Pliny 1.11

C. PLINIVS FABIO IVSTO SVO S.

Olim mihi nullas epistulas mittis. Nihil est, inquis, quod scribam. At hoc ipsum scribe, nihil esse quod scribas, vel solum illud unde incipere priores solebant: “Si vales, bene est; ego valeo.” Hoc mihi sufficit; est enim maximum. Ludere me putas? serio peto. Fac sciam quid agas, quod sine sollicitudine summa nescire non possum. Vale.

Oxford Editions

Seneca On Letters

40.1

SENECA LVCILIO SVO SALVTEM 
Quod frequenter mihi scribis gratias ago; nam quo uno modo potes te mihi ostendis. Numquam epistulam tuam accipio ut non protinus una simus. Si imagines nobis amicorum absentium iucundae sunt, quae memoriam renovant et desiderium falso atque inani solacio levant, quanto iucundiores sunt litterae, quae vera amici absentis vestigia, veras notas adferunt? Nam quod in conspectu dulcissimum est, id amici manus epistulae inpressa praestat, agnoscere.

lege quae restat hic

Oxford Editions here

75. 1-5

SENECA LVCILIO SVO SALVTEM 
Minus tibi accuratas a me epistulas mitti quereris. Quis enim accurate loquitur nisi qui vult putide loqui? Qualis sermo meus esset si una desideremus aut ambularemus, inlaboratus et facilis, tales esse epistulas meas volo, quae nihil habent accersitum nec fictum. Si fieri posset, quid sentiam ostendere quam loqui mallem. Etiam si disputarem, nec supploderem pedem nec manum iactarem nec attollerem vocem, sed ista oratoribus reliquissem, contentus sensus meos ad te pertulisse, quos nec exornassem nec abiecissem. Hoc unum plane tibi adprobare vellem, omnia me illa sentire quae dicerem, nec tantum sentire sed amare. Aliter homines amicam, aliter liberos osculantur; tamen in hoc quoque amplexu tam sancto et moderato satis apparet adfectus. Non mehercules ieiuna esse et arida volo quae de rebus tam magnis dicentur (neque enim philosophia ingenio renuntiat), multum tamen operae inpendi verbis non oportet. Haec sit propositi nostri summa: quod sentimus loquamur, quod loquimur sentiamus; concordet sermo cum vita. Ille promissum suum implevit qui et cum videas illum et cum audias idem est. Videbimus qualis sit, quantus sit: unus est. Non delectent verba nostra sed prosint. Si tamen contingere eloquentia non sollicito potest, si aut parata est aut parvo constat, adsit et res pulcherrimas prosequatur: sit talis ut res potius quam se ostendat. Aliae artes ad ingenium totae pertinent, hic animi negotium agitur….

putide: pedantically
disputarem… reliquissem: mixed contrafactual condition
supplodere: stamp (foot); clap (hands)
abicere (here): express carelessly

Lege quae restat hic

Oxford Editions

Vocabulary epistolaria

1. Vocabularium Antiquum

  • calamus
  • atramentum
  • charta
  • tabellae
  • codicilli: wax-covered tablets
  • stylus
  • suo chirographo: written in one’s own hand
  • librarius/ servus ab epistulis
  • tabellarii

