6.20.5Ecce amīcus avunculī quī nūper ad eum ex Hispāniā vēnerat, ut mē et mātrem sedentēs, mē vērō etiam legentem videt, illīus patientiam sēcūritātem meam corripit.

Look, a friend of my uncle's who had recently come to him from Spain, when he sees my mother and me sitting there, and me even reading, scolds her for her patience and me for my unconcern.

Note. Ecce: 'look!', introducing a surprise. ut … videt: 'when he sees'; ut with the indicative means 'when'. illīus patientiam, sēcūritātem meam: 'her (my mother's) patience and my unconcern', objects of corripit, 'scolds'.

Ep. 6.20.5Nihilō segnius ego intentus in librum.

I am just as intent on my book as before.

Note. Nihilō segnius: 'no less keenly' (ablative of degree with a comparative adverb). intentus in librum: 'intent on my book'; supply eram.

Ep. 6.20.6Iam hōra diēī prīma, et adhūc dubius et quasi languidus diēs.

It was now the first hour of the day, and the light was still faint and, as it were, sickly.

Note. hōra diēī prīma: the first hour of daylight, about 6–7 am. dubius et quasi languidus diēs: the light was 'uncertain and, as it were, sickly', because of the ash in the air.

Ep. 6.20.6Iam quassātīs circumiacentibus tēctīs, quamquam in apertō locō, angustō tamen, magnus et certus ruīnae metus.

By now the buildings around us were shaking, and although we were in the open, the space was narrow, and there was a great and well-founded fear that they would collapse.

Note. quassātīs circumiacentibus tēctīs: ablative absolute, 'as the buildings round about were shaking'. quamquam in apertō locō, angustō tamen: 'although in an open place, still a narrow one'. ruīnae metus: 'fear of collapse'.

Ep. 6.20.7Tum dēmum excēdere oppidō vīsum;

Only then did we decide to leave the town;

Note. excēdere oppidō vīsum, sc. est: 'it seemed best to leave the town'; oppidō is an ablative of separation.

Ep. 6.20.7sequitur vulgus attonitum, quodque in pavōre simile prūdentiae, aliēnum cōnsilium suō praefert, ingentīque agmine abeuntēs premit et impellit.

a stunned crowd follows us, prefers someone else's plan to its own (which in a panic looks like good sense), and presses and pushes us on in a huge column as we leave.

Note. vulgus attonitum: 'the stunned crowd' (vulgus is neuter). quodque in pavōre simile prūdentiae: 'and, what in panic looks like good sense', explaining why they follow someone else's plan: aliēnum cōnsilium suō praefert, 'prefers another's plan to its own'. abeuntēs, 'us as we go', is the object of premit et impellit.

Ep. 6.20.8Ēgressī tēcta cōnsistimus.

Once clear of the buildings, we stop.

Note. Ēgressī tēcta: 'having gone out beyond the buildings'; ēgredior here takes a direct object.

Ep. 6.20.8Multa ibi mīranda, multās formīdinēs patimur.

There we witness many strange things and endure many terrors.

Note. Multa … mīranda: 'many things to wonder at', gerundive used as a noun. formīdinēs: 'terrors'.

Ep. 6.20.8Nam vehicula quae prōdūcī iusserāmus, quamquam in plānissimō campō, in contrāriās partēs agēbantur, ac nē lapidibus quidem fulta in eōdem vestīgiō quiēscēbant.

For the carts we had ordered to be brought out were moving in opposite directions, although the ground was perfectly level, and would not stay in the same place even when wedged with stones.

Note. vehicula quae prōdūcī iusserāmus: 'the carts which we had ordered to be brought out'. quamquam in plānissimō campō: 'although on perfectly level ground'. nē lapidibus quidem fulta: 'not even when wedged with stones'.

Ep. 6.20.9Praetereā mare in sē resorbērī et tremōre terrae quasi repellī vidēbāmus.

Besides, we saw the sea sucked back into itself and, as it were, driven back by the earthquake.

Note. mare in sē resorbērī: the sea seemed 'sucked back into itself', a withdrawal of the sea such as comes before a tsunami. tremōre terrae: ablative of means.

