Pliny, Letters 7.27

Ep. 7.27.1Et mihi discendī et tibi docendī facultātem ōtium praebet.

Our leisure gives me the chance to learn and you the chance to teach.

Note. Pliny writes to Licinius Sura, a powerful senator and friend of the emperor Trajan, known for his learning. discendī … docendī: gerunds in the genitive with facultātem, 'the opportunity of learning … of teaching'. ōtium is the subject.

Ep. 7.27.1Igitur perquam velim scīre, esse phantasmata et habēre propriam figūram nūmenque aliquod putēs an inānia et vāna ex metū nostrō imāginem accipere.

So I should very much like to know whether you think ghosts exist and have a shape of their own and some supernatural power, or whether they are empty and unreal and take their form from our fear.

Note. perquam velim: 'I should very much like', a polite subjunctive. putēs: the indirect question 'whether you think …' has two halves joined by an ('or'): esse phantasmata … habēre … an … accipere. phantasmata: a Greek word, 'apparitions'. numen aliquod: 'some divine power'. ex metū nostrō imāginem accipere: 'take their shape from our fear'.

Ep. 7.27.2Ego ut esse crēdam in prīmīs eō dūcor, quod audiō accidisse Curtiō Rūfō.

For my part, I am led to believe they exist above all by what I hear happened to Curtius Rufus.

Note. ut esse crēdam: 'to believe that they exist' (supply phantasmata). eō dūcor, quod …: 'I am led by this, namely what …'. in prīmīs: 'above all'. Curtius Rufus rose from obscure birth to be consul (AD 43) and later governor of Africa, where he died.

Ep. 7.27.2Tenuis adhūc et obscūrus, obtinentī Āfricam comes haeserat.

While he was still poor and unknown, he had attached himself to the staff of the governor of Africa.

Note. Tenuis … et obscūrus: 'of humble means and unknown'. obtinentī Āfricam: 'to the man holding Africa', i.e. the governor; dative with comes haeserat, 'had attached himself as a companion'.

Ep. 7.27.2Inclīnātō diē spatiābātur in porticū;

As the day was drawing to a close, he was walking in a colonnade;

Note. Inclīnātō diē: ablative absolute, 'as the day was declining'. spatiābātur: deponent, 'he was strolling'. porticus: a colonnade, a covered walk.

Ep. 7.27.2offertur eī mulieris figūra hūmāna grandior pulchriorque.

there appeared to him the figure of a woman, larger and more beautiful than any human.

Note. offertur: 'there presents itself', vivid present. hūmānā: ablative of comparison with the comparatives grandior pulchriorque, 'larger and more beautiful than human'.

Ep. 7.27.2Perterritō Āfricam sē futūrōrum praenūntiam dīxit: itūrum enim Rōmam honōrēsque gestūrum, atque etiam cum summō imperiō in eandem prōvinciam reversūrum, ibique moritūrum.

He was terrified, and she told him that she was Africa, the herald of things to come: he would go to Rome and hold high office, and would even return to the same province with supreme command, and die there.

Note. Perterritō: 'to him (who was) terrified'. sē … praenūntiam: 'that she was Africa, foreteller of the future'. The rest is indirect speech with the future infinitives (esse omitted): itūrum, gestūrum, reversūrum, moritūrum. honōrēs gerere: 'hold public office'. cum summō imperiō: 'as governor'.

Ep. 7.27.3Facta sunt omnia.

All of this came true.

Note. Facta sunt omnia: 'all of it came about'.

Ep. 7.27.3Praetereā accēdentī Carthāginem ēgredientīque nāve eadem figūra in lītore occurrisse narrātur.

Moreover, when he arrived at Carthage and was stepping off the ship, the same figure is said to have met him on the shore.

Note. accēdentī … ēgredientī: datives with occurrisse, 'met him as he approached … and stepped off'. nāve: ablative of separation, 'from the ship'. narrātur: personal construction, 'the figure is said to have met …'.

Ep. 7.27.3Ipse certē implicitus morbō futūra praeteritīs, adversa secundīs augurātus, spem salūtis nūllō suōrum dēspērante prōiēcit.

He himself, at any rate, when he fell ill, read the future from the past and misfortune from his earlier good fortune, and gave up hope of recovery, though none of his household despaired.

