The Death of Pliny the Elder

ibi in abiecto linteo recumbens semel

atque iterum frigidam aquam poposcit hausitque. deinde

flammae flammarumque praenuntius odor sulphuris alios in

fugam vertunt, excitant illum.

innitens servis duobus

surrexit et statim concidit. spiritus enim, ut ego credo,

densiore caligine obstructus erat, claususque stomachus

qui illi natura invalidus et angustus et saepe aestuans erat.

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ubi dies redditus est (is ab eo quem novissime viderat

tertius), corpus inventum est integrum inlaesum

opertumque ut fuerat indutus: habitus corporis dormienti

quam mortuo similior.

iam dies alibi, illic nox omnibus noctibus nigrior

densiorque; quam tamen faces multae variaque lumina

solvebant. placuit egredi in litus, et ex proximo adspicere, num

mare fugam praeberet; quod adhuc vastum et

adversum manebat.

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ibi in abiecto linteo recumbens semel

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atque iterum frigidam aquam poposcit hausitque. deinde

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flammae flammarumque praenuntius odor sulphuris alios in

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fugam vertunt, excitant illum.

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innitens servis duobus

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surrexit et statim concidit. spiritus enim, ut ego credo,

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densiore caligine obstructus erat, claususque stomachus

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qui illi natura invalidus et angustus et saepe aestuans erat.

Leaning on two slaves, he rose and immediately collapsed. For (his) breathing, as I believe, had been obstructed by denser fumes and his windpipe had been blocked, which was by nature weak and narrow and often inflamed.

There, lying on the sheet, which he had thrown down (lit. ‘lying on the having been thrown down sheet’), time and time again he asked for and drank cold water. Then flames and the smell of sulphur, a warning sign of flames, was turning the others into flight and waking him.

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ubi dies redditus est (is ab eo quem novissime viderat

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tertius), corpus inventum est integrum inlaesum

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opertumque ut fuerat indutus: habitus corporis dormienti

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quam mortuo similior.

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iam dies alibi, illic nox omnibus noctibus nigrior

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densiorque; quam tamen faces multae variaque lumina

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solvebant. placuit egredi in litus, et ex proximo adspicere, num

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mare fugam praeberet; quod adhuc vastum et

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adversum manebat.

When daylight was restored (it was the third (day) from that which he had last seen) his body was found intact, uninjured and covered just as he had been dressed. The appearance of his body was more similar to a sleeping one than a dead one.

Now elsewhere it was day, there it was night; blacker and thicker than all nights, which however many torches and various lamps were relieving. They decided (lit. ‘it was pleasing’) to go out onto the shore and investigate from close by whether the sea was providing an escape, which was still remaining swollen and hostile.

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sub dio rursus casus pumicum metuebatur, quamquam

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levium exesorumque, quod tamen periculorum collatio

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elegit; et apud illum quidem ratio rationem, apud alios

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timorem timor vicit. cervicalia capitibus imposita linteis

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constringunt; id munimentum contra incidentia fuit.

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petis ut tibi avunculi mei exitum scribam, quo verius tradere

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posteris possis.

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erat Miseni classemque imperio praesens regebat. nonum kal.

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Septembres hora fere septima mater mea indicat ei

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nubem mirabilem apparere; quae visa est ei, ut eruditissimo

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viro, magna propiusque noscenda.

sub dio rursus casus pumicum metuebatur, quamquam

levium exesorumque, quod tamen periculorum collatio

elegit; et apud illum quidem ratio rationem, apud alios

timorem timor vicit. cervicalia capitibus imposita linteis

constringunt; id munimentum contra incidentia fuit.

petis ut tibi avunculi mei exitum scribam, quo verius tradere

posteris possis.

erat Miseni classemque imperio praesens regebat. nonum kal.

Septembres hora fere septima mater mea indicat ei

nubem mirabilem apparere; quae visa est ei, ut eruditissimo

viro, magna propiusque noscenda.

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The Death of Pliny the Elder

On the other hand, in the open the fall of pumice was being feared, although light and porous, however a comparison of the dangers suggested the latter choice. And in his case indeed reason was defeating reason, in the case of the others fear was conquering fear. Having put pillows on their heads, they were tying them with sheets. It was protection against falling things.

You are asking that I write to you (about) the death of my uncle, in order that you can more truthfully hand (it) down to posterity.