2. Vocabularium antiquum/modernum

  • pencil lapis scriptorius, stilus plumbatus, graphium E; graphis (idis )L
  • eraser cummis deletilis E
  • pen calamus, pluma, stilus 
  • ball-point pen sphaerographum E; graphium sphaeratum A 
  • fountain pen stilographum E; graphium replebile A
  • ink atramentum E colored ink atramentum coloratum A
  • blackboard tabula (nigra) scriptoriaE
  • shorthand stenographia V; tachygraphia (Leibniz)
  • typewriter machinula scriptoria (v. dactylographica), manuale prelum E; machina scriptoria A
  • key (typewriter, computer) malleolus C; plectrum A
  • typewriter ribbon scriptoriae machinulae fasciola (v. taeniola) E
  • type (on a typewriter) machinulâ scriptoriâ exarare (v. exscribere) E; machinâ scribere, dactylographare A
  • teletype machine teletypicum instrumentum E
  • carbon copy antigraphum, exemplum transcusum A
  • photocopy (noun) exemplar luce (v. photographice) expressum E (verb) photocopiare A
  • photocopier photocopiatrum A
  • fax isographia ex longinquo E 
  • fax machine telecopiatrum C
  • paper clip uncus metallicus, lamina lunata E; fibula chartarum A
  • staple (noun) ferrum unciatum (v. aduncum v. coniuctivum), harpago, fibula E 
  • (verb) fibulare, uncis connectare (v. coniungere) E 
  • stapler uncinatrum, uncinatorium A
  • tack clavicula CL
  • hole-puncher perforaculum chartarum A
  • tape (scotch or adhesive) taeniola glutinativa, fasciola glutinosa (v. adhaerens v. compactiva) E
  • nameplate lamina insculpta, insigne metallicum E
  • poster, notice nuntium (v. praeconium) publicum E 
  • paper chart(ul)a, papyrus (adj.) chartaceus 
  • paper pad codicillus chartarum A 
  • sheet or slip (of paper) schedula, scidula E
  • documents, papers acta (n. pl.) A
  • file, dossier chartarum (v. schedularum v. scidularum) fasciculus E; collectorium A
  • file cabinet repositorium A
  • register (list of names, esp. public or official) matricula, album, tabulae (f. pl.) E; elenchus (ecc.)
  • form (document) exemplar typis descriptum, specimen, typus, norma E
  • fill out a form schedulam explere A
  • microfilm micropellicula E
  • letter epistula, litterae (f. pl.) 
  • receive a letter epistulam accipere 
  • deliver a letter epistulam afferre 
  • send a letter epistulam mittere
  • letter (short), note litterulae (f. pl.), libellus, epistolium E
  • correspondence (exchange of letters) epistolarum commercium E
  • postcard chartula cursualis A
  • card (greeting) chartula salutatoriaE
  • stationery charta epistularis A
  • envelope involucrum (epistulare) E
  • address inscriptio cursualis E
  • address list index inscriptionum cursualium A
  • zip or postal code numerus cursualis directoriusA; numerus cursualis C
  • express letter epistula accelerata A
  • certified letter epistula certificata A
  • package, bundle fascis (cursualis), involucrum E
  • mail publicus cursus E
  • postal cursualis E
  • mailbox arca (v. theca) epistularia A 
  • drop off a letter epistulam in thecam immittere A
  • post office epistolarum diribitorium E 
  • post office window ostiolum cursuale A
  • mailman tabellarius A
  • mail delivery perlatio cursualis A
  • stamp pittacium cursuale E
  • carrier pigeon columba internuntia E
  • punctuate interpungere L punctuation marks interpuncta (n. pl.)
  • quotation marks virgulae (f. pl.) E 
  • put in quotes virgulis distinguere (v. intercludere v. interpungere) E
  • parenthetical comment parenthesis, interpositio E 
  • hyphen interductus E 
  • underline sublineare (ecc.)
  • abbreviation (scribendi) compendium, litterae compendiariae (f. pl.), sigla (n. pl.) E; compendiaria nota C
  • sign (letter or document) subnotare E; subscribere (ecc.) signature subscriptio (ecc.)
  • mass media instrumenta communicationis socialis (n. pl. )E
  • press (media) res pressoria E 
  • freedom of the press rei librariae libertas E
  • copyright ius proprietatis librariae E
  • publish edere, divulgare
  • publisher domus (v. societas) editoria E
  • print typis imprimere, prelo excudere E
  • printer typographus A; chalcographus (Erasmus)
  • typesetter typotheta E
  • bookbinder bibliopega A
  • bind (book) glutinare A
  • bookstore (taberna) libraria, bibliopolium E
  • parchment book codex membranaceusL papyrus book codex papyraceus L
  • typo (in printed book) typothetae mendum 
  • slip of the pen lapsus calami
  • newspaper diarium, acta diurna (n. pl.), ephemeris (idis)E; folia cottidiana (n. pl.) (ecc.)
  • headline titulus E
  • journalist diurnarius E 
  • journalism diurnariorum opus (v. ars) E
  • reporter relator (diurnarius v. radiophonicus v. televisificus) C
  • commentator, columnist commentator A
  • editorial, commentary commentarius A
  • announcer, anchor (radio or TV) annuntiator E; locutor A
  • news (televisifici v. radiophonici) commentarii (m. pl.), (televisifica v. radiophonica) acta (n. pl.) E; nuntii (m. pl. )A
  • interview (noun) colloquium percontativum (v. interrogativum), percontatio E 
  • interview (verb) percontari, (aliquem) percontandi causâ adire E
  • article (newspaper) commentatio, commentatiuncula E 
  • article (scholarly) commentarii (m. pl.), symbola CL
  • comic book libellus pictographus (v. nubeculatus) E; commentarium nubeculatum CL
  • periodical, magazine commentarii periodici (m. pl.), ephemeris (idis)E; periodicum CL
  • subscribe subnotareE subscription subnotatio E
  • leaflet, pamphlet schedula (v. libellulus) volitans E
  • newstand diurnorum (v. ephemeridum) aedicula (v. tabernula) E
  • novel commenticia fabula, fabulosa narratio, fabula Milesia (v. Romanensis) E; mythistoria CL
  • novelist, story-writer fabulator, narrator, fabularum (v. narrantiuncularum) scriptor E
  • pen name, pseudonym nomen commenticium (v. fictum v. falsum v. subditivum v. artificiale) scriptoris E
  • detective novel fabula criminalis E
  • science fiction commenticia scientia futurorum, cosmica fictaque ars E
  • story (short) fabella CL
  • essay (scholarly) opusculum (altiore doctrinâ conscriptum) E; temptamen (Locke); dissertatio (ecc.)
  • manual, handbook enchiridion
  • diary libellus diarius CL
  • prose oratio soluta (v. prosa)
  • sonnet carmen quattuordecim hendecasyllaborum E
  • rhyme consonantia verba (n. pl.), similis vocum exitus, terminationis identitas, homoeoteleuton E
  • bard, troubador bardus, cantor, vates, poeta, rhapsodus E
  • melodrama melodrama, fabula melica E

