This penguin classics edition is translated with an introduction by betty radice. Nihil novum nihil varium, nihil quod non semel spectasse sufficiat. The text of books i to ix of the letters rests on three manuscript traditions, the 9 book, the 10 book and the 8 book, known as. Heres a link to a site which contains some of plinys translated letters and also the original latin. Scottish irish french italian german icelandic czech russian. The french indus visited for his own sake, not courted trie exactly renders. An anxious night this post belongs to a serialized translation and commentary of pliny the youngers letters 6.
William melmoth in harvard classics series introductory note. An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer perseus any modifications you make. While this book does contain a lot of first hand information about life in imperial rome especially the legal system and the elaborate network of favors, obligations, and patronage in the senatorial class its not especially readable, being a collection of letters written. Pliny wrote the two letters describing the eruption of mount vesuvius approximately 25 years after the event, and both were sent in response to the request of his friend, the historian tacitus, who wanted to know more about pliny the elders death. Contents preface page vii abbreviations ix imaginary plan of the laurentine villa xii introduction 1 1 epistles in brief 1 2 plinys world 6 3 a book of letters 11 4. Account of the purchase of an ancient bronze statue, which. They thus lack the spontaneity of ciceros impulsive utterances, but to most modern readers who are not special students of roman history they are even more interesting.
His letters are arranged in ten books, of which the tenth consists entirely of letters to and from the emperor trajan. Selections from the letters of the younger pliny french edition pliny on. Here he met christians for the first time and was not sure how they should be dealt with. This is the first general introduction to plinys letters published in any language, combining close readings with broader context and adopting a fresh and innovative approach to reading the letters as an artistically structured collection. Learn pliny letter translation with free interactive flashcards.
A short book that consists of a few pages of history of the eruption of vesuvius in ad 79, minibiographies of pliny the elder, pliny the younger, and the historian tacitus. These posts are part of a book project that intends to understand the scholarly and popular reception of those letters. Chapter 1 traces plinys autobiographical narrative throughout the letters. He was only eight years old when his father, caecilius, died, and he was adopted by his. The table below is a summary based on modern names for topics. As you are an exemplary instance of tender regard to your family in general, and to your late excellent brother in particular, whose warm attachment you returned with an equal fondness. The letters of the younger pliny pliny the younger.
I enjoyed the recompense not only of a good conscience, but of a good report. Pliny s letters provide a fascinating insight into roman life in the period 97 to 112 ad. He was at misenum at the time of the eruption of vesuvius in 79 described in two famous letters when the elder pliny died. The epistulae are later copies of a series of personal missives by pliny the younger directed to his friends and associates. The letters of pliny the younger gaius plinius caecilius secundus are presented here in the english translation by j. These posts are part of a book project that intends to understand the. William melmoths english translation, the letters of pliny the consul 1746, was revised by w. The letters of the younger pliny by pliny the younger goodreads. We have a whole set of exchanges of his letters with the emperor trajan on a variety of administrative political matters. Click on the l symbols to go the latin text of each letter. Lettres iix with notes and french translation, 3 vols. Read complete letters by pliny the younger available from rakuten kobo. The younger pliny was born in 61 or 62 ce, the son of lucius caecilius of comum como and the elder plinys sister.
Letters of pliny the younger and the emperor trajan. It is one of the largest single works to have survived from the roman empire to the modern day and purports to cover all ancient knowledge. The natural history was one of the first ancient european texts to be printed, in venice in 1469. Rhiannon ash discusses plinys depiction of his uncle, pliny the elder the ocr latin gcse set text, avunculus meus. The letters of the younger pliny penguin classics by pliny the younger and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. Vesuvius in ad 79the disaster that buried pompeii, herculaneum, and other sites. See key to translations for an explanation of the format. Providing a series of fascinating views of imperial rome, the letters of the younger pliny also offer one of the fullest selfportraits to survive from classical times. For the original article on pliny see dsb, see vol. This begins a series of posts that will translate and comment upon pliny the youngers two letters 6.
But that my colieirs may find you more conformable, and in order that you may lose nothing by the respect you showed for me, i make you the same offer on account of my share. Primary sources letters of pliny the younger and the. In letters of business, as these chiefly are, turn and sentiment would. Firth 1900 a few words and phrases have been modified. Complete letters ebook by pliny the younger rakuten kobo. It is true that he perished in a catastrophe which. Pliny the youngers depiction of pliny the elder for ocr.
I remember one of his friends once stopping the reader, who had pronounced a word incorrectly, and making him repeat it. For nature is not so exhausted and worn out that she can no longer produce anything worthy of our praise. This was the disaster that buried pompeii, herculaneum, and other sites. The works subject area is thus not limited to what is today understood by natural history. From antiquity through the middle ages and into the renaissance, plinys massive compilation of knowledge remained a. Biographical sources include two letters of pliny the younger, iii 1. Pliny the younger was governor of pontusbithynia from 1111 ad. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Plinys letter to trajan christian history institute. This final book was, significantly, not intended for publication.