Ep. 6.20.9Certē prōcesserat lītus, multaque animālia maris siccīs harēnīs dētinēbat.

Certainly the shore had moved forward and was holding many sea creatures stranded on the dry sand.

Note. prōcesserat lītus: 'the shore had advanced' as the water drew back, leaving sea creatures stranded (dētinēbat) on the dry sand.

Ep. 6.20.9Ab alterō latere nūbēs ātra et horrenda, igneī spīritūs tortīs vibrātīsque discursibus rupta, in longās flammārum figūrās dēhīscēbat;

On the other side a black and terrifying cloud, split by twisting, quivering bursts of fiery vapour, was gaping open into long shapes of flame;

Note. Ab alterō latere: 'on the other side', i.e. towards Vesuvius. igneī spīritūs tortīs vibrātīsque discursibus rupta: 'torn by twisting and flickering bursts of fiery breath'. dēhīscēbat: 'gaped open'. What Pliny describes is volcanic lightning inside the ash cloud.

Ep. 6.20.9fulguribus illae et similēs et maiōrēs erant.

they were like lightning flashes, but larger.

Note. fulguribus … similēs et maiōrēs: 'like lightning flashes, and larger'; fulguribus is dative with similēs and ablative of comparison with maiōrēs.

Ep. 6.20.10Tum vērō īdem ille ex Hispāniā amīcus ācrius et īnstantius "Sī frāter" inquit "tuus, tuus avunculus vīvit, vult esse vōs salvōs;

Then that same friend from Spain spoke more sharply and urgently: "If your brother," he said, "if your uncle is alive, he wants you both to be safe;

Note. īdem ille … amīcus: 'that same friend' from 11. Sī frāter tuus, tuus avunculus: he addresses Pliny's mother and Pliny together, the repeated tuus marking a change of addressee. vult esse vōs salvōs: 'he wants you to be safe'.

Ep. 6.20.10sī periit, superstitēs voluit.

if he has died, he wanted you to survive him.

Note. superstitēs, sc. vōs esse: 'he wanted you to survive (him)'. The perfect voluit balances vult: whether he is alive or dead, his wish is the same.

Ep. 6.20.10Proinde quid cessātis ēvādere?"

So why do you hesitate to escape?"

Note. quid cessātis ēvādere: 'why are you slow to escape?'; quid is accusative used adverbially, 'why'.

Ep. 6.20.10Respondimus nōn commissūrōs nōs ut dē salūte illīus incertī nostrae cōnsulerēmus.

We answered that we would not think of our own safety while we were uncertain of his.

Note. nōn commissūrōs nōs, ut …: indirect statement, 'that we would not let it happen that…'; committere ut means 'allow it to come about that'. dē salūte illīus incertī: 'uncertain about his safety'.

Ep. 6.20.11Nōn morātus ultrā prōripit sē effūsōque cursū perīculō aufertur.

Without waiting any longer he rushes off and gets himself out of danger as fast as he can.

Note. Nōn morātus ultrā: 'delaying no longer'. effūsō cursū: 'at full speed'. perīculō aufertur: 'he is carried away from the danger', ablative of separation.

Ep. 6.20.11Nec multō post illa nūbēs dēscendere in terrās, operīre maria;

Not long afterwards that cloud began to come down on the land and cover the sea;

Note. Historic infinitives: illa nūbēs dēscendere, operīre, 'that cloud began to descend, to cover'. The subject of a historic infinitive is nominative.

Ep. 6.20.11cinxerat Capreās et absconderat, Mīsēnī quod prōcurrit abstulerat.

it had wrapped Capri and hidden it, and had blotted out the headland of Misenum.

Note. Capreās: Capri, the island across the bay. Mīsēnī quod prōcurrit: 'the part of Misenum which juts out', i.e. the headland; abstulerat, 'had taken away' from view.

Ep. 6.20.12Tum māter ōrāre hortārī iubēre, quōquō modō fugerem;

Then my mother begged, urged, and ordered me to escape in any way I could;

Note. ōrāre hortārī iubēre: three historic infinitives in a row: she begged, urged, ordered. quōquō modō fugerem: indirect command, 'that I should escape in any way I could'.