He was in Misenum and commanding the fleet with power in person. On the ninth day before 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 one might expect to a most scholarly man, important, requiring investigation at closer quarters.

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inter se consulunt, utrum intra

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tecta maneant an in aperto vagentur. nam crebris

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ingentibusque tremoribus tecta nutabant, et quasi emota

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sedibus suis nunc huc nunc illuc abire aut referri videbantur.

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iubet liburnicam parari;

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me si venire una vellem rogat; respondi studere me malle,

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et forte ipse quod scriberem dederat. egrediabatur domo;

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accipit codicillos Rectinae Tasci immenti periculo

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perterritae (nam villa eius subiacebat, nec ulla nisi navibus fuga):

iubet liburnicam parari;

me si venire una vellem rogat; respondi studerem me malle,

et forte ipse quod scribere dederat. egrediabatur domo;

accipit codicillos Rectinae Tasci immenti periculo

perterritae (nam villa eius subiacebat, nec ulla nisi navibus fuga):

inter se consulunt, utrum intra

tecta maneant an in aperto vagentur. nam crebris

ingentibusque tremoribus tecta nutabant, et quasi emota

sedibus suis nunc huc nunc illuc abire aut referri videbantur.

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They were consulting amongst themselves whether they should remain inside the buildings or wander in the open. For the buildings were shaking with frequent, huge tremors and as if torn away from their foundations, were seeming to sway forwards and backwards, now this way, now that.

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He ordered that a fast boat be prepared. He asked me if I wanted to come as well. I replied that I preferred to study and by chance he himself had given something to write (lit. that which I was writing). He was going out of the house. He received notes from Rectina, wife of Tascius, terrified by the threatening danger (for her villa lay beneath Vesuvius and there was not any escape except by ships).

• In this letter, Pliny the Younger tells the historian Tacitus about his uncle's death.
• It provides us with a detailed account of Mount Vesuvius' eruption in AD 79.

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orabat ut se tanto discrimini eriperet. vertit ille

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consilium et quod studioso animo inceperat obit maximo.

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deducit quadriremes, ascendit ipse non Rectinae modo sed

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multis (erat enim frequens amoenitas orae) laturus auxilium.

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sed area ex qua cubiculum

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adibatur ita iam cinere mixtisque pumicibus completa

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surrexerat, ut si longior in cubiculo mora esset, exitus

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negaretur. excitatus procedit, seque Pomponiano ceterisque

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qui pervigilaverant reddit.

sed area ex qua cubiculum

adibatur ita iam cinere mixtisque pumicibus completa

surrexerat, ut si longior in cubiculo mora esset, exitus

negaretur. excitatus procedit, seque Pomponiano

ceterisque qui pervigilaverant reddit.

orabat ut se tanto discrimini eriperet. vertit ille

consilium et quod studioso animo inceperat obit maximo.

deducit quadriremes, ascendit ipse non Rectinae modo sed

multis (erat enim frequens amoenitas orae) laturus auxilium.

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She was begging that he rescue her from such great danger. He changed (his) plan and accomplished with a heroic spirit that which he had begun with an inquiring spirit. He launched the warships, embarked himself, intending to bring help to not only Rectina but to many (for it was a densely populated, delightful area of the coast).

But the courtyard, from which the bedroom was approached, now had thus risen, having been filled with ash mixed with pumice (lit. and having been mixed pumice), that if the delay in the bedroom had been longer, the way out would have been made impossible. Having been woken up, he proceeded and went back to Pomponianus and the rest, who had stayed awake all night.

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festinat illuc unde alii fugiunt, rectumque cursum recta

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gubernacula in periculum tenet adeo solutus metu, ut omnes

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illius mali motus, omnes figuras ut deprenderat oculis

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dictaret adnotaretque.

ille in remedium formidinis dictitabat ignes

agrestium trepidatione relictos desertasque villas per

solitudinem ardere. tum se quieti dedit et quievit verissimo

quidem somno; nam meatus animae, qui illi propter

amplitudinem corporis gravior et sonantior erat, ab eis qui

limini obversabantur audiebatur.

festinat illuc unde alii fugiunt, rectumque cursum recta

gubernacula in periculum tenet adeo solutus metu, ut omnes

illius mali motus, omnes figuras ut deprenderat oculis

dictaret adnotaretque.

