Letter 3, Book I, 4

C. Plinius Pompeiae Celerinae Socrui S.

Quantum copiarum in Ocriculano, in Narniensi, in Carsulano, in Perusino tuo. In Narniensi vero etiam balineum. Ex epistulis meis (nam iam tuis opus non est) una illa brevis et vetus sufficit. Non mehercule tam mea sunt quae mea sunt quam quae tua: hoc tamen differunt, quod sollicitius et intentius tui me quam mei excipiunt. Idem fortasse eveniet tibi, si quando in nostra deverteris. Quod velim facias, primum, ut perinde nostris rebus ac nos tuis perfruaris, deinde, ut mei expergiscantur aliquando, qui me secure ac prope neglegenter exspectant. Nam mitium dominorum apud servos ipsa consuetudine metus exolescit, novitatibus excitantur probarique dominis per alios magis quam per ipsos laborant. Vale.

Address: Pompeia Celerina, his mother-in-law  {The third wife Calpurnia had no living female relative closer than her aunt, IV.19, I.6, VII.11.1} [S-W]

Date: before 98

Content: describes a journey to Etruria.

Vocabulary and Notes:

• copiarum--domestic supplies and conveniences are meant rather than the farm produce [cf. II.17, 26; VI.2,8]
• in Narniensi vero etiam balineum--Pliny is surprised that the servants have a bath ready for his passing visit.
• The first three places are stages from south to north along the via Flaminia which he would leave to reach the forth, Perugia, on his way to his own villa at Tifernum Tiberinum.  The wealthy evidently crashed at each others' villas instead of using unsay, unsavory, and uncomfortable public accommodations.
• Ex epistulis meis (nam iam tuis opus non est) una illa brevis et vetus sufficit.   Sherwin-White suggests that this is merely an allusion to something in their previous correspondence.
• hoc  in this (adverbial accusative)
• tui, mei [servi] as the gender indicates:  he is talking about human beings.
• devertor  turn off, i.e. to visit and stay in a place
• perinde "in the same manner, just as" [used with atque, ac, ut, ac si, prout]
• expergiscor "to be awakened, to awake, bestir oneself"
• aliquando "sometimes, once, at any time, ever" [with si "if ever"]
• exolesco "to grow out, to become obsolete, cease"

Grammar Points:

Review:

• partitive genitive
• ablative with special deponents

New:

• accusative of respect, adverbial accusative

Project topics:

• Travel in Roman times
• Roman roads
• Inns