Ep. 6.20.12posse enim iuvenem, sē et annīs et corpore gravem bene moritūram, sī mihi causa mortis nōn fuisset.

for a young man could do it, she said, while she, weighed down by years and body, would die content if she had not been the cause of my death.

Note. Reported speech, still depending on the mother's words: posse enim iuvenem (sc. fugere), 'for a young man could (escape)'; sē … bene moritūram, 'that she would die happy'. et annīs et corpore gravem: 'weighed down by years and body'. sī mihi causa mortis nōn fuisset: pluperfect subjunctive standing for a future perfect in direct speech, 'if she had not been the cause of my death'.

Ep. 6.20.12Ego contrā salvum mē nisi ūnā nōn futūrum;

I replied that I would not be saved without her;

Note. Supply respondī: 'I (replied) that I would not be saved except with her'; nisi ūnā, 'unless together'. futūrum, sc. esse.

Ep. 6.20.12dein manum eius amplexus addere gradum cōgō.

then I take her hand and make her quicken her step.

Note. addere gradum: 'to quicken her pace'. amplexus: 'having grasped', perfect participle of the deponent amplector.

Ep. 6.20.12Pāret aegrē incūsatque sē, quod mē morētur.

She obeys reluctantly and blames herself for slowing me down.

Note. Pāret aegrē: 'she obeys reluctantly'. quod mē morētur: subjunctive in a causal clause giving her reason, 'because (as she said) she was slowing me down'.

Ep. 6.20.13Iam cinis, adhūc tamen rārus.

Now ash was falling, though still thinly.

Note. Iam cinis, sc. cadēbat: 'now ash (was falling)'. rārus: 'thin, scattered'.

Ep. 6.20.13Respiciō: dēnsa cālīgō tergīs imminēbat, quae nōs torrentis modō īnfūsa terrae sequēbātur.

I look back: a dense darkness was looming behind us, which followed us, pouring over the land like a flood.

Note. tergīs imminēbat: 'hung over our backs', dative with a compound verb. torrentis modō: 'like a torrent'. īnfūsa terrae: 'pouring over the land'. This was probably a pyroclastic surge, a cloud of hot ash and gas that swept down the mountain.

Ep. 6.20.13"Dēflectāmus" inquam "dum vidēmus, nē in viā strātī comitantium turbā in tenebrīs obterāmur."

"Let us turn off the road," I say, "while we can still see, so that we are not knocked down in the road and trampled in the dark by the crowd going the same way."

Note. Dēflectāmus: hortatory subjunctive, 'let us turn off'. dum vidēmus: 'while we can (still) see'. nē … strātī … obterāmur: negative purpose clause, 'so that we are not knocked down and trampled'. comitantium turbā: 'by the crowd of those going with us'.

Ep. 6.20.14Vix cōnsīderāmus, et nox- nōn quālis illūnis aut nūbila, sed quālis in locīs clausīs lūmine exstīnctō.

We had barely stopped to think when darkness came, not like a moonless or cloudy night, but like being in a closed room when the lamp has been put out.

Note. Vix cōnsīderāmus: 'we had hardly taken stock (stopped to think)', present for vividness; some take it from cōnsīdō, 'we had hardly sat down'. et nox: 'when night (came)'. nōn quālis illūnis aut nūbila: 'not such as a moonless or cloudy night', sc. est. lūmine exstīnctō: ablative absolute, 'when the lamp is out'.

Ep. 6.20.14Audīrēs ululātūs fēminārum, īnfantum quirītātūs, clāmōrēs virōrum;

You could hear the wailing of women, the screaming of small children, the shouting of men;

Note. Audīrēs: potential subjunctive, 'you could have heard'. ululātūs, quirītātūs, clāmōrēs: three nouns of crying out, building up the noise.