Style Words

abicio -icere -ieci -iectum, to throw down or away. Transf., to pronounce carelessly, break off abruptly ; to get rid of, give up; to dash to the ground, weaken, dishearten. Hence partic. abiectus -a -um; of position low, common; of character cowardly, mean; of style, without force, prosaic. Adv. abiecte, without spirit, meanly.

adfecto -are, to strive after, grasp at, aim at, aspire to; polit. to try to win over; in literary style, to affect; partic. adfectatus -a -um, studied.

adipatus -a -um, fatty, greasy; n. pl. as subst., pastry. Transf., of style, bombastic.

adsurgo -surgere -surrexi -surrectum, to rise up, stand up; with dat., to rise in the presence of a person, as a sign of respect; of feelings, to rise, be aroused; of style, to become elevated; of material things, to rise up.

aequabilitas -atis, f. uniformity, equability; hence evenness in style, impartiality in law.

angustus -a -um, narrow, confined; ‘habenae’, tightly-drawn reins; ‘spiritus angustior’, constricted breath; of time, short; of supplies, short, scarce; of circumstances, precarious, critical; of mind or speech, narrow, petty, limited; of style, brief, simple. N. as subst. angustum -i, a narrow space. Adv. anguste, narrowly, sparingly, in a narrow, confined manner; of speech, briefly.

attenuo -are, to make thin, reduce, weaken. Hence partic. attenuatus, made weak; of style, abbreviated, overrefined, or unadorned; adv. attenuate, simply, without ornament.

brevis -e, short, in space or time; of water, shallow; of living things, conditions, etc., short-lived; of style, concise; n. abl. brevi, shortly, soon, briefly; n. pl. as subst. brevia -ium, shallows, shoals. Adv. breviter, shortly, briefly.

brevitas -atis, f. shortness, in space or time; of style, brevity, conciseness.

caesim, with cutting; fig. of style, in short sentences.

calamister -tri, m. and calamistrum -tri, n. a curling-iron for the hair. Transf., excessive ornament or flourish in style.

circumcido -cidere -cidi -cisum, to cut round, to cut, trim. Transf., to make less by cutting, diminish. Hence partic. circumcisus -a -um, of places,abrupt, steep,inaccessible; of style, abridged, brief.

compressio -onis, f. an embrace; compression of style, conciseness.

concinnitas -atis, f. elegance, harmony, esp. of style.

concinnitudo -inis, f. elegance, harmony, esp. of style.