Note. Ipse certē: 'he himself at least' (Pliny is offering proof). implicitus morbō: 'caught by illness'. futūra praeteritīs, adversa secundīs auguratus: 'foreseeing the future from the past, misfortune from his earlier good fortune' — the first prophecies had come true, so he expected the last one to as well. nūllō suōrum dēspērante: ablative absolute, 'though none of his household despaired'.

Ep. 7.27.4Iam illud nōnne et magis terribile et nōn minus mīrum est quod expōnam ut accēpī?

Now, is not the story I am going to tell, just as I heard it, both more terrifying and no less astonishing?

Note. Iam: 'now', moving on. illud … quod expōnam: 'the story I shall tell'. nōnne expects the answer 'yes'. ut accēpī: 'as I heard it'.

Ep. 7.27.5Erat Athēnīs spatiōsa et capāx domus sed īnfāmis et pestilēns.

There was at Athens a large and roomy house, but one with a bad name and a deadly one.

Note. Athēnīs: locative, 'at Athens'. īnfāmis et pestilēns: 'of ill repute and deadly'.

Ep. 7.27.5Per silentium noctis sonus ferrī, et sī attenderēs ācrius, strepitus vinculōrum longius prīmō, deinde ē proximō reddēbātur: mox appārēbat īdōlon, senex maciē et squālōre cōnfectus, prōmissā barbā horrentī capillō;

In the silence of the night there came a sound of iron and, if you listened more closely, a clanking of chains, at first far off, then from close by: soon a phantom appeared, an old man worn out with leanness and filth, with a long beard and bristling hair;

Note. sonus ferrī … strepitus vinculōrum … reddēbātur: 'the sound of iron … the clanking of chains … was heard' (literally 'given back'). sī attenderēs: generalizing 'you', 'if one listened'. longius prīmō, deinde ē proximō: 'at first further off, then from close by'. īdōlon: Greek, 'phantom'. maciē et squālōre cōnfectus: 'worn out with emaciation and filth'. prōmissā barbā horrentī capillō: ablatives of description, 'with a long beard and bristling hair'.

Ep. 7.27.5crūribus compedēs, manibus catēnās gerēbat quatiēbatque.

he wore fetters on his legs and chains on his hands, and shook them.

Note. crūribus … manibus: datives, 'on his legs … on his hands'. compedēs: 'fetters' (for the feet).

Ep. 7.27.6Inde inhabitantibus trīstēs dīraeque noctēs per metum vigilābantur;

So the people who lived there spent sad and dreadful nights awake through fear;

Note. inhabitantibus: dative of the agent with the passive vigilābantur, 'the nights were watched through by those who lived there'. per metum: 'through fear'.

Ep. 7.27.6vigiliam morbus et crēscente formīdine mors sequēbātur.

sickness followed the sleeplessness, and death as the terror grew.

Note. vigiliam … sequēbātur: 'followed the sleeplessness'. crēscente formīdine: ablative absolute, 'as the terror grew'.

Ep. 7.27.6Nam interdiū quoque, quamquam abscesserat imāgō, memoria imāginis oculīs inerrābat, longiorque causīs timōris timor erat.

For even by day, although the apparition had gone, the memory of it hovered before their eyes, and the fear lasted longer than its causes.

Note. quamquam abscesserat imāgō: 'although the apparition had gone'. oculīs inerrābat: 'hovered before their eyes'. longiorque causīs timōris timor erat: 'and the fear lasted longer than the causes of fear' (causīs: ablative of comparison).

Ep. 7.27.6Dēserta inde et damnāta sōlitūdine domus tōtaque illī mōnstrō relicta;

So the house was deserted and condemned to solitude, and left entirely to that monster;

Note. Supply est with dēserta, damnāta and relicta. damnāta sōlitūdine: 'condemned to emptiness'. illī mōnstrō: dative, 'to that monster'.

Ep. 7.27.6prōscrībēbātur tamen, seu quis emere seu quis condūcere ignārus tantī malī vellet.

yet it was advertised for sale or rent, in case anyone unaware of so great an evil should wish to buy it or lease it.

Note. prōscrībēbātur: 'it was advertised' for sale or rent. seu quis … seu quis …: 'in case anyone … or anyone …' (quis = aliquis after seu). ignārus tantī malī: 'unaware of so great an evil'.

Ep. 7.27.7Vēnit Athēnās philosophus Athēnodōrus, lēgit titulum audītōque pretiō, quia suspecta vīlitās, percunctātus omnia docētur ac nihilō minus, immō tantō magis condūcit.