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ille in remedium formidinis dictitabat ignes

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agrestium trepidatione relictos desertasque villas per

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solitudinem ardere. tum se quieti dedit et quievit verissimo

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quidem somno; nam meatus animae, qui illi propter

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amplitudinem corporis gravior et sonantior erat, ab eis qui

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limini obversabantur audiebatur.

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He was hurrying to that place from where others were fleeing. He held a straight course and straight rudders into danger, so free from fear that he dictated and made notes on all the movements of that disaster and all the features as he had observed (lit. as he discovered with his eyes).

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He kept saying, in remedy of terror, that the fires of the country folk, having been left in a panic, and the deserted villas were burning in the abandoned areas. Then he gave himself to rest and rested in a very real sleep indeed. For his breathing, which was heavier and noisier on account of the stoutness of his body, was being heard by those who were moving about near the doorway.

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lotus recumbit cenat, aut

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hilaris aut (quod est aeque magnum) similis hilari. interea

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e Vesuvio monte pluribus locis latissimae flammae altaque

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incendia relucebat, quorum fulgor et claritas tenebris noctis

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excitabatur.

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iam navibus cinis incidebat, calidior et densior, quo

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propius accederent; iam pumices etiam lapidesque nigri et

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ambusti et fracti igne; iam vadum subitum et litora ruina

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montis obstantia. haesitat paulisper an retro navigaret;

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mox gubernatori ut ita faceret monenti ‘fortes’ inquit

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‘fortuna adiuvat: Pomponianum pete!’

Having bathed, he was lying down and dining, either cheerful or (that which is equally important) pretending to be cheerful. Meanwhile, the broad sheets of flame and high fires from Mount Vesuvius were blazing in more places, the glare and brightness of which was being emphasized by the darkness of night.

Now ash was falling on the ships, hotter and denser the nearer they approached; now even pumice (stones) and stones, black, scorched and broken by the fire. Now there was sudden shallow water and the shores, blocking the way with debris of the mountain. For a short time (my uncle) was hesitating about whether to sail back. Soon he said to the helmsman, advising that he do so, “Fortune favours the brave: make for Pomponianus!”

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Pomponianus erat

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Stabiis diremptus sinu medio (nam mare sensim circumactis

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curvatisque litoribus infunditur); ibi periculum, quamquam

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nondum appropinquabat, tamen valde conspicuum erat;

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Pomponianus igitur sarcinas posuerat in naves, certus fugae

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si contrarius ventus resedisset. quo tum secundissimo

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avunculus meus invectus, amplectitur trepidantem

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consolatur hortatur, utque timorem eius sua securitate

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leniret, iubet ferri in balineum.

Pomponianus was in Stabiae, cut off by the intervening bay (for the sea was gradually pouring in to the sweeping round, curving shores). There the danger, although not yet approaching, was however very obvious.

Therefore, Pomponianus had put his luggage into ships, certain of flight if the contrary wind had subsided. Then my uncle, having sailed in with a very favourable wind (lit. with that which was very favourable), was embracing the trembling man, cheered and encouraged him and so that he might calm his fear with his composure, he ordered that he himself be carried into the bath.

lotus recumbit cenat, aut

hilaris aut (quod est aeque magnum) similis hilari. interea

e Vesuvio monte pluribus locis latissimae flammae altaque

incendia relucebat, quorum fulgor et claritas tenebris noctis

excitabatur.

iam navibus cinis incidebat, calidior et densior, quo

propius accederent; iam pumices etiam lapidesque nigri et

ambusti et fracti igne; iam vadum subitum et litora ruina

montis obstantia. haesitat paulisper an retro navigaret;

mox gubernatori ut ita faceret monenti ‘fortes’ inquit

‘fortuna adiuvat: Pomponianum pete!’

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Pomponianus erat

Stabiis diremptus sinu medio (nam mare sensim circumactis

curvatisque litoribus infunditur); ibi periculum, quamquam

nondum appropinquabat, tamen valde conspicuum erat;

Pomponianus igitur sarcinas posuerat in naves, certus fugae

si contrarius ventus resedisset. quo tum secundissimo

avunculus meus invectus, amplectitur trepidantem

consolatur hortatur, utque timorem eius sua securitate

leniret, iubet ferri in balineum.

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