Epistulae 7.27

Et mihi discendi et tibi docendi facultatem otium praebet. Igitur perquam velim scire, esse phantasmata et habere propriam figuram numenque aliquod putes an inania et vana ex metu nostro imaginem accipere. 

Leisure offers the opportunity both of learning for me and of teaching for you. Therefore, I would very much wish to know [whether] you think that ghosts exist and have their own shape and some divine power or [ghosts], illusory and unsubstantial, receive their image from our fear. 

Ego ut esse credam in primis eo ducor, quod audio accidisse Curtio Rufo. Tenuis adhuc et obscurus, obtinenti Africam comes haeserat. Inclinato die spatiabatur in porticu; offertur ei mulieris figura humana grandior pulchriorque. Perterrito Africam se futurorum praenuntiam dixit: iturum enim Romam honoresque gesturum, atque etiam cum summo imperio in eandem provinciam reversurum, ibique moriturum.

I am led with the result that I believe that [ghosts] exist, especially because of this, because I hear that it happened to Curtius Rufus. To this point, of little importance and obscure, he had clung to him, governing Africa, as a comrade. With the day having been declined, he was walking about in a colonnade; the figure of a woman, greater and more beautiful than a human [figure], is offered to him. She said [to him], having been terrified, that she [was] Africa, the herald [of things] about to be: for [he] would go to Rome and would bear honors and would also return into the same province with highest command and would die there. 

Facta sunt omnia. Praeterea accedenti Carthaginem egredientique nave eadem figura in litore occurrisse narratur. Ipse certe implicitus morbo futura praeteritis, adversa secundis auguratus, spem salutis nullo suorum desperante proiecit. Iam illud nonne et magis terribile et non minus mirum est quod exponam ut accepi?

All things happened. In addition, the same figure is reported to have met [him] on the shore, approaching Carthage and disembarking the ship. He himself, certainly having been entangled by illness, having predicted things about to be from things having passed [and] adverse things from favorable things, threw forth his hope of his health, with none of his own people despairing. Now surely that [story] is both more terrible and not less amazing, which I will explain as I have heard [it]?

Erat Athenis spatiosa et capax domus sed infamis et pestilens. Per silentium noctis sonus ferri, et si attenderes acrius, strepitus vinculorum longius primo, deinde e proximo reddebatur: mox apparebat idolon, senex macie et squalore confectus, promissa barba horrenti capillo; cruribus compedes, manibus catenas gerebat quatiebatque. 

In Athens, there was an extensive and roomy home, but infamous and disease-filled. Through the silence of the night, the sound of iron, and if you were paying attention more keenly, the noise of chains, further at first, then from very near, was being returned: soon an apparition was appearing, an old man, having been consumed with thinness and filth, with a beard with bristling hair having been sent forth; he was wearing shackles on his legs [and] chains on his hands and was shaking [them].

Inde inhabitantibus tristes diraeque noctes per metum vigilabantur; vigiliam morbus et crescente formidine mors sequebatur. Nam interdiu quoque, quamquam abscesserat    imago, memoria imaginis oculis inerrabat, longiorque causis timoris timor erat. Deserta inde et damnata solitudine domus totaque illi monstro relicta; proscribebatur tamen, seu quis emere seu quis conducere ignarus tanti mali vellet. 

From there, sad and dire nights were being kept awake by the inhabitants through fear; illness was following wakefulness and, with fear growing, death [was following]. For during the day also, although the image had gone away, the memory of the image was wandering around in their eyes, and fear was longer than the causes of fear. From there, home [was] deserted and [was] condemned to solitude, and the whole [home was] left behind to that monster; nevertheless, it was being advertised, whether anyone [would wish] to buy or anyone would wish to rent, unaware of so great an evil.

Venit Athenas philosophus Athenodorus, legit titulum auditoque pretio, quia suspecta vilitas, percunctatus omnia docetur ac nihilo minus, immo tanto magis conducit. Ubi coepit advesperascere, iubet sterni sibi in prima domus parte, poscit pugillares stilum lumen, suos omnes in interiora dimittit; ipse ad scribendum animum oculos manum intendit, ne vacua mens audita simulacra et inanes sibi metus fingeret. 

The philosopher Athenodorus comes to Athens, he reads a notice and with the price having been heard, because the cheapness [is] suspicious, he, having made inquiries, is taught all things, and never the less, indeed so much more he rents. When it began to become evening, he orders [a bed] to be spread out for himself in the first part of the home, he demands writing tablets, a pen, [and] a light, he sends away all his own people into the inner [parts of the home]; he himself directs his mind, eyes, [and] hand to writing in order that his empty mind might not imagine images having been heard and pointless fears for himself.

Initio, quale ubique, silentium noctis; dein concuti ferrum, vincula moveri. Ille non tollere oculos, non remittere stilum, sed offirmare animum auribusque praetendere. Tum crebrescere fragor, adventare et iam ut in limine, iam ut intra limen audiri. Respicit, videt agnoscitque narratam sibi effigiem.