The philosopher Athenodorus came to Athens, read the notice, and hearing the price, since its cheapness was suspicious, he made inquiries, was told the whole story, and nevertheless, indeed all the more, he took the house.

Note. Athenodorus: a Stoic philosopher of the time of Augustus. audītō pretiō: ablative absolute. quia suspecta (erat) vīlitās: 'because the cheapness was suspicious'. percontātus: deponent participle, 'having asked'. omnia docētur: 'he is told everything' (doceō takes two accusatives, and keeps one in the passive). nihilō minus, immō tantō magis: 'none the less, indeed all the more'.

Ep. 7.27.7Ubi coepit advesperāscere, iubet sternī sibi in prīmā domus parte, poscit pugillārēs stilum lūmen, suōs omnēs in interiōra dīmittit;

When evening began to fall, he had a couch made up for himself in the front part of the house, called for writing tablets, a stylus and a lamp, and sent all his household away to the inner rooms;

Note. advesperāscere: 'to grow dark'. iubet sternī sibi: 'he orders (a couch) to be spread for him'. pugillārēs: 'writing tablets'. suōs: 'his slaves'. in interiōra: 'into the inner parts' of the house.

Ep. 7.27.7ipse ad scrībendum animum oculōs manum intendit, nē vacua mēns audīta simulācra et inānēs sibi metūs fingeret.

he himself bent his mind, eyes and hand to writing, so that his idle mind should not conjure up the phantoms he had heard of and empty fears.

Note. ad scrībendum: gerund of purpose, 'for writing'. nē … fingeret: negative purpose clause, 'so that his idle mind might not invent'. audīta simulācra: 'the phantoms he had heard of'. sibi: 'for itself'.

Ep. 7.27.8Initiō, quāle ubīque, silentium noctis;

At first there was the silence of the night, as everywhere;

Note. Initiō: 'at first'. quāle ubīque: 'such as (there is) everywhere'. Pliny now writes in short, breathless phrases.

Ep. 7.27.8dein concutī ferrum, vincula movērī.

then iron began to clank and chains to move.

Note. dein: = deinde. concutī … movērī: historic infinitives, used like past tenses in vivid narrative: 'iron clanked, chains moved'.

Ep. 7.27.8Ille nōn tollere oculōs, nōn remittere stilum, sed offirmāre animum auribusque praetendere.

He did not raise his eyes or put down his stylus, but steeled his mind and shut it against what his ears heard.

Note. More historic infinitives: tollere, remittere, offirmāre, praetendere. auribus praetendere: 'held (his mind) before his ears' — he concentrated so as to shut out what he heard.

Ep. 7.27.8Tum crēbrēscere fragor, adventāre et iam ut in līmine, iam ut intrā līmen audīrī.

Then the din grew louder and came nearer, and was heard now as if on the threshold, now as if inside the room.

Note. crēbrēscere … adventāre … audīrī: historic infinitives again. iam ut in līmine, iam ut intrā līmen: 'now as if on the threshold, now as if inside'.

Ep. 7.27.8Respicit, videt agnōscitque narrātam sibi effigiem.

He looks round, sees and recognizes the figure he had been told about.

Note. The sudden switch to the present tense (respicit, videt, agnōscit) makes the moment vivid. narrātam sibi effigiem: 'the figure described to him'.

Ep. 7.27.9Stābat innuēbatque digitō similis vocantī.

It stood and beckoned with its finger, like someone calling.

Note. innuēbat digitō: 'beckoned with its finger'. similis vocantī: 'like one calling'.

Ep. 7.27.9Hic contrā ut paulum exspectāret manū significat rūrsusque cērīs et stilō incumbit.

He in turn signals with his hand for it to wait a little, and bends again to his tablets and stylus.

Note. Hic contrā: 'he in turn'. ut paulum exspectāret: indirect command after significat, 'signals that it should wait a little'. cērīs: the wax of the writing tablets.

Ep. 7.27.9Illa scrībentis capitī catēnīs īnsonābat.

The figure rattled its chains over his head as he wrote.

Note. scrībentis capitī: 'over the head of the man as he wrote'. īnsonābat: 'rattled'.

Ep. 7.27.9Respicit rūrsus idem quod prius innuentem, nec morātus tollit lūmen et sequitur.

He looks round again and sees it beckoning as before, and without delay he picks up the lamp and follows.

Note. idem quod prius innuentem: 'beckoning, the same as before'. nec morātus: 'without delay'.

Ep. 7.27.10Ībat illa lentō gradū quasi gravis vinculīs.

