SESSION 1 · A Request and a Strange Cloud

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

You ask me to write to you about my uncle’s death, so that you may pass it on to future generations more accurately.

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

I thank you, for I see that, if his death is made famous by you, immortal glory has been promised to it.

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 he died in the destruction of beautiful lands, with peoples and cities, in a memorable disaster, as if destined to live forever; although he himself produced many works that will endure, the eternity of your writings will nevertheless add greatly to his lasting fame.

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

I consider those blessed to whom, by the gift of the gods, it has been given either to do things worth writing or to write things worth reading; happiest are those to whom both have been given.

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

My uncle will be among these people, both because of his own books and because of yours. Therefore, I accept more willingly, and I even ask for what you assign.

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

He was at Misenum and was personally in command of the fleet. On August 24, at about the seventh hour, my mother told him that a cloud had appeared, unusual both in size and appearance.