Arria Translation

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C. Plinius Nepoti sup S.
Gaius Plinius sends greetings to his friend Nepos
1 of 18
Aegrobat Caecina Paetus, maritus Arriae; aegrobat et filius, uterque gravissime, ut videbatur
Caecina Paetus, the husband of Arria, was ill; their son was also ill, and both of them very seriously, as it seemed
2 of 18
Filius mortuus est, iuvenis pulcherrimus et verecundus et parentibus carus. Huic Arria ita funis paravit, ita duxit exsequias, ut ignarus esset maritus
The son died, a most handsome youth, modest and dear to his parents. Arria prepared his funeral and led the procession, all in such a way that her husband would be unaware
3 of 18
Quin immo quotiens cubiculum eius intraret, vivere filium atque etiam commodiorem esse simulabat, ac persaepe marito roganti, quid ageret puer, respondebat: 'bene dormivit, libenter cibum consumpsit'
Indeed, whenever she entered his bedroom, she pretended that their son was alive and was even rather better, and she would reply to her husband's frequent enquiries as to how the boy was: 'He has slept well and willingly took some food'
4 of 18
Deinde, cum lacrimae diu cohibitae eam vincerent prorumperentque, egrediebatur; tum, se dolori dabat
Then, when her tears, held back for a long time, overcame her and broke forth, she would go out. Then she would give herself over to grief
5 of 18
Satiata siccis oculis composito vultu in cubiculum redibat, tamquam orbitatem foris reliquisset
Having had her fill of weeping, she would go back into the bedroom, with her eyes dried and her face composed, as if she had left her bereavement outside
6 of 18
Praeclarum quidem illud factum eiusdem, ferrum stringere, perfodere pectus, extrahere pugionem, porrigere marito, addere vocem immortalem ac paene divinam: 'Paete, non dolet'
That deed of hers was remarkable indeed, to draw a weapon, pierce her breast, pull out the dagger, offer it to her husband, and add the immortal and almost divine words: 'Paetus, it does not hurt'
7 of 18
Scribonianus arma in Illyrico contra Claudium moverat; fuerat Paetus in partibus, et occiso Scriboniano Romam trahebatur
Scribonianus had taken up arms against Claudius in Illyrica; Paetus had been involved in the conspiracy, and after Scribonianus had been killed, he was being taken off to Rome
8 of 18
Erat ascensurus navem; Arria milites orabat ut simul imponeretur
He was about to board the ship; Arria begged the soldiers that she be put on board at the same time
9 of 18
'Nonne' inquit 'dabitis consulari viro servos aliquos, quorum e manu cibum capiat, a quibus vestiatur, a quibus calcietur? Omnia haec ego sola praestabo'
Surely', she said, 'you will allow a man of consular rank some slaves, by whose services he may take food, be dressed by them and have his shoes put on? I will take care of all these things on my own'
10 of 18
Non impetravit: conduxit piscatoriam naviculam, ingentemque navem minima secuta est
She did not get permission: she hired a small fishing boat, and her tiny vessel followed the huge ship
11 of 18
Deinde apud Claudium uxori Scriboniani, cum illa profiteretur indicium, 'egone' inquit 'te audiam, cuius in gremio Scribonianus occisus est, et vivis?'
Then, in the presence of Claudius, she said to Scribonianus' wife, when that woman was offering evidence, 'Am I to listen to you, in whose lap Scribonianus was killed, while you go on living?'
12 of 18
Ex quo manifestum est ei consilium pulcherrimae mortis non subitum fuisse
From this it is clear that, for her, consideration of a glorious death was not an impulsive decision
13 of 18
Quin etiam, cum Thrasea gener eius deprecaretur ne mori pergeret, interque alia dixisset: 'vis ergo filium tuam, si mihi pereundum fuerit, mori mecum?'
Indeed when her son-in-law, Thrasea, begged her not to carry out her resolve to die, he had said, amongst other things: 'Do you therefore want your daughter, if I have to die, to die with me?'
14 of 18
Respondit: 'si tam diu tantaque concordia vixerit tecum quam ego cum Paeto, volo'. Auxerat hoc responso curam suorum
She replied, 'If she lives as long and harmoniously with you as I have with Paetus, yes'. By this reply she had increased the concern of her household
15 of 18
Diligentius custodiebatur; hoc sensit et 'nihil agitis' inquit; 'potestis enim efficere ut male moriar, ut non moriar non potestis'
She was guarded more carefully; she realised this and said 'You are accomplishing nothing; for you can see to it that I die painfully, but cannot see to it that I do not die at all'
16 of 18
Dum haec dicit, exsiluit e sede adversoque muro caput ingenti impetu impegit et decidit
While she said this, she leapt out of her chair and with a huge force dashed her head full tilt against the wall and fell
17 of 18
Focilata 'dixeram' inquit 'vobis me inventuram esse quamlibet duram ad mortem viam, si vos facilem negavissetis'. Vale
When she was brought round, she said: 'I told you that I would find a way to death, no matter how hard, if you denied me an easy one'. Farewell
18 of 18

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Caecina Paetus, the husband of Arria, was ill; their son was also ill, and both of them very seriously, as it seemed

Back

Aegrobat Caecina Paetus, maritus Arriae; aegrobat et filius, uterque gravissime, ut videbatur

Card 3

Front

The son died, a most handsome youth, modest and dear to his parents. Arria prepared his funeral and led the procession, all in such a way that her husband would be unaware

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Indeed, whenever she entered his bedroom, she pretended that their son was alive and was even rather better, and she would reply to her husband's frequent enquiries as to how the boy was: 'He has slept well and willingly took some food'

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Then, when her tears, held back for a long time, overcame her and broke forth, she would go out. Then she would give herself over to grief

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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