It went with slow steps, as if weighed down by the chains.

Note. quasi gravis vinculīs: 'as if weighed down by its chains'.

Ep. 7.27.10Postquam dēflexit in āream domus, repente dīlāpsa dēserit comitem.

After it had turned into the courtyard of the house, it suddenly vanished and left its companion.

Note. Postquam dēflexit: 'after it turned off'. ārea: an open space or courtyard. dīlāpsa: 'melting away', from dīlābor. comitem: 'its companion', Athenodorus.

Ep. 7.27.10Dēsertus herbās et folia concerpta signum locō pōnit.

Left alone, he plucks some grass and leaves and puts them on the spot as a marker.

Note. Dēsertus: 'left alone'. signum: in apposition, 'as a marker'. locō: 'on the spot'.

Ep. 7.27.11Posterō diē adit magistrātūs, monet ut illum locum effodī iubeant.

The next day he goes to the magistrates and urges them to order the spot to be dug up.

Note. Posterō diē: 'the next day'. adit magistrātūs: 'he goes to the magistrates'. ut … effodī iubeant: indirect command, 'to order the spot to be dug up'.

Ep. 7.27.11Inveniuntur ossa īnserta catēnīs et implicita, quae corpus aevō terrāque putrefactum nūda et exēsa relīquerat vinculīs;

Bones are found, entwined and tangled in chains, which the body, rotted by time and the earth, had left bare and eaten away in the fetters;

Note. Inveniuntur ossa: 'bones are found'. īnserta catēnīs et implicita: 'set in the chains and entangled'. quae … relīquerat: 'which the body … had left (in the chains)', i.e. the flesh had rotted away from the bones. aevō terrāque: 'by time and the soil'.

Ep. 7.27.11collēcta pūblicē sepeliuntur.

they were gathered up and buried at public expense.

Note. collēcta: 'gathered up'. pūblicē: 'at public expense'.

Ep. 7.27.11Domus posteā rīte conditīs mānibus caruit.

After this the house, once the spirit had been properly laid to rest, was free of it.

Note. rītē conditīs mānibus: ablative absolute, 'once the spirit had been duly laid to rest'. mānēs: the spirits of the dead; an unburied body was believed to leave its ghost restless. caruit: 'was free of' (careō + ablative; supply eīs).

Ep. 7.27.12Et haec quidem affirmantibus crēdō;

Now these things I believe on the word of others;

Note. affirmantibus crēdō: 'I believe those who assert them', i.e. on others' word.

Ep. 7.27.12illud affirmāre aliīs possum.

the next I can vouch for myself to others.

Note. illud: the next story, which Pliny knows first-hand. affirmāre aliīs possum: 'I can vouch for to others'.

Ep. 7.27.12Est lībertus mihi nōn illitterātus.

I have a freedman who is not without education.

Note. Est … mihi: dative of possession, 'I have'. nōn illitterātus: litotes, 'quite well educated'.

Ep. 7.27.12Cum hōc minor frāter eōdem lectō quiēscēbat.

His younger brother was sleeping in the same bed with him.

Note. Cum hōc: 'with him'. eōdem lectō: 'in the same bed'.

Ep. 7.27.12Is vīsus est sibi cernere quendam in torō residentem, admoventemque capitī suō cultrōs, atque etiam ex ipsō vertice amputantem capillōs.

He dreamed he saw someone sitting on the couch, bringing scissors up to his head, and even cutting the hair from the top of it.

Note. Is vīsus est sibi cernere: 'he seemed to himself to see', i.e. he dreamed he saw. quendam … residentem, admoventem, amputantem: participles describing the figure. cultrōs: 'blades, scissors'. ex ipsō vertice: 'from the very top of his head'.

Ep. 7.27.12Ubi illūxit, ipse circā verticem tōnsus, capillī iacentēs reperiuntur.

When day dawned, he himself was found shorn around the crown, and the hair was found lying there.

Note. Ubi illūxit: 'when it was light'. ipse … tōnsus (repertus est): 'he himself was found shorn'. capillī iacentēs: 'the hair lying there'.

Ep. 7.27.13Exiguum temporis medium, et rūrsus simile aliud priōrī fidem fēcit.

A short time passed, and then a second, similar event confirmed the first.

Note. Exiguum temporis medium: supply erat, 'a short interval of time passed'. simile aliud: 'another similar event'. priōrī fidem fēcit: 'made the earlier one believable'.