Ep. 6.20.14aliī parentēs aliī līberōs aliī coniugēs vōcibus requīrēbant, vōcibus nōscitābant;

some were calling for their parents, others for their children, others for their wives or husbands, trying to recognize them by their voices;

Note. aliī … aliī … aliī: 'some … others … others'. vōcibus requīrēbant, vōcibus nōscitābant: 'were seeking them by their voices, recognizing them by their voices'; the repetition (anaphora) mirrors the search in the dark.

Ep. 6.20.14hī suum cāsum, illī suōrum miserābantur;

some were lamenting their own fate, others the fate of their families;

Note. hī suum cāsum, illī suōrum: 'some (lamented) their own fate, others that of their families'.

Ep. 6.20.14erant quī metū mortis mortem precārentur;

there were some who in their fear of death prayed for death;

Note. erant quī … precārentur: relative clause of characteristic, 'there were those who prayed for death'. metū mortis mortem: the paradox is stressed by putting the two words together.

Ep. 6.20.15multī ad deōs manūs tollere, plūrēs nusquam iam deōs ūllōs aeternamque illam et novissimam noctem mundō interpretābantur.

many raised their hands to the gods, but more held that there were no gods any longer, and that this was the last, eternal night for the world.

Note. multī … tollere: historic infinitive, 'many raised their hands'. plūrēs … interpretābantur: 'more interpreted (it to mean)' that there were no gods anywhere any more (nūsquam iam deōs ūllōs, sc. esse) and that this was the eternal and last night for the world (mundō, dative).

Ep. 6.20.15Nec dēfuērunt quī fictīs mentītīsque terrōribus vēra perīcula augērent.

There were also those who added to the real dangers with invented and false terrors.

Note. Nec dēfuērunt quī …: 'nor were there lacking people who…', relative clause of characteristic. fictīs mentītīsque terrōribus: 'with invented and lying terrors'; mentītus is passive in sense here.

Ep. 6.20.15Aderant quī Mīsēnī illud ruisse illud ārdēre falsō sed crēdentibus nūntiābant.

Some people arrived with news that this part of Misenum had collapsed and that part was on fire; it was false, but they were believed.

Note. illud ruisse, illud ārdēre: 'that (part) had fallen down, that (part) was burning'. falsō sed crēdentibus: 'falsely, but to people who believed it'.

Ep. 6.20.16Paulum relūxit, quod nōn diēs nōbīs, sed adventantis ignis indicium vidēbātur.

It grew a little lighter, which seemed to us not daylight but a sign of approaching fire.

Note. Paulum relūxit: 'it grew a little light again'. quod … vidēbātur: 'which seemed to us not day but a sign of approaching fire'.

Ep. 6.20.16Et ignis quidem longius substitit;

The fire, in fact, stopped some distance away;

Note. longius substitit: 'stopped further off', i.e. some distance away.

Ep. 6.20.16tenebrae rūrsus cinis rūrsus, multus et gravis.

darkness again, ash again, thick and heavy.

Note. tenebrae rūrsus, cinis rūrsus: verbless, abrupt clauses for the return of the darkness.

Ep. 6.20.16Hunc identidem assurgentēs excutiēbāmus;

We kept getting up and shaking it off;

Note. Hunc, i.e. the ash. identidem assurgentēs excutiēbāmus: 'getting up again and again we shook it off'.

Ep. 6.20.16opertī aliōquī atque etiam oblīsī pondere essēmus.

otherwise we would have been buried and even crushed by its weight.

Note. operti … oblīsī … essēmus: pluperfect subjunctive, the apodosis of an unreal condition with the protasis implied by alioquī, 'otherwise we would have been buried and crushed'.

Ep. 6.20.17Possem glōriārī nōn gemitum mihi, nōn vōcem parum fortem in tantīs perīculīs excidisse, nisi mē cum omnibus, omnia mēcum perīre miserō, magnō tamen mortālitātis sōlāciō crēdidissem.

I could boast that not a groan, not a cowardly word escaped me in such dangers, if I had not believed that I was dying with everyone and everything with me, a wretched but great consolation for being mortal.

