The numbering of the letters in this book has been changed slightly to bring it into line with the most recent editions. He was educated at home and then in rome under quintilian. Pliny also came into contact with other wellknown men of the period, including the philosophers artemidorus and euphrates the stoic, during his time in syria. Nine books have led us from dawn to dusk, and now the day is.
Book x of the letters contains his correspondence with trajan during this period, and includes letters about the early christians. I know that immortal fame awaits him if his death is recorded by you. Pliny adds in conclusion, he and his mother his uncles sister had remained at misenuma fact, pliny tells tacitus, of no historical interest nor, for that matter, of relevance since tacitus had inquired only about his uncles death 6. Among the many millions of vivid reports of ghostly encounters over the millennia, one involving a philosopher can be found in a letter written by the roman lawyer and pursuer of literary fame, pliny the younger 611 a. Pliny was an eyewitness, and his uncle died in the eruption. Pliny the elders sister, plinia, married a man named caecilius, from the northern italian town of comum. 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. It is one of the largest single works to have survived from the roman empire to the modern day and purports to cover the entire field of ancient knowledge, based on the best. This comprehensive general commentary on the nine books of the younger plinys private letterswhich cover nearly aspect of roman life except warfareoffers a selfcontained discussion of each letter or group of associated letters and their rich array of information about the authors social, political, and legal life and times.
It is true that he perished in a catastrophe which. The letters of the younger pliny penguin classics pliny the younger. He was a friend of the historian tacitus and might have employed the biographer suetonius on his staff. A prominent lawyer and administrator, pliny was also a prolific letterwriter, who numbered among his correspondents such. Pliny rose through a series of civil and military offices, the cursus honorum. Learn selected letters pliny pliny with free interactive flashcards. The letters of the younger pliny by pliny the younger.
Note on the text the text of books i to ix of the letters rests on three manuscript traditions, the 9 book, the 10book and the 8book, known as. Gaius plinius caecilius secundus, usually known as pliny the younger, was born at como in 62 a. Nonfiction harvard classics pliny the younger letters. This comprehensive general commentary on the nine books of the younger pliny s private letterswhich cover nearly aspect of roman life except warfareoffers a selfcontained discussion of each letter or group of associated letters and their rich array of information about the authors social, political, and legal life and times. He wrote a number of books, but the natural history is the only one that survives. Collegi non servato temporis ordine neque enim historiam componebam, sed ut quaeque in manus 2 venerat. I have spent these several days past among my papers with the most pleasing tranquillity imaginable.
He was at misenum at the time of the eruption of vesuvius in 79 described in two famous letters when the elder pliny died. Primary sources letters of pliny the younger and the. It is no disparagement to hollands merits, as a diligent and generally faithful translator, to say that his work is unsuited to the requirements of the nineteenth century. Almost every corner of plinys life as revealed by his letters and by in scriptions is welltrodden.
Learn latin pliny 6 1 with free interactive flashcards. With an english translation by william melmoth, rev. An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit. I bought this as an extra book to help me in the final year of my open university history ba. Plinys letter to trajan christian history institute. This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. 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 the younger, or gaius plinius caecilius secundus, was the nephew and adopted son of pliny the elder, the author of the famous and importantly influential natural history in thirtyseven. Pliny, the younger is also know as plinius caecilius secundus, gaius. Melmonths translation of plinys letters, was first pub.
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. An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer perseus any modifications you make. The letters of the younger pliny are a good source to look into during this period of roman history to see the dangers and excitement in which these people lived there certainly was a lot of it. Aurelius symmachus published his own correspondence in 10 books, 9 of personal and 1 of official letters. Tacitus also speaks of him in terms of high appreciation annals, v. Then he recounts a fablelike tale about the discovery of glass, which takes place on the glistening sands along the belus river near mt. Letters of pliny the younger and the emperor trajan. Letters of pliny, by gaius plinius caecilius secundus. 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. Click on the l symbols to go the latin text of each letter. Nihil novum nihil varium, nihil quod non semel spectasse sufficiat. Librivox recording of the natural history, volume 3, by pliny the elder. Pliny on himself alpha classics by pliny the younger and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Its an encyclopedia of what passed for scientific information in that time. The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of pliny, volume 1 of 6, by pliny the elder this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the united states and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Pliny scorns the more scientific grrek medicine, because many doctors would be quacks, and extols old roman treatments which worked on faith alone, though there was a lot of credulity going round, so some probably worked. The last was written during his tour of administration of bithynia, during which he may well have died. You have often urged me to collect and publish any letters of mine which were composed with some care. It is one of the largest single works to have survived from the roman empire to the modern day and purports to cover the entire.
I have now made a collection, not keeping to the original order as i was not writing history, but taking them as they came to my hand. We have a whole set of exchanges of his letters with the emperor trajan on a variety of administrative political matters. An unsuspected shared enthusiasm for pliny led to a. Pliny was a civil servant who served as governor of bithynia, in the north of asia minor modern turkey, from 1111 ad. Firth 1900 a few words and phrases have been modified. Pliny the elders sister, plinia, married a man named caecilius, from the northern italian town of.