concinno -are, to put together carefully, to arrange: hence to produce, cause.

concinnus -a -um, well put together; hence pleasing, elegant, neat, esp. of style. Adv. concinne, elegantly.

decoquo -coquere -coxi -coctum, to boil thoroughly; to boil down, boil away; of metals, to melt away; of property, to waste; commerc., to ruin oneself, become bankrupt. Hence partic. decoctus -a -um, boiled down; of style, insipid; f. as subst. a cold drink.

decoquo -coquere -coxi -coctum, to boil thoroughly; to boil down, boil away; of metals, to melt away; of property, to waste; commerc., to ruin oneself, become bankrupt. Hence partic. decoctus -a -um, boiled down; of style, insipid; f. as subst. a cold drink.

densus -a -um, thick, close, dense; in time, frequent; in degree, intense, vehement; in style, of work or author, condensed. Adv. dense, densely; of time, frequently.

dissolvo -solvere -solvi -solutum, to loosen, break up, undo, destroy; ‘glaciem’, to melt; ‘animam’, to die; ‘criminationem’, to refute; of debts, to pay, discharge; to release a person from difficulties, to unravel, explain a difficulty. Hence partic. dissolutus -a -um, loose; ‘navigium’, leaky; of  style, disconnected; of character, wanting in energy, lax; pro fligate, dissolute. Adv. dissolute, disconnectedly, loosely; care lessly, negligently, without energy.

exilis -e, thin, slender, meager; in possessions, poor; with genit., without; of style, dry, dreary. Adv. exiliter, thinly, poorly, meagerly.

exsicco -are, to dry thoroughly; to drain dry, to empty by drinking. Hence partic. exsiccatus -a -um, of style, dry, jejune.

frugalitas -atis, f. frugality, economy, honesty; of style, restraint.

gracilis -e, slender, thin, slim; of style, etc. simple, without ornament.

grandis -e, full-grown, big, great, large; in stature, tall; in years, old. Transf., great, important; of style, lofty, grand, sublime.

granditas -atis, f. of style, loftiness, sublimity.

gravis -e. (1) heavy; of sound, low, deep; fig. weighty, important; of character, dignified, serious; of style, elevated, dignified. (2) burdened, laden, weighed down; esp. pregnant. (3) burdensome, oppressive; grievous, painful, unpleasant. Adv. graviter, heavily, weightily, reluctantly,; grievously, painfully.

habitus (2) -us, m. condition, habit, bearing; of dress, style; of places, lie of the land; abstr., nature, character, disposition, attitude.

ieiunus -a -um, fasting, hungry, thirsty; of objects, poor, scanty; of spirit, poor, mean; of style, meager, weak. Adv. ieniune, of style, meagerly.

inflo -are, to blow into; to play on wind instruments; to give a blast; to blow out, puff out. Transf., to inspire; to puff up, elate. Hence partic. inflatus -a -um, inflated, swollen; puffed up, pompous; of style, turgid. Compar. adv. inflatius, too pompously, on a gran der scale.

integer -gra -grum. (1) complete, whole, entire, intact; fresh, sound, unexhausted; ‘in integrum restituere’, to restore to its former condition. (2) in quality, unspoilt, pure, fresh; morally, innocent, uncorrupted, pure; in thought or feeling, balanced, unbiased, impartial; of matters for discussion or action, unprejudiced, undecided; ‘integrum est mihi’, I am at liberty. (3) renewed, begun afresh. Hence adv. integre, wholly; honestly, uprightly, impartially; of style, purely, correctly

integritas -atis, f. unimpaired condition, soundness, health; uprightness, integrity; of style, purity, correctness.

laetus -a -um, fat, rich, fertile; glad, joyful, happy; of style, rich, copious, fluent. Adv. laete.