Note. Possem glōriārī: imperfect subjunctive in an unreal condition, 'I could boast'. excidisse: 'had fallen from (me)', i.e. escaped my lips. nisi … crēdidissem: 'if I had not believed'. mē cum omnibus, omnia mēcum perīre: a neat chiasmus, 'that I was perishing with everything, and everything with me'. miserō, magnō tamen mortālitātis sōlāciō: ablative in apposition to the idea, 'a wretched but great comfort for a mortal'.

Ep. 6.20.18Tandem illa cālīgō tenuāta quasi in fūmum nebulamve discessit;

At last the darkness thinned and drifted away like smoke or mist;

Note. tenuāta: 'thinned'. in fūmum nebulamve: 'into smoke or mist', -ve meaning 'or'.

Ep. 6.20.18mox diēs vērus;

soon there was real daylight;

Note. dies vērus: 'real daylight', in contrast to the false light of 47.

Ep. 6.20.18sōl etiam effulsit, lūridus tamen quālis esse cum dēficit solet.

the sun even shone, but pale, as it usually is during an eclipse.

Note. lūridus tamen, quālis esse cum dēficit solet: 'but pale, as it usually is when it is eclipsed'; dēficere is the regular word for an eclipse.

Ep. 6.20.18Occursābant trepidantibus adhūc oculīs mūtāta omnia altōque cinere tamquam nive obducta.

To our still frightened eyes everything appeared changed, covered with a deep layer of ash as if with snow.

Note. Occursābant … oculīs: 'met our eyes'. mūtāta omnia: 'everything changed', the subject. altō cinere tamquam nive obducta: 'covered with deep ash as if with snow'.

Ep. 6.20.19Regressī Mīsēnum cūrātīs utcumque corporibus suspēnsam dubiamque noctem spē ac metū exēgimus.

We went back to Misenum, attended to our bodily needs as best we could, and spent an anxious, uncertain night between hope and fear.

Note. Regressī Mīsēnum: 'having returned to Misenum'; names of towns take the accusative of motion without a preposition. cūrātīs utcumque corporibus: 'having seen to our bodies as best we could'. suspēnsam dubiamque noctem: 'an anxious and uncertain night'.

Ep. 6.20.19Metus praevalēbat;

Fear won;

Note. praevalēbat: 'was stronger', i.e. fear outweighed hope.

Ep. 6.20.19nam et tremor terrae persevērābat, et plērīque lymphātī terrificīs vāticinātiōnibus et sua et aliēna mala lūdificābantur.

for the earthquakes went on, and many people, beside themselves, were making a mockery of their own and others' misfortunes with terrifying predictions.

Note. plērīque lymphātī: 'many, in a frenzy'. terrificīs vāticinātiōnibus: 'with terrifying prophecies'. et sua et aliēna mala lūdificābantur: 'made a mockery of their own and others' troubles', perhaps by joking predictions of doom.

Ep. 6.20.20Nōbīs tamen nē tunc quidem, quamquam et expertīs perīculum et exspectantibus, abeundī cōnsilium, dōnec dē avunculō nūntius.

But even then, although we had been through danger and were expecting more, we had no thought of leaving until there was news of my uncle.

Note. Nōbīs … abeundī cōnsilium (sc. erat): 'we had no plan of leaving'. et expertīs perīculum et exspectantibus: 'although we had experienced danger and expected (more)', datives agreeing with nōbīs. dōnec dē avunculō nūntius (sc. vēnit): 'until news (came) about my uncle'.

Ep. 6.20.20Haec nēquāquam historiā digna nōn scrīptūrus legēs et tibi scīlicet quī requīsīstī imputābis, sī digna nē epistulā quidem vidēbuntur.

You will read these details, which are not at all worthy of history, without intending to write them up, and you will have only yourself to blame, since you asked for them, if they do not seem worthy even of a letter.

Note. Haec … nōn scrīptūrus legēs: 'you will read these things without intending to write about them'. nēquāquam historiā digna: 'not at all worthy of history'; dignus takes the ablative. tibi … imputābis: 'you will charge it to yourself', i.e. you have only yourself to blame. nē epistulā quidem: 'not even of a letter'.

Ep. 6.20.20Valē.

Farewell.

Note. Valē: 'Farewell', the usual closing of a letter.