Pliny 6.16 1-5

Petis ut tibi avunculi mei exitum scribam, quo verius tradere posteris possis.

You ask that I write to you about the death of my uncle, by which more truly you can hand down to posterity.

Gratias ago; nam video morti eius si celebretur a te immortalem gloriam esse propositam.

I give thanks; for I see for his death, if it is celebrated by you, that immortal glory has been proposed.

Quamvis enim pulcherrimarum clade terrarum, ut populi ut urbes memorabili casu, quasi semper victurus occiderit, quamvis ipse plurima opera et mansura condiderit, multum tamen perpetuitati eius scriptorum tuorum aeternitas addet.

For although in the disaster of the very beautiful lands, as the people fell, as the cities fell in memorable misfortune, as if always going to live, he fell, although he himself founded very many and permanent works, however, the eternity of your writings will add much to his legacy.

Equidem beatos puto, quibus deorum munere datum est aut facere scribenda aut scribere legenda, beatissimos vero quibus utrumque.

Indeed, I think blessed, those to whom by a gift of the gods it is given to do things that must be written about or to write things that must be read, very blessed truly for those it is both.

Horum in numero avunculus meus et suis libris et tuis erit. Quo libentius suspicio, deposco etiam quod iniungis.

In the number of these, my uncle, both in his books and yours, will be. Because of this, I undertake this more gladly, even I demand that which you impose.

Erat Miseni classemque imperio praesens regebat. Nonum Kal. Septembres horae fere septima mater mea indicat ei apparere nubem inusitata et magnitudine et specie.

He was at Misenum and presently ruled the fleet in his power. On August 24th, almost at the 7th hour, my mom reveals to him that a cloud appeared, unusual both in size and appearance.

Ursus ille sole, mox frigida, gustaverat iacens studebatque; poscit soleas, ascnedit locum ex quo maxime miraculum illud conspici poterat. Nubes — incertum procul intuentibus ex quo monte; Vesuvium fuisse postea cognitum est — oriebatur, cuius similtudinem et formam non alia magis arbor quam pinus expresserit.

Having enjoyed the sun and soon after the cold water, he had tasted, reclining, and was studying; he demands sandals, he climbs to a place from which he could very much catch sight of that wondrous thing. The cloud — it was uncertain to those watching far off from which mountain; afterwards, it was found out to have been Vesuvius — was rising, whose similarity and shape represented no other tree more than a pine tree.

Nam longissimo velut trunco elata in altum quibusdam ramis diffundebatur, credo quia recenti spiritu evecta, dein senescente eo destituta aut etiam pondere suo victa in latitudinem vanescabat, candida interdum, interdum sordida et maculosa prout terram cineremve sustulerat.

It was spread out for just as having been lifted by a very long trunk into the sky with certain branches, I believe because by recent breath having been carried out, then it vanished with it growing old having been abandoned or even conquered by the weight into the width, sometimes white, sometimes dirty and spotted just as it had raised land or ash.

Magnum propiusque noscendum ut eruditssimo viro visum. Iubet liburnicam aptari; mihi si venire una vellem facit copiam; respondi studere me malle, et forte ipse quod scriberem dederat.

It seemed great and must be known closer as a very educated person. He orders a light ship to be equipped; he made an opportunity to me if I wanted to come with; I replied that I preferred to study, and by chance he himself had given what I was writing.

Egrediebatur domo; accipit codicillos Rectinae Tasci imminenti periculo exterritae — nam villa eius subiacebat, nec ulla nisi navibus fuga — ut se tanto discrimini eriperet orabat.

He was leaving from home; he receives letters of Rectina Tascus, terrified by the threatening danger — for her house was laying at the foot of the mountain and there was no escape except by ships — she was begging that he rescue her from such a crisis.

Vertit ille consilium et quod studioso animo incohaverat obit maximo. Deducit quadriremes, ascendit ipse non Rectinae modo sed multis — erat enim frequens amoenitas orae — laturus auxilium.

He turned his plan and that which with an eager soul he had started, he met with a very big soul. He led the boats, he himself boards not only for Rectina but for many — for the pleasantess of the shore was crowded — he was going to bring help.

Properat illuc unde alii fugiunt, rectumque cursum recta gubernacula in periculum tenet adeo solutus metu, ut omens illius mali motus omens figuras ut dependerat oculis dictaret enotaretque.

He hurries to there from where others flee, and he holds a straight course and straight direction into danger, having been loosened so much from fear he dictated and noted all movements of that evil and all shapes as he had seen with his eyes.

Iam navibus cinis incidebat, quo propius accederent, calidior et densior; iam pumices etiam nigrique et ambusti et fracti igne lapides; iam vadum subitum ruinaque montis litora obstantia.

Now ash was falling on theships, hotter and thicker as they were approaching closer; now even pumice stones and black stones burnt and broken by the fire; already sudden shallow water and with the ruins of the mountain blocking the shores.

Cunctatus paulum an retro flecteret, mox gubernatori ut ita faceret monenti ‘Fotes’ inquit ‘fortuna iuvat: Pomponianum pete.’

Having delayed a little whether he should turn back, soon he said to the helmsman warning that he should turn back: “Fortune favors the bold, seek Pompeii.”

Stabiis erat diremptus sinu medio — nam sensim circumactis curvaitsque litoribus mare infunditur — ibi quamquam nondum periculo appropinquante, conspicuo tamen et cum cresceret proximo, sarcinas contulerat in naves, certus fugae si contrarius ventus resedisset.

He was at Stabiae, separated by the bay in the middle — for the sea is spread out by the gently rounded and curved shores — there although not yet with danger approaching, and however with it growing visible and very close he had loaded baggage onto the ships, certain of flight if the opposing wind had settled.

Quo tunc avunculus meus secundissimo invectus, complectitur trepidantem consolatur hortatur, utque timorem eius sua securitate leniret, deferri in balineum iubet; lotus accubat cenat, aut hilaris aut — quod aeque magnum — similis hilari.

Then by which my uncle having been carried by the most favorable wind, he embraces him trembling he consoles and encourages to soothe his fear with his own lack of concern, he orders to be carried into a bath; having been washed he reclines he dines, either cheerfully or similar to a cheerful person — which is equally great.