Latin - avunculus meus - A Day in the Life of Pliny The Elder (Taken from Cambridge Latin Anthology)

Latin - Pliny Set Text

1) 'avunculus meus' - A Day in the Life of Pliny The Elder

Before dawn, he used to go to the Emperor of Vespasian (for that man used to make use of the nights), then he went to the official duty signed to himself.

Having returned home, he gave the remaining time to study.

Often after food, (which, as per the cut of his forefathers, was light and simple during the day), in Summer, if there was any measure, he used to lie in the sun, a book was being read, of which he made notes and took down extracts; he was even accustomed to say that there was no book so bad that it was of no use in any part.

After his sun, he was usually bathed in cold water, then he used to have a snack and sleep a little; soon, as if on another day, he used to study till dinner time.

Over dinner, a book was being read, and, indeed, he was making notes rapidly.

He did these things amid the middle of his public duties and the bustle of the city.

Away from the city, the only time taken away from his studies was for bathing.

When I say 'the baths', I'm speaking of the inner-rooms. For while he was being rubbed down and dried, he used to listen to something or was dictating. On a journey as if released from the rest of his concerns, he used to make time for this 1 care.

A secretary was at his side with a book and writing tablets, the hands of whom were being protected in Winder with long sleeves, so that not even indeed the harshness of the weather would take any time away from study.

For this reason also, he was carried by a Sedam chair at Rome.

I remember that I was scolded by him because I used to walk: 'You would be able', he said, 'not to waste these hours'; for he used to think that all time was wasted that was not spent in study.

Goodbye.

Notes:

• This piece is a letter written by Pliny the Elder's nephew (Pliny the Younger) to Baebius Macer
• LINE 1: Vespasian ruled as emperor from 69-79AD
• 2-3: officium...delegatum: this was the prefecture of the fleet at Misenum
• 3: P. the E. had a house at Misenum, but spent most of his time administering the fleet from Rome.
• 4: cibum - this is a light breakfast
• 5-6: liber legebatur - books would be read by an educated slave; the notes + extracts would be made by another slave
• 7: exceperet - such note taking from the words of other writers was quite normal at this time
• 9: gustabat - the gustation was usually taken before bathing, but Pliny was in the habit of bathing first
• 10: dormiebat: the midday siesta was taken about the 7th hour, after sunrise
• 10: alio die - this is evidence that the standard working day for men of Pliny's class was over by Midday
• 13: medio labores/fremitum urbis - Pliny's dedication to study is even more remarkable given how busy he is with official duty, and how distracting life in Rome is
• 14: The bracketed section further adds to Pliny's picture of his uncle's devotion to study
• 15: interioribus: inner chambers, where the washing itself took place
• 18: hieme: even the winder does not stop Pliny from studying!
• 20: sella - a Sedam chair: wheeled carriages were banned from the streets of Rome during the day
• 21-22: the use of a quotation (direct speech) from his uncle enlivens the text