Latinitas -atis, f. pure Latin style; Latin rights.

latus (1) -a -um, broad, wide, extensive; of style, diffuse, full, rich. Hence adv. late, broadly, widely, extensively; ‘longe lateque’, far and wide.

lenocinium -i, n. the trade of a procurer; enticement, allurement; of dress, finery; of style, ‘purple patch’.

mitis -e, mild, soft, ripe; gentle; of style, mellow; compar. adv. mitius; superl. mitissime.

molestia -ae, f. annoyance, troublesomeness; of style, affectation, stiffness.

molestus -a -um, burdensome, troublesome, irksome; of style, affected, labored. Adv. moleste, with annoyance; ‘moleste fero’, I take it badly, am annoyed; of style, affectedly.

oratio -onis, f. speaking, speech; language, style; esp. a set speech; eloquence; prose; an imperial message.

orbis -is, m. a circle, ring, disk; orbit, coil; ‘orbis signifer’, the Zodiac; ‘orbis lacteus’, the Milky Way; ‘orbis terrae, terrarum’, the world. Transf. rotation, round; of style, roundness.

pedester -tris -tre, on foot, pedestrian; ‘copiae’, infantry; sometimes, on land. Transf., simple, ordinary, prosaic; of style, written in prose.

pigmentum -i, n. paint, pigment; of style, ornament, decoration.

plenus -a -um, full, full of (with genit. or abl.); complete; plump, thick; pregnant; filled, satisfied; well-stocked, rich; of age, mature; of the voice, strong, loud; of style, full, copious. Adv. plene, fully, completely.

praefringo -fringere -fregi -fractum, to break off in front; partic. praefractus -a -um, of style, abrupt, disconnected; of character, stern, harsh; adv. praefracte.

premo premere pressi pressum, to press; to step on, lie on; to hug, keep close to; to press hard, squeeze; to pursue closely, press upon; to press down, strike down; to disparage, slander; to press together, close; to check, curb. Hence partic. pressus -a -um, subdued, measured; of style, com pressed, concise. Adv. presse, accurately, precisely, distinctly; of style, briefly, concisely.

profluo -fluere -fluxi -fluctum, to flow forth; to proceed. Hence partic. profluens -entis, flowing; f. as subst. (sc. aqua), running water; of style, flowing, fluent. Adv. profluenter.

purus -a -um, clean, pure, cleared. Transf. without addition, simple, plain; morally, upright, pure; of style, pure, faultless; legally, without conditions, absolute. N. as subst. the clear sky. Adv. pure and poet. puriter, purely, cleanly; of style, faultlessly.

putidus -a -um, rotten, stinking, foul; of style, affected, in bad taste; adv. putide, affectedly.

resulto -are, to spring back, rebound; to echo, resound; of style, to go jerkily.

rotundus -a -um, round, circular; sometimes spherical; rounded, complete, self-contained. Adv. rotunde, of style, elegantly, smoothly.

salebra -ae, f. jolting; a rough patch of road; of style, ruggedness.

sanitas -atis, f. health, soundness; good sense, sanity; of style, correctness, purity.

sanus -a -um, sound, healthy, uninjured; of sound mind, rational, sane; of style, correct. Hence adv. sane, rationally, sensibly. Transf., really, indeed, to be sure; with imperatives, then, if you will; ‘sane quam’, exceedingly, extremely.

sapor -oris, m. taste, flavor, flavoring; sense of taste; taste in style or conduct.

sermo -onis, m. talk, conversation; discussion; common talk, report, rumor; a subject of conversation; a conversational style, or prose; any manner of speaking, style, expression, diction, language, dialect.

siccitas -atis, f. dryness, drought; sound health; of style, plainness, simplicity.

siccus -a -um, dry; thirsting, thirsty; of health, sound; sober, temperate; of style, plain, simple; adv. sicce.

solvo solvere solvi solutum, to loosen; to untie, release, free; to dissolve, break up; to exempt; to break up, weaken, bring to an end; to pay off, discharge a debt; ‘solvendo non esse’, to be insolvent; to meet engagements, perform duties; to break down a restraining influence; to solve a problem, explain a difficulty. Hence partic. solutus -a -um, loosened, unbound, free, unencumbered, independent; in bad sense, unrestrained, unbridled; lax, lazy, neg ligent; of style, fluent or in prose. Adv. solute, loosely, free ly, carelessly.

sonus -i, m. noise, sound; tone, character, style.

spinosus -a -um, of thorns, thorny, prickly; of style, crabbed, obscure; of feeling, anxious.

squalidus -a -um, rough, stiff, scaly; squalid, dirty; in mourning; of style, rough; adv. squalide.

squalor -oris, m. roughness, stiffness; dirt caused by neglect; mourning; of style, roughness.

