Pliny 6.16 (13-22) Chunking

Interim e Vesuvio monte pluribus locis latissimae flammae altaque incendia relucebant,

Meanwhile out of mount Vesuvius in many places very wide flames and tall fires shine out,

quorum fulgor et claritas tenebris noctis excitabatur.

whose lighting and clarity was being awakened by the darkness of night.

Ille … in remedium formidinis dictitabat

He kept saying as a remedy of fear

agrestium trepidatione ignes relictos desertasque villas per solitudinem ardere

that the fires left behind because of the panic of the peasants and the deserted farm house were burning through abandonment.

Tum se quieti dedit et quievit verissimo quidem somno;

Then he gave himself to restfulness and he rested truly by a very true slumber;

nam meatus animae, qui illi propter amplitudinem corporis gravior et sonantior erat,

for the movement of his soul, which was for that man deeper and louder on account of the size of his body,

ab iis qui limini obversabantur audiebatur.

he was being heard from those people who were hovering over the threshold.

Sed area ex qua diaeta adibatur ita iam cinere mixtisque pumicibus oppleta surrexerat,

But the courtyard from which the annex was approached having been filled up by means of ash and pumice, rose up, already in such a way,

ut si longior in cubiculo mora, exitus negaretur.

that if the delay was longer in the bedroom, an exit would be denied.

Excitatus procedit, seque Pomponiano ceterisque qui pervigilaverant reddit.

Having been awakened h came forward and rejoined Pomponius and the others who had stayed awake.

In commune consultant, intra tecta subsistant an in aperto vagentur.

They deliberate in common, whether they should remain inside or wander in the open.

Nam crebris vasitsque tremoribus tecta nutabant

For the buildings were swaying by frequent and vast tremors,

et quasi emota sedibus suis nunc huc nunc illuc abire aut referri videbantur.

and as if having been removed from their seats, they seemed to go away now here now there or to be brought back.

Sub dio rursus quamquam levium exesorumque pumicum casus metuebatur,

Under the open sky again the falling of the pumice stones although light and porous, was feared,

quod tamen periculorum collatio elegit;

nevertheless a comparison of the dangers chose that which;

et apud illum quidem ratio rationem, apud alios timorem timor vicit.

and among him indeed reason conquered reason and among the others fear conquered fear.

Cervicalia capitibus imposita linteis constringunt;

They fastened pillows placed on their heads with cloths;

id munimentum adversus incidentia fuit.

it was protection against falling things

Iam dies alibi, illic nox omnibus noctibus nigrior densiorque;

Already there was day elsewhere, there it was night, more black and more dense than all other nights;

quam tamen faces multae variaque lumina solvebant.

which however many torches and various light were loosening.

Placuit egredi in litus, et ex proximo adspicere,

It pleased to depart onto the shore, and to see from the nearest place,

ecquid iam mare admitteret; quod adhuc vastum et adversum permanebat.

what now the sea sent in; which still was remaining empty and opposite.

Ibi super abiectum linteum recubans

There lying down above the thrown down cloth

semel atque iterum frigidam aquam poposcit hausitque.

he requested and drank cold water once and again.

Deinde flammae flammarumque praenuntius odor sulpuris alios in fugam vertunt, excitant illum.

Then the flames and the herald of flames, the odor of sulfur turns other into flight, and awakens man.

Innitens servolis duobus assurexit et statim concidit, ut ego colligo,

Leaning on two little slaves, he rose up and immediately fell, as I gather,

crassiore caligne spiritu obstructo,

with his breathing having been obstructed by rather thick fog,

clausoque stomacho qui illi natura invalidus et angustus et frequenter aestuans erat.

and his esophagus having been closed, which for him was weak by nature and narrow and frequently burning.

Ubi dies redditus — is ab eo quem novissime viderat tertius,

when daylight returned — this was the third day from the one he had most recently seen

corpus inventum integrum illaesum opertumque ut fuerat indutus:

his body has been found intact and unharmed and hidden as if it had been covered:

habitus corporis quiescenti quam defuncto similior.

the state of the body was more similar to one resting than one dead.

Interim Miseni ego et mater — sed nihil ad historiam,

Whenwhile mother and I at Misenum — but nothing to do with the story,

nec tu aliud quam de exitu eius scire voluisti.

and you did not want to know anything than concerning the exit of he.

Finem ergo faciam.

Therefore I will make an end.

Unum adiciam, omnia me quibus interfueram quaeque statim, … audieram persecutum

I will add this one thing, that I had recorded all things in which I had been present and heard immediately

cum maxime vera memorantur,

when true things are remembered very greatly,

Tu potissima excerpes;

You will choose the most important things,

aliud est enim epistulam aliud historiam, aliud amico aliud omnibus scribere. Vale.

for it is one thing to write a letter and another to write history, and it is one thing to write to a friend and another to write to everyone. Good Bye.