Pliny 7.27

1 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.

1. Leisure was providing both the opportunity to me to learn and to teach for you. Therefore I might extremely like to know, whether you think there are any ghosts, whether they have their own figure or any will, or whether the illusory and empty ghosts take an image from our fear.
(the first sentence does contain gerunds, but I translated them like infinitives)

2 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.

2. I am led to believe there are, first and foremost, because of the thing which I hear happened to Curtius Rufus. Still obscure and unknown, he clung to the man governing Africa as a companion. In the afternoon he was walking in the Colonade; a human figure of a woman, grander and more beautiful presents herself to him with the day progressing. She said to the terrified Rufus that she was Africa, the forteller or future things: Rufus would go to Rome and obtain political offices, and then he would return to that same province with high authority and then he would die there.

3 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.

3. All of this happened. In addition, it is told that Rufus, having approached Carthage he got off a boat and met that same figure on the shore. Certainly when he was gripped by disease, having predicted future events through what has passed and adverse events with fortunate ones, and gave up all hope of recovering with none of his friends despairing.

4 Iam illud nonne et magis terribile et non minus mirum est quod exponam ut accepi?

4. Now surely that story is both more terrible and not less amazing, which I will explain as I heard it?

5 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.

5. There was in Athens a house spacious and roomy, but infamous and unhealthy. Through the silence of night night was the sound of iron, and if you paid attention more closely the sound of chains, first farther away and then closer. Soon a ghost appeared and an old man having been consumed from filth and thinness with a beard having been let go, with his hair standing on head. He bore and shook the shackles on his shins and chains on his hands.

6 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.

6. Then for those inhabitants sad and dreadful nights were kept awake through fear; Illness and death followed wakefulness with the fear increasing. For also by day, although the image had withdrawn, the memory of the image was wandering before their eyes, and the fear was longer than the causes of fear. From then the house was deserted and condemned to solitude and totally abandoned to the monster; However it was being advertised, in order to determine whether someone wanted to buy or whether someone wanted to rent, someone totally ignorant of that evil.

7 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.

7. The philosopher Athenodorus comes to Athens, he reads the notice and after the price has been heard, since the cheapness was suspect ,having made inquiries he learns everything about it ,and indeed he he rents it for so much more. when it begins to become evening he orders his stuff to be carried for him into the first part of the house he demands writing tablets and a light. He focuses his mind, his hands, and his eyes to writing in order that his empty mind not fashion pointless ghosts for himself
Ablative of penalty: Latin says condemned with "costing solitude" and English says "condemned to"

8 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.

8. In the beginning of the night it was silent just as everywhere, then iron was being shook and chains were being moved. That one did not raise his eyes or let go of his stylus, but strengthening his mind and attending to his intention with his ears. Then the crash is beginning to grow and is approaching him again and again. And now is heard as if on the threshold and now is heard as if inside. He looks back, sees and recognizes the ghost having been told about to him.

9 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.

9. It stood there and was beckoning with a finger similar to one calling Athenodorus. In response signifying with his hand to wait a little and again leaned over his wax tablet and stylus. The ghost made noise with chains over the head of the one writing. Athenodorus looks back again at the ghost indicating the same thing which happened before and not delayed he lifts his lantern / gaze and follows.

10 Ibat illa lento gradu quasi gravis vinculis. Postquam deflexit in aream domus, repente dilapsa deserit comitem. Desertus herbas et folia concerpta signum loco ponit.

10. The ghost was going with a slow step as if heavy with chains. Afterwards it turned into the courtyard of the house he suddenly, having slipped away, deserted his companion. The one having been deserted places grasses and leaves having been plucked as a sign for the place.

11 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.

11. On the next day he approaches the magistrates and advises them to order that the place be dug up. The bones that had been attached to chains and entwined with chains were found. The body rotted by time and earth had left behind bare bones which had eaten away by the chains. After the bones were collected they are buried publicly. Later the house is free from spirits, because they had been buried properly.

12 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.

12. And I indeed trust those affirming these things. I can confirm that story to others. There is to me a not uneducated freed man. With this man a younger brother rested in the same bed. The first man seemed to perceive someone sitting on the bed and moving scissors towards his head. And even cutting away hair from his very head. When it became light he himself had been cut around his head and hairs lying around were found.

13 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.

13. A small period of time was in between and again another story similar to the first one built my faith. A boy was sleeping in a school dormitory mixed with many others. Two figures in white tunics came through the windows thus he says and cut off hair while he was lying down and had gone back into the place where they had come from. The daylight shows that this boy has also been given a hair cut and that his hair has been scattered around.

14 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.

14. Nothing notable followed except by chance that I wasn't a defendant if the mission had gone longer under who these things happened. An ops list with my name is found by carus. From which it is able to be inferred because it is customary to let hair grow long for those accused. This cutting of my people's hair was a sign that I should defeat the peril that hung over me.

15 Proinde rogo, eruditionem tuam intendas. Digna res est quam diu multumque consideres; ne ego quidem indignus, cui copiam scientiae tuae facias.

15. Therefore I ask that you extend your teaching to this question. The matter, which you consider merits your prolonged and profound consideration; and I, for whom you should give a supply of your knowledge, am not an unworthy recipient.

16 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.

16. Also it is allowed for you argue both sides as you are accustomed to, nevertheless on one side you should argue more strongly in order that you not send me away in suspense and uncertain, since my reason for consulting was that i cease to doubt. Bye