Pliny ghost story - Key phrases

Spatiosa et capax

Spacious and roomy

Infamis et pestilens

Notorious ans unwholesome

Sonos ferri

Noise of iron could be heard

Strepitus vinculorum

The sound of chains would be heard

Longius primo, deinde e proximo

First from far away, then from near by

Senex macie et squalore confectus

An old man worn out by thinness and filth

Promissa barba horrenti capillo

With a long beard and bristling hair

Cruribus compedes, manibus catenas gerebat quatiebatque

He was wearing shackles on his legs and chains on his hands, and was shacking them.

Quia suspecta vilitas

Because he suspected the cheapness

Ac nihilo minus, immo tango magis

None the less, in fact all the more eagerly

Poscit pugillares stilum lumen

He asked for wax tablets, a stilus, and a light

suos omnes in interiora dimittit

He sent all his people inside

Ad scribendum animum oculos manum

Turned his mind, eyes [and] hand to writing

Historic infinitives, extract 3

Concuti, moveri, tollere, remittere - creates fast pace, danger seems to approach more quickly

Adventare et iam ut in limine, iam ut intra limen audiri

it [the crashing] approached and now was heard in the doorway, now inside the doorway.

illa scribentis capiti catenis isonabat

The ghost began to rattle its chains over the head of he was writing

Innuentque digito

made a sign with his finger [the ghost]