In the beginning, [there is] a silence of the night, of what sort [is] everywhere; then iron was shaken, chains were moved. He did not raise his eyes, he did not drop his pen, but he saved his mind and held [his mind] as protection for his ears. Then the noise increased, it came near, and it was heard now as on the threshold, now as inside the threshold. He looks back, he sees [it], and he recognizes the ghost, having been told to him.

Stabat innuebatque digito similis vocanti. Hic contra ut paulum exspectaret manu significat rursusque ceris et stilo incumbit. Illa scribentis capiti catenis insonabat. Respicit rursus idem quod prius innuentem, nec moratus tollit lumen et sequitur. Ibat illa lento gradu quasi gravis vinculis. Postquam deflexit in aream domus, repente dilapsa deserit comitem. Desertus  herbas et folia concerpta signum loco ponit. 

He was standing and he was beckoning with his finger similar to [someone], calling. In return, this man signifies with his hand to wait a little, and he leans over his wax tablets and pen again. That [ghost] was making a noise with his chains over the head [of him], writing. Again he looks back at [the ghost], beckoning the same thing, which [he was beckoning] before, and he, not having delayed, raises a light and follows. That [ghost] was going with a slow step as if heavy because of chains. After he turned aside into the courtyard of the home, suddenly he, having dissolved, deserts his comrade. He, having been deserted, places grasses and leaves, having been plucked, as a signal for the place. 

Postero die adit magistratus, monet ut illum locum effodi iubeant. Inveniuntur ossa inserta catenis et implicita, quae corpus aevo terraque putrefactum nuda et exesa reliquerat vinculis; collecta publice sepeliuntur. Domus postea rite conditis manibus caruit.

On the following day, he approaches the magistrates, he advises that they order that place to be dug up. The bones, having been attached and entwined with chains, are found, which the body, having been putrified because of age and land, had left behind bare and eaten away with chains; they, having been collected, are buried publicly. Afterward, the home lacked spirits, having been buried with the proper rights. 

Et haec quidem affirmantibus credo; illud affirmare aliis possum. Est libertus mihi non illitteratus. Cum hoc minor frater eodem lecto quiescebat. Is visus est sibi cernere quendam  in toro residentem, admoventemque capiti suo cultros, atque  etiam ex ipso vertice amputantem capillos. Ubi illuxit, ipse circa verticem tonsus, capilli iacentes reperiuntur. 

And indeed, I believe [these people], confirming these things, I am able to confirm that thing with others. I have a freedman, not uneducated. His younger brother was resting on the same bed with him. He seemed to discern for himself a certain man, sitting down on the bed and moving knives toward his head, and also cutting off hairs from the head itself. When it became light, he himself was cut around his head, his hairs are found, lying around.

Exiguum temporis medium, et rursus simile aliud priori fidem fecit. Puer in paedagogio mixtus pluribus dormiebat. Venerunt per fenestras — ita narrat — in tunicis albis duo cubantemque detonderunt et qua venerant recesserunt. Hunc quoque tonsum sparsosque circa capillos dies ostendit. 

[There was] a small interval of time, and again something similar made faith in the prior event. A boy, having been mixed with rather many [boys], was sleeping in the training room. Two men in white tunics came through the windows — so he tells — and they cut off [him], lying down, and withdrew where they had come. The day shows this boy, also having been cut, and hairs, having been scattered around.

Nihil notabile secutum, nisi forte quod non fui reus, futurus, si Domitianus sub quo haec acciderunt diutius vixisset. Nam in scrinio eius datus a Caro de me libellus inventus est; ex quo coniectari potest, quia reis moris est summittere capillum, recisos meorum capillos depulsi quod imminebat periculi signum fuisse.

Nothing notable followed, except by chance the fact that I was not a defendant, about to be, if Domitian, under whom these things happened, had lived for a longer time. For in his writing box, a little book about me, having been given by Carus, was found. From which it is able to be inferred, because it is of the custom for defendants to let their hair grow long, that the hairs of my people, having been cut back, were a sign of danger, which was threatening, having been averted.

Proinde rogo, eruditionem tuam intendas. Digna res est quam diu multumque consideres; ne ego quidem indignus, cui copiam scientiae tuae facias. Licet etiam utramque in partem — ut soles — disputes, ex altera tamen fortius, ne me suspensum incertumque dimittas, cum mihi consulendi causa fuerit, ut dubitare desinerem. Vale.

Therefore, I ask [that] you direct your learning [to this matter]. It is a worthy matter, which you should consider for a long time and a lot; not even I [am] unworthy, to whom you should give access to your knowledge. It is also permitted that you should argue onto each side — as you are accustomed — nevertheless more strongly from one [side], in order that you may send me away, anxious and uncertain, since the cause of advising was for me, in order that I might cease to doubt. Farewell.