stilus -i, m. a stake, pale; the pointed instrument with which the Romans wrote on wax tablets; hence writing, composition; mode of writing, style.

strigosus -a -um, lean, thin: of style, meager.

stringo stringere strinxi strictum. (1) to draw tight together, to bind, tie. (2) to strip off, pluck, prune; esp. to draw a weapon from its sheath. (3) to graze, touch lightly; to affect, injure; in speech, to touch upon. Hence partic. strictus -a -um, close, tight; strict; of style, brief, concise.

structura -ae, f. the act of building; concr. a building; of style, arrangement, putting together.

subtilis -e, finely woven, slender, fine; of senses, etc. plain, simple, unadorned. Hence partic. subtiliter, by fine links or passages; of judgment, with discrimination; of style, plainly, simply.

subtilitas -atis, f. fineness, minuteness; of judgment, discrimination; of style, plainness, simplicity.

texo texere texui textum, to weave; to twine together, plait; to put together, construct, build; of speech and writing, to compose. N. of partic. as subst. textum -i, woven cloth, a web; fabric; of composition, style.

tumeo -ere, to swell, be swollen, be puffed up; to swell with pride, anger or excitement; of style, to be pompous, tumid.

tumidus -a -um, adj. swollen, puffed up; swollen with pride, anger or excitement; of style, pompous, tumid, bombastic.

tumor -oris, m. swelling, protuberance; excitement of the mind, esp. in pride or anger; in gen. ferment, commotion; of style, turgidity, bombast.

turgeo turgere tursi, to swell up, be swollen; of style, to be pompous, turgid.

turgesco -ere, to begin to swell, swell up; to swell with passion; of style, to be pompous.

vesica -ae, f. the bladder; a purse, a lantern; of style, bombast.

penicillus -i, m. a painter’s brush or pencil; style.

Erasmi Epistolae II

Hanc epistolam Erasmus anno 1487, qui verisimiliter fuit aetatis suae vicesimus primus, ad Servatium monachum quendam misit, qui in eodem monasterio atque Erasmus vitam degebat;  verum causa aliqua non licebat Erasmo eum saepe convenire atque adloqui (4,1)

Oxford hic quaere

Erasmus Roterodamus Servatio Roterodamo salutem.

Crebrius ad te scriberem, mi Servati carissime, si id certo praenoscerem, te non magis legendis litteris nostris quam me scribendis fatigandum. Sed tam mihi cara sunt tua commoda omnia, ut malim me tua quiete torqueri quam te mea voluptate fatigari. Verum quoniam nihil aegrius ferre amantes solent quam sibi adesse mutuo non licere, eiusque rei facultas nobis est rarissima, non potui committere quin has meas litteras mei loco ad te ire iuberem.

Atque utinam ea aliquando emergat fortuna, ut iam litteris uti desineremus, coramque quoties luberet conferendi potestas esset. At nunc quoniam id — quod non sine lacrimis meminisse possum — fatis nobis negatum est, num tui, mi Servati, prorsus privabor consuetudine? Et si corporum praesentia — quod quidem esset quam iucundissimum– una esse nequimus, quid erit cur non litterarum vicissitudine, si non quam saepissime, at interdum tamen, una simus? Has igitur quoties intuebere litteras, quoties lectitabis, te Erasmum tuum coram videre, coram audire putes.

Quid igitur rerum agitas, o animae dimidium meae? Rectene omnia? Num interdum animo tuo amantissimi tui subit imago? Nam, ut suspiciosi sunt omnes qui amant, nescio quid non numquam videre mihi videor, te mei minus memorem esse, ne dicam oblitum. Optaram quidem, si fieri posset, ita me tibi curae esse, ut mihi es; at rursum ita te mei cruciari amore, quemadmodum ego tui assidue torqueor desiderio. Vale. 

Erasmus Roterodamus Servatio Roterodamo salutem.

Crebrius ad te scriberem, mi Servati carissime, si id certo praenoscerem, te non magis legendis litteris nostris quam me scribendis fatigandum.

  • crebrius: more frequently (see above)
  • praenosco, ere: to know beforehand
  • fatigo, are: to tire

Sed tam mihi cara sunt tua commoda omnia, ut malim me tua quiete torqueri quam te mea voluptate fatigari.

