The death of Pliny the Elder (part 1)

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  • Created by: baimzej
  • Created on: 04-06-15 02:12
petis ut tibi avunculi mei exitum scribam, quo verius tradere posteris possis
You ask that i write to tell you about the death of my uncle, so that you can hand (the story) down to posterity more accurately
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erat Miseni classemque imperio praesens regebat.
He was at Misenum and in person he was commanding the fleet with imperial power.
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nonum kal. Septembres hora fere septima mater mea indicat ei nubem mirabelem apparere; quae visa est ei, ut eruditissimo viro, magna propiusque noscenda
on the ninth day beofre the kalends of September, at about the seventh hour, my mother pointed out to him that a strange cloud was appearing, which seemed to him, as a very studious man, large and needing to be investigated at close quaters.
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lubet liburnicam parari; me si venire una vellum rogat; respondi studere me malle, et forte ipse quod scriberem dederat.
he ordered a fast boat to be prepared; he asked me if I wished to come with him; i replied that I preferred to study, and by chance he himself had given (me) something to write.
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egradiebatur domo; accipet codicillos Rectinae Tasci imminenti periculo perterritae (nam villa elus subiacebat,nuc ulla nisi navibus fuga):.
he was going out from the house; he received a note from rectina wife of tascius, terrified by the imminent danger (for her house was lying under (it Vesuvius), and there was not any flight except by ship):
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orobat ut se tanto discrimini eriperetimo. vertis ille consilium er quod studioso an inceperat obit maximo,
she was begging that he rescue her from such great danger. he changed his plan and that which had begun with an enquiring spirit he accomplished with an heroic (spirit)
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deducit quadriremes, ascendi ipse non rectinae modo sed multis (erat emin frequens amoenitas orae laturus auxilium.
he launched warships; he himself embarked intending to bring help not only to Rectina but to many (for that delighful stretch of coast was densely populated.)
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festinat illuc unde alii fugiunt, rectumque cursum recta gubernacula in periculum tenet adea solutus metu, ut omnes illius mali motus , omnes figuras ut deprenderat oculis dictaret adnotaretque.
he hurried to that place from where the others were fleeing, and he held a straight course and straight rudders into danger, freed from fear to such an extent that he was dictating and noting down all the movements of that disaster, all the features
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iam navibus cinis incdebat, calidor et densior, quo propius accederent; iam pumices etiam lapidesque nigri et ambusti et fracti igne; iam vadum subitum et litora ruina montis obstantia.
Now ash was falling onto the ships, hotter and thicker, the nearer they approached; now even pumice stones and black stones both scorched and broken by fire; there was sudden shalloow water and the shore blocking their way with debris from the mount
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haesitat paulisper an retro navigaret; mox gubernatori ut ita faceret momenti "fortes" "inquit" fortuna adiuvat: Pompeonianum pete !
he hesitated for a short time, considering whether to sail back; soon he said to his helmsman who was advising that he do this "Fortune helps the brave; make for Pomponianus!"
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Pomponianus erat Stabiis diremptus sinu medio (nam mare sensim circumactis curvatisque litoribus intenditur); ibi perviculum, quamquam nondum appropinquabat, tamen valde conspicuum erat; ,
Pomponianus was at Stabiae, seperated by an intervening bay (for the sea runs in gently to sweeping around and curving shores); there the danger, although it was not yet approaching, was however very much obvious;
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Pomponianus igitur sarcinas posuerat in naves, certus fugae si contrarius ventus resedisset.
therefore Pomponianus had placed luggage into ships, resolved on flight if the contrary wind subsided.
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quo tum secudissimo avunculus meus invectus, amplectitur trepidantem consolatur hortatur, utque timorem eius sua securitate leniret, iubet ferri in balineum.
then the wind directly behind him, my uncle sailed into Stabiae, he embraced his trembling friend (Pomponianus) he cheered him, he encouraged him, and, in order to calm his fear with his own composure , he ordered that he be carried into a bath.
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lotus recumbit cenat, aut hilaris aut ( quod est aeque magnum ) similis hilari.
having bathed , he dined, either cheerfully or, which is equally great, pretending to be cheerful
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interea e Vesuvio monte pluribus locis latissimae flammae altaque incendia relucebant. quorum fulgor et claritas tenebris noctis excitabatur.
meanwhile from the mountain Vesuvius in very many places broad sheets of flame and tall fires were blazing, the glare and brightness of which were being empasised by the darkness of the night.
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ille in remedium formidinis dictitabat ignes agrestium trepidatone relicos desertasque villas per solitudinem ardere.
he , to allay any fear, kept saying that the fires were those left by panicking country dwellers and empty houses in the abandoned areas.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

He was at Misenum and in person he was commanding the fleet with imperial power.

Back

erat Miseni classemque imperio praesens regebat.

Card 3

Front

on the ninth day beofre the kalends of September, at about the seventh hour, my mother pointed out to him that a strange cloud was appearing, which seemed to him, as a very studious man, large and needing to be investigated at close quaters.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

he ordered a fast boat to be prepared; he asked me if I wished to come with him; i replied that I preferred to study, and by chance he himself had given (me) something to write.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

he was going out from the house; he received a note from rectina wife of tascius, terrified by the imminent danger (for her house was lying under (it Vesuvius), and there was not any flight except by ship):

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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