Pliny's Letters- 2.1 (letter 8)- Death of A Former Hero

?
  • Created by: Lydia22
  • Created on: 26-12-15 13:37
POST aliquot annos insigne atque etiam memorabile populi Romani oculis spectaculum exhibuit publicum funus Vergini Rufi, maximi et clarissimi civis, perinde felicis.
after several years the public funeral of Verginius rufus, a very great and very distinguished, likewise a blessed citezen, has presented a notable and even memorable show to the yes of the Roman people.
1 of 21
Triginta annis gloriae suae supervixit; legit scripta de se carmina, legit histories et posteritati suae interfuit. Perfunctus est tertio consulatu, ut summum fastigium privati hominis impleret, cum principis noluisset.
he survived his glory by thirty years; he read poems written about him, he read histories and he was present at his own posterity. He enjoyed his third consulship, with the result that he fulfilled the highest dignity for a private man, since he had
2 of 21
Caesares, quibus suspectus atque etiam invisus virtutibus fuerat, evasit, reliquit incolumem optimum atque amicissimum, tamquam ad hunc ipsum honorem publici funeris reservatus.
he evaded the Caersars by whom he was suspected and even hated for his virtues. he left the best and most friendly [emperor] safe, as if reserved for this very honour of a public funeral.
3 of 21
Annum tertium et octogensimum excessit in altissima tranquillitate, pari veneratione.
he went in his 83rd year in the deepest tranquility, in equal veneration.
4 of 21
Usus est firma valetudine, nisi quod solebant ei menus tremere, citra dolorem tamen. Aditus tantum mortis durior longiorque, sed hic ipse laudabilis.
he experienced good health, except that his hands were accustomed to tremble, without pain however.only the approach of his death was rather hard and long, but he himself was praiseworthy in this phase.
5 of 21
Nam cum vocem praepararet acturus in consulatu principi gratias, liber, quem forte acceperat grandiorem, et seni et stanti ipso pondere elapsus est.
for when he was preparing his speech, about to say the thanksgiving in the consulship of the emperor, a book which he had received by chance being rather large, fell by its own weight from him as he was old and standing
6 of 21
Hunc dum consequitur colligitque, per leve et lubricum pavimentum fallente vestigio cecidit coxamque fregit, quae parum apte collocata reluctante aetate male coiit.
while he was following this and collecting it, he fell across the smooth and slippery floor as his foot slipped, and he borke his hip, which, having been put together insufficiently attached, with his age struggling, joined badly.
7 of 21
Huius viri exequiae magnum ornamentum principi, magnum saeculo, magnum etiam foro et rostris attulerunt.
the funeral procession of this man brought great didtinction to the emperor, great distinction to the age and even great distinction to the forum and rostra.
8 of 21
Laudatus est a consule Cornelio Tacito; nam hic supremus felicitati eius cumulus accessit, laudator eloquentissimus.
the speech of praise was given by the consul Cornelius Tactus; for this final summit came to his good fortune, a most elegant eulogist.
9 of 21
Et ille quidem plenus annis abiit, plenus honoribus, illis etiam, quos recusavit;
and he departed full in years, full in honours, even those which he refused;
10 of 21
nobis tamen quaerendus ac desiderandus est ut exemplar aevi prioris, mihi vero praecipue, qui illum non solum publice, sed etiam privatim quantum admirabar tantum diligebam;
he must be sought and missed as an example of a previous age, especially by me, who not only admired him in a public capacity as much as love him.
11 of 21
primum quod utrique eadem regio, municipia finitima, agri etiam possessionesque coniunctae, praeterea quod ille tutor mihi relictus adfectum parentis exhibuit
first because our region was the same for both of us, neighbouring towns, ven fields and properties were adjoining, besides because he, left to me as a guardian displayed the affection of a parent.
12 of 21
Sic candidatum me suffragio ornavit, sic ad omnes honores meos ex secessibus accucurrit, cum iam pridem eiusmodi officiis renuntiasset,
thus he added distinction to me as a candidate by his vote/endorsement; thus he assisted all my honours from retirement, although for a long time previously he had renounced duties of that kind;
13 of 21
sic illo die, quo sacerdotes solent nominare, quos dignissimos sacerdotio iudicant, me semper nominabat.
thus on the day on which the priests are accustomed to nominate those whom they judge most worthy of a priesthood, he always nominated me.
14 of 21
Quin etiam in hac novissima valetudine veritus, ne forte inter quinqueviros crearetur, qui minuendis publicis sumptibus iudicio senatus constituebantur,
moreover even in his most recent illness, fearing thaat by chnace he would be elected as one of the quinqueviri, who were appointed by decree of the senate for reducung public expenditure,
15 of 21
cum illi tot amici senes consularesque superessent, me huius aetatis, per quem excusaretur, elegit his quidem verbis: "Etiam si filium haberem, tibi mandarem."
although so many friends, senior men of consular rank , retained to him, he chose me, a man of his age, although whom to make his excuses, indeed with these words: "even if i had a son, i would entrust this task to you."
16 of 21
Quibus ex causis necesse est tamquam immaturam mortem eius in sinu tuo defleam, si tamen fas est aut flere aut omnino mortem vocare, qua tanti viri mortalitas magis finita quam vita est.
for these reasons it is necessary for me to bewail his death in your bosom as if it were premeture, if however it is either to bewail or in alwyas to call it 'death' , by which the morality of such a great man was defined more than his life.
17 of 21
Vivit enim vivetque semper atque etiam latius in memoria hominum et sermone versabitur, postquam ab oculis recessit.
for he lives and he will always live, and he will dwell more widley in the memory and conversation of men, after he has gone from their eyes.
18 of 21
Volui tibi multa alia scribere, sed totus animus in hac una contemplatione defixus est.
i want to write many other things to you, but my whole mind has been fixed on this one subject.
19 of 21
Verginium cogito, Verginium video, Verginium iam vanis imaginibus, recentibus tamen, audio, adloquor, teneo;
I see Verginius, I hear, speak, hold Verginius now in empty images, fresh images however;
20 of 21
cui fortasse cives aliquos virtutibus pares et habemus et habebimus, gloria neminem. Vale.
perhaps we have and will have, other citezens equal to him in virtues, but none in glory. Goodbye.
21 of 21

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Triginta annis gloriae suae supervixit; legit scripta de se carmina, legit histories et posteritati suae interfuit. Perfunctus est tertio consulatu, ut summum fastigium privati hominis impleret, cum principis noluisset.

Back

he survived his glory by thirty years; he read poems written about him, he read histories and he was present at his own posterity. He enjoyed his third consulship, with the result that he fulfilled the highest dignity for a private man, since he had

Card 3

Front

Caesares, quibus suspectus atque etiam invisus virtutibus fuerat, evasit, reliquit incolumem optimum atque amicissimum, tamquam ad hunc ipsum honorem publici funeris reservatus.

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Annum tertium et octogensimum excessit in altissima tranquillitate, pari veneratione.

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Usus est firma valetudine, nisi quod solebant ei menus tremere, citra dolorem tamen. Aditus tantum mortis durior longiorque, sed hic ipse laudabilis.

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Latin resources:

See all Latin resources »See all Literature resources »