Ep. 7.27.13Puer in paedagōgiō mīxtus plūribus dormiēbat.

A slave boy was sleeping among several others in the slaves' quarters.

Note. paedagōgium: the quarters where the young slaves of a household were trained. mixtus plūribus: 'among several others'.

Ep. 7.27.13Vēnērunt per fenestrās- ita narrat- in tunicīs albīs duo cubantemque dētondērunt et quā vēnerant recessērunt.

Two figures in white tunics came in through the windows, so he says, cut his hair as he lay there, and went back the way they had come.

Note. ita narrat: 'so he says', a parenthesis. in tunicīs albīs duo: 'two (figures) in white tunics'. cubantem: 'him as he lay'. quā vēnerant: 'by the way they had come'.

Ep. 7.27.13Hunc quoque tōnsum sparsōsque circā capillōs diēs ostendit.

Daylight showed him too with his hair cut and the hair scattered around.

Note. Hunc quoque tōnsum … diēs ostendit: 'daylight showed him too shorn'. circā: adverb, 'round about'.

Ep. 7.27.14Nihil notābile secūtum, nisi forte quod nōn fuī reus, futūrus, sī Domitiānus sub quō haec accidērunt diūtius vīxisset.

Nothing remarkable followed, except perhaps that I was not put on trial, as I would have been if Domitian, under whom these things happened, had lived longer.

Note. Nihil notābile secūtum (est): 'nothing remarkable followed'. nisi forte quod nōn fuī reus: 'except perhaps that I was not put on trial'. futūrus (reus): 'as I would have been'. Domitian, emperor AD 81–96, was killed in 96; many senators had been prosecuted in his last years.

Ep. 7.27.14Nam in scrīniō eius datus ā Cārō dē mē libellus inventus est;

For in his desk an accusation against me, submitted by Carus, was found;

Note. in scrīniō eius: 'in his desk', among the emperor's papers. datus ā Cārō dē mē libellus: 'an accusation against me submitted by Carus', Mettius Carus, a notorious informer.

Ep. 7.27.14ex quō coniectārī potest, quia reīs mōris est summittere capillum, recīsōs meōrum capillōs dēpulsī quod imminēbat perīculī signum fuisse.

from this it may be guessed that, since it is customary for the accused to let their hair grow long, the cutting of my slaves' hair was a sign that the danger that hung over me had been averted.

Note. ex quō coniectārī potest: 'from which it can be guessed'. reīs mōris est: 'it is the custom for those on trial' to let their hair grow as a sign of mourning. recīsōs meōrum capillōs … signum fuisse: 'that the cutting of my slaves' hair had been a sign'. dēpulsī … perīculī: 'of the danger averted'; quod imminēbat: 'which threatened me'.

Ep. 7.27.15Proinde rogō, ērudītiōnem tuam intendās.

So I ask you to apply your learning to this.

Note. rogō, … intendās: 'I ask you to apply' — ut is left out. ērudītiōnem tuam intendere: 'bring your learning to bear'.

Ep. 7.27.15Digna rēs est quam diū multumque cōnsīderēs;

The matter deserves long and careful thought from you;

Note. Digna rēs est quam … cōnsīderēs: 'the matter deserves that you should consider it', a relative clause after dignus.

Ep. 7.27.15nē ego quidem indignus, cui cōpiam scientiae tuae faciās.

and I too am not unworthy that you should give me the benefit of your knowledge.

Note. nē … quidem: 'not … either'. indignus, cui … faciās: 'unworthy that you should give me'. cōpiam scientiae tuae facere: 'to share your knowledge'.

Ep. 7.27.16Licet etiam utramque in partem- ut solēs- disputēs, ex alterā tamen fortius, nē mē suspēnsum incertumque dīmittās, cum mihi cōnsulendī causa fuerit, ut dubitāre dēsinerem.

You may argue both sides, as you usually do, but come down more firmly on one, so as not to send me away in suspense and uncertainty, when my reason for consulting you was to stop doubting.

Note. Licet … disputēs: 'you may argue', licet + subjunctive. ut solēs: 'as you usually do' — arguing both sides was a philosophical habit. ex alterā tamen fortius: 'but (argue) more strongly on one side'. nē … dīmittās: negative purpose clause. cum mihi cōnsulendī causa fuerit: 'since my reason for consulting you was'. ut dubitāre dēsinerem: 'that I might stop doubting'.

Ep. 7.27.16Valē.

Farewell.

Note. Valē: 'farewell'.