Pliny the Younger: Letter about Zosimus
Pliny writes to his friend Valerius Paulinus regarding his ill freedman, Zosimus.
Lines 1-5, original Latin
C. PLINIVS VALERIO PAVLINO SVO S.
Video quam molliter tuos habeas; quo simplicius tibi confitebor,
qua indulgentia meos tractem. est mihi semper in animo hoc