  • quies, quietis, f: rest, repose
  • torquo, torquere: torture

Verum quoniam nihil aegrius ferre amantes solent quam sibi adesse mutuo non licere, eiusque rei facultas nobis est rarissima, non potui committere quin has meas litteras mei loco ad te ire iuberem.

  • ferre + adverb: to take in a certian way; aegrius is the comparative of aegre; nihil aegrius….quam
  • mutuo (see above)
  • eius rei: i.e. of being together
  • facultas
  • committo
  • mei loco: in my place

Atque utinam ea aliquando emergat fortuna, ut iam litteris uti desineremus, coramque quoties luberet conferendi potestas esset.

  • emergo
  • utinam: with subjunctive in a wish
  • uti: from utor, uti, usus
  • desino, ere: stop
  • quoties
  • lubet, lubere =libet, libere: to be pleasing, give pleasure
  • confero

At nunc quoniam id — quod non sine lacrimis meminisse possum — fatis nobis negatum est, num tui, mi Servati, prorsus privabor consuetudine?

  • fatis: by the fates
  • id (being together)
  • privo, privare: to deprive (+ ablative of separation)
  • prorsus
  • tui: with consuetudine

Et si corporum praesentia — quod quidem esset quam iucundissimum– una esse nequimus, quid erit cur non litterarum vicissitudine, si non quam saepissime, at interdum tamen, una simus?

  • quam + superlative: as…as possible
  • nequeo
  • vicissitudo: see first letter
  • interdum: from time to time

Has igitur quoties intuebere litteras, quoties lectitabis, te Erasmum tuum coram videre, coram audire putes.

  • intueor
  • lectito, are: frequentative of lego, legere


Quid igitur rerum agitas, o animae dimidium meae? Rectene omnia? Num interdum animo tuo amantissimi tui subit imago?

  • quid rerum (together)
  • agito,are: frequentative of ago, agere
  • animae dimidium meae: Horace
  • amantissimi tui imago (all go together)

Nam, ut suspiciosi sunt omnes qui amant, nescio quid non numquam videre mihi videor, te mei minus memorem esse, ne dicam oblitum.

  • memor: mindful + genitive
  • ne dicam: not to say
  • obliviscor

Optaram quidem, si fieri posset, ita me tibi curae esse, ut mihi es; at rursum ita te mei cruciari amore, quemadmodum ego tui assidue torqueor desiderio. Vale.

  • fieri potest: it is possible
  • tibi curae: double dative
  • (ut mihi curae tu es)
  • quemadmodem: in the way in which; how
  • assidue: continually
  • desiderio: ablative of means

Erasmi Epistolae I

Anno 1489 ad alium quendam monachum, Cornelium Gerardum Gaudanum, studiorum humaniorum ardore sibi coniunctum, crebras mittebat Erasmus epistolas. Hoc loco epistolarum utilitatem attingit. (Letters, 1,23)

Et hic apud Oxford


Erasmus Roterodamus Cornelio Gaudano salutem.

Quoniam iam satis literis tuis responsum esse arbitror, lubet mei erga te amoris vehementia aliquid scribere, cui tu vicissim respondeas; et quidem nescio mehercule, Corneli charissime, quo pacto contra morem literarum assiduitas non modo mihi fastidium non pariat, sed voluntatem, sed fervorem; crescit scribendo scribendi studium. Videor enim hac arte nostri fallere absentiam, tecumque tua dulcissima delectatus praesentia coram miscere sermonem. Nec sane hac in re usque adeo me falli crediderim. Siquidem, si fidem habemus Turpilio, litterarum vicissitudo una res est quae absentes coniungat amicos. Nec gratius nec proximius inter seiunctos consuetudinis genus ullum reperiri poterit quam ut alternis epistolis mutuo sibi sui referant imaginem, alterque alteri, etsi non corpore, certe animo ac voluntate se praesentem exhibeat.

Hoc studio duo illi insignes ecclesiae duces, Hieronymum loquor et Augustinum, cum ingenti locorum ac temporum intervallo una esse mutuisque pro voto complexibus frui minime sinerentur, numquam tamen alteri non aderat uterque; alteriusque et animum et benevolentiam neuter nesciebat. Nos itaque, Corneli dulcissime, quo et nostram vindicemus absentiam et satis perfectum amorem debitis exercitemus officiis, sedulo demus operam ut crebrius aut istinc aliquid tuorum ad nos advolet aut hinc quippiam proficiscatur. 