Note on the text the text of books i to ix of the letters rests on three manuscript traditions, the 9 book, the 10 book and the 8 book, known as. These letters are a unique testimony of roman administrative history and everyday life in the 1st century. The letters of the younger pliny by pliny the younger. Pliny to cornelius tacitus thank you for asking me to send you a description of my uncles death so that you can leave an accurate account of it for posterity1. He was only eight years old when his father, caecilius, died, and he was adopted by his uncle, the elder pliny, author of the natural history. Circenses erant, quo genere spectaculi ne levissime quidem teneor. Selected letters internet history sourcebooks project. Philemon hollands english translation of 1605 has influenced literature ever since. The last was written during his tour of administration of bithynia, during which he may well have died.
A prominent lawyer and administrator, pliny was also a prolific letterwriter, who numbered among his correspondents such providing a. Aug 28, 2014 rhiannon ash discusses pliny s depiction of his uncle, pliny the elder the ocr latin gcse set text, avunculus meus. J pliny epistulae vi, 16 and 20 and modem volcanology. In the letter he discusses bad manners at roman dinner parties. He had built in the wall a little book case, which, he says, non. Sep 01, 2001 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Pliny the younger was born in novum comum como, northern italy around 61 ad, the son of lucius caecilius cilo, born there, and his wife plinia marcella, a sister of pliny the elder. I know that immortal fame awaits him if his death is recorded by you. Select bibliography the letters of the younger pliny erenow. These letters concern an episode which marks the first time the roman government recognized christianity as a.
Mar 22, 2012 chapter 1 traces plinys autobiographical narrative throughout the letters. Hora fere septima mater mea ostendit ei ille ascendit locum ex. Plinys lively and very personal letters address an astonishing range of topics, from a deeply moving account of his uncles death in the eruption that engulfed pompeii, to observations on the early christiansa desperate. Plinys letters provide a fascinating insight into roman life in the period 97 to 112 ad. Choose from 500 different sets of pliny letter translation flashcards on quizlet. The collection includes his wellknown letters about the eruption of vesuvius 6. Selections from the letters of the younger pliny french. The letters of the younger pliny have come down to us in 10 books, 9 of his personal letters, and book 10 containing his official correspondence with the emperor trajan. This post begins a serialized translation and commentary of pliny the youngers letters 6. You have constantly urged me to collect and publish the more highly finished of the letters that i may have written. This book was originally published prior to 1923, and represents a reproduction of an important historical work. Then follows a translation of the two letters that pliny the younger, an eyewitness to.
Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Letters of pliny, by gaius plinius caecilius secundus. Thank you for asking me to send you a description of my uncles death so that you can leave an accurate account of it for posterity1. So he wrote the following letter to emperor trajan reporting what he had done so far and asking for guidance. Mynors 1963, in the bibliotheca augustana pliny was born in comum in 61 or 62 a. Here i cover only the first six short books of plinys letters he wrote 10 in all. Dec 06, 2012 this begins a series of posts that will translate and comment upon pliny the youngers two letters 6. Pliny was a civil servant who served as governor of bithynia, in the north of asia minor modern turkey, from 1111 ad. Letter of pliny to tacitus, concerning the death of pliny the elder. While this book does contain a lot of first hand information about life in imperial rome especially the legal system and the elaborate network of favors, obligations, and patronage in the senatorial class its not especially readable, being a collection of letters written by pliny and, near the end, by the emperor trajan to pliny. Dear acilius, 1 a terrible thing, worthy of more than just a letter, has been suffered at the hands of his slaves by larcius macedo, a man of praetorian rank, a haughty and savage master who remembered too little or rather too well that his own father had been a slave. The first word file below gives the text of the extracts in wheelocks latin reader from pliny the youngers letters, with interlinear glossing in english and some notes and illustrations added.
The comments at the bottom of the letters have been added from various sources. The younger pliny was born in 61 or 62 ce, the son of lucius caecilius of comum como and the elder pliny s sister. Page 80 during dinner a book was read to him, and he made notes upon it as it went on. He was educated at home and then in rome under quintilian. I am one of those who admire the ancients, but not to the extent of despising the genius of our own times, like some people do. Word order and interlinear translation for eduqas latin. The style is very different from that in the panegyricus, and some commentators maintain that pliny initiated a new genre. I have spent these several days past among my papers with the most pleasing tranquillity imaginable. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position.
Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a versioning system. Gaius plinius caecilius secundus, usually known as pliny the younger, was born at como in 62 a. Chapter 2 undertakes detailed study of book 6 as an artistic entity. He was the grandson of senator and landowner gaius caecilius, revered his uncle, pliny the elder who at this time was extremely famous around the roman empire, and provided sketches of how his uncle worked on. Pliny himself defines his scope as the natural world, or life.
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