But, with the receipt of plinys letter, tacitus evidently was intrigued with plinys closing comment. It is a rule, sir, which i inviolably observe, to refer myself to you in all my doubts. I had hoped that it would help with a particular assignment but sadly it didnt. Book 9, letter 19 pliny justifies the boastful tombstone of his friend, verginius rufus. 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.
This penguin classics edition is translated with an introduction by betty radice. The reason for presenting this letter, however, is not to offer evidence for the existence of ghosts. Letters of pliny by pliny the younger free at loyal books. Page 431 the name which these stones bear, originates, it is said, in the peculiar tint of their brilliancy, which, after closely approaching the colour of wine, passes off into a violet without being fully pronounced.
In the fifth century, sidonius apollinaris published his own letters in 9 books, and quotes pliny in many places. 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. Superest ut nec te consilii nec me paeniteat obsequii. Selected letters pliny pliny flashcards and study sets. Gibson and ruth morello frontmatter more information acknowledgements this book began as a conversation on a train on the way back from a conference in 1998. The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of pliny. You desire to know in what manner i dispose of my day in summer time at my tuscan villa. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. The style is very different from that in the panegyricus, and some commentators maintain that pliny initiated a new genre. 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. Here he met christians for the first time and was not sure how they should be dealt with. More information about this seller contact this seller 6. It would be more arrogant to assume that people will remember you even if you do not record your deeds on your tomb. Crop of pliny the younger and his mother at misenum, 79 ad, by angelica kauffmann 1785.
Definitely recommended to those who are interested in looking into our ancient past. Letters of pliny the younger to the historian tacitus. 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. Deducit quadriremes, ascendit ipse non rectinae modo sed multis erat enim frequens amoenitas orae laturus auxilium. This final book was, significantly, not intended for publication. See key to translations for an explanation of the format. Selected letters pliny pliny flashcards and study sets quizlet. By this time, it is likely that both the 9 book and 10 book versions were in existence. The only translation of plinys natural history which has hitherto appeared in the english language is that by philemon holland, published in the latter part of the reign of elizabeth. The older man, gaius plinius secundus, is called pliny the elder. A secured partys disposition of collateral after default. Circenses erant, quo genere spectaculi ne levissime quidem teneor. Book 9, letter 6 pliny cannot understand why so many romans waste their time going to the chariotraces. A witness to the eruption of vesuvius, pliny the younger 61 1 ad was a successful politician, public servant, and advisor to the emperor trajan.
His letters are arranged in ten books, of which the tenth consists entirely of letters to and from the emperor trajan. Pliny is the discovery of the most longrange of intratexts and most powerful of closural devices, that the name of the addressee of the. Choose from 500 different sets of latin pliny 6 1 flashcards on quizlet. Choose from 401 different sets of selected letters pliny pliny flashcards on quizlet. The younger pliny was born in 61 or 62 ce, the son of lucius caecilius of comum como and the elder pliny s sister. 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. Jan 16, 2006 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. 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. These letters concern an episode which marks the first time the roman government recognized christianity as a. Trajans reply to the letter by pliny from 2 days ago.
Jan 06, 2014 in the last pages of book 36, pliny introduces the subject of glass by describing the relatively recent decorative technique of tiling vaulted ceilings with glass mosaics. Pliny the younger was governor of pontusbithynia from 1111 ad. My dear tacitus, you ask me to write you something about the death of my uncle so that the account you transmit. The project gutenberg ebook of the natural history of. Plinii caecilii secundi epistularum liber primus i c. Pliny book 1, letter 9 english translation pliny book 1, letter 9 latin text pliny book 1, letter 10 student commentary pliny book 1, letter 10 english. 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. The younger pliny was born in 61 or 62 ce, the son of lucius caecilius of comum como and the elder plinys sister. The epistulae are later copies of a series of personal missives by pliny the younger directed to his friends and associates. In the last pages of book 36, pliny introduces the subject of glass by describing the relatively recent decorative technique of tiling vaulted ceilings with glass mosaics. Naturalis historia latin for natural history is an encyclopedia published circa ad 7779 by pliny the elder. Shuddering to remember this post belongs to a serialized translation and commentary of pliny the youngers letters 6. The text of books i to ix of the letters rests on three manuscript traditions, the 9 book, the 10book and the 8book, known as.
Book i the letters of pliny book i i to septicius clarus 1. You will ask how that can possibly be in the midst of rome. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a versioning system. Especially noteworthy among the letters are two in which he describes the eruption of mount vesuvius in august 79, during which his uncle pliny the elder died 65 and 66 in this edition, and one in which he asks the emperor for instructions regarding official policy concerning christians trajan letter 97. Pliny scorns the more scientific grrek medicine, because many doctors would be quacks, and extols old roman treatments which worked on faith alone, though there was a. Here pliny dictates his most famous letter as he and his mother observe the eruption of vesuvius. Naturalis historia is a book about the whole of the natural world in latin by pliny the elder, a roman author and naval commander who died in 79 ad.
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