Erasmus Roterodamus Cornelio Gaudano salutem.

… Crescit scribendo scribendi studium.

  • scribendi w/ studium
  • scribendo: ablative of means

Videor enim hac arte nostri fallere absentiam, tecumque tua dulcissima delectatus praesentia coram miscere sermonem.

  • fallere (fallo, fallere, fefelli, falsum: deceive, beguile)
  • hac arte: id est, ars scribendarum episotolarum
  • nostri: objective genitive with absentia
  • tua dulcissima praesentia: w/ delectatus

Nec sane hac in re usque adeo me falli crediderim.

  • crediderim: perfect subjunctive in potential subjunctive
  • me falli: oratio obliqua

Siquidem, si fidem habemus Turpilio,  litterarum vicissitudo una res est quae absentes coniungat amicos.

  • siquidem
  • Turpilius: 2nd c BCE writer of fabulae palliatae; Erasmus refers to the following fragment: vicissitudo

Nec gratius nec proximius inter seiunctos consuetudinis genus ullum reperiri poterit quam ut alternis epistolis mutuo sibi sui referant imaginem, alterque alteri, etsi non corpore, certe animo ac voluntate se praesentem exhibeat.


Hoc studio duo illi insignes ecclesiae duces, Hieronymum loquor et Augustinum, cum ingenti locorum ac temporum intervallo una esse mutuisque pro voto complexibus frui minime sinerentur, numquam tamen alteri non aderat uterque;

  • ecclesia, ae: the church
  • Hieronymus: Saint Jerome
  • Augustinus, i: Saint Augustine; for some letters between Jerome and Augustus click here
  • una: adverb: together
  • minime: very little (i.e. negates the verb)
  • sinere
  • pro voto: in accordance with their wishes or desires; votum
  • adsum alicui:
  • uterque alteri: a variation of alter alteri (each one was “there for” the other)

alteriusque et animum et benevolentiam neuter nesciebat.

  • neuter nesciebat= uterque sciebat

Nos itaque, Corneli dulcissime, quo et nostram vindicemus absentiam et satis perfectum amorem debitis exercitemus officiis, sedulo demus operam ut crebrius aut istinc aliquid tuorum ad nos advolet aut hinc quippiam proficiscatur.


Auxilia: ad Fam.4.13

Ad Familiares 4.13.1

 quaerenti…mentem:  i.e.   non modo certa res nulla sed ne genus quidem litterarum usitatum veniebat in mentem mihi quaerenti (i.e. in mentem meam, dum quaerebam ‘quid ad te pottissimum scriberem’)

Quaerenti mihi iam diu

quid ad te potissimum scriberem

non modo certa res nulla

sed ne genus quidem litterarum usitatum

veniebat in mentem.

 nam enim partem et consuetudinem earum epistularum

quibus secundis rebus uti solebamus

tempus eripuerat,

perfeceratque fortuna

ne quid tale scribere possem aut omnino cogitare.

relinquebatur

triste quoddamet miserum

et his temporibus consentaneum genus litterarum.

 id quoque deficiebat me,

in quo debebat esse

aut promissio auxili alicuius

aut consolatio doloris tui.

 quid pollicerer non erat; 

ipse enim

pari fortuna adfectus

aliorum opibus casus meos sustentabam,

saepiusque mihi veniebat in mentem queri

quod ita viverem quam gaudere quod viverem.

Auxilia: Ad Fam.2.41

unum illud certissimum (sc. genus epistularum)
res ipsa: i.e. the practice of letter writing
aliquem certiorem facere: inform someone
absentis: accusative plural (the regular ending in C)
quod: refers back to quid and is the boject of eos scire
quod eos scire: clause is the subject of interesse
nostrā: ablative with interesse
ipsorum: genitive with interesse
interesse: see Lewis and Short on this verb (with ablative or genitive of person)
huius generis: of this sort
domesticos: with both scriptores and nuntios
novi: partitive genitive with nihil
magno opere: also written magnopere: adv: greatly
utro…uti: from utor,which takes an ablative of means
deceat: indirect question
iocer-ne: deliberative subjunctive
temporibus his: i.e. during the current political upheaval

css.php