Pliny & the Christians Sec. 1

Sollemne est  (nom. neut. adj. + copula)

It is my custom

mihi (dative of reference)

for me

domine (vocative, respectful address to Trajan)

my lord

omnia (acc. pl. neut., obj. of referre)

all matters

dē quibus dubitō (dē + abl., dubitō = 1st sg. pres. act.)

about which I am uncertain

ad tē (ad + acc.)

 to you

referre (infinitive, complementary with sollemne est)

 to refer

Quis  (nom. interrog. pronoun)

Who

enim (postpositive conj.)

for

potest  (3rd sg. pres. act.)

can

melius (adv. comparative of bene)

better

vel ... vel

 either ... or

cunctātiōnem meam  (acc. sg. fem., obj. of regere)

my hesitation

regere (infinitive)

 to guide

ignōrantiam (acc. sg. fem., obj. of instruere)

 ignorance

instruere (infinitive)

to instruct

Cognitiōnibus  (abl. pl. fem., obj. of interfuī)

in trials

dē Chrīstiānīs  (dē + abl.)

concerning Christians

interfuī numquam  (pf. act. + adv.)

I have never been present

ideō

therefore

nesciō

I do not know

quid (indirect question)

what

et quātenus

and to what extent

pūnīrī soleat (pres. subj. passive, customary)

is usually punished

quaerī (pres. pass. infin.)

to be investigated

Nec mediocriter

And not slightly

haesitāvī (pf. act.)

 I have hesitated

sitne (subj. in ind. question)

whether there is

aliquod discrīmen(nom. sg. neut.)

some distinction

aetātum(gen. pl. fem.)

of ages

an (introducing alternative)

or

quamlibet

however much

tenerī (nom. pl. masc.)

the young

nihil

in no way

ā rōbustiōribus (abl. pl. masc. comparative)

from the older

differant (pres. subj. act.)

they differ

dētur (pres. subj. passive)

should be given

paenitentiae venia (dat. + nom.)

pardon for repentance

eī (dat. sg. masc.)

to him

quī (nom. rel. pron.)

who

omnīnō

entirely

Chrīstiānus fuit (nom. + pf. act.)

was a Christian

dēsīsse (pf. inf.)

to have ceased

nōn prōsit (pres. subj. act. + dat.)

should not benefit

nōmen ipsum (nom. sg. neut.)

the name itself

sī flāgitiīs careat (cond. clause, subj.)

if it is free of crimes

flāgitia (nom. pl. neut.)

crimes

cohaerentia nōminī (nom. pl. neut. participle + dat.)

associated to the name

pūniantur (pres. subj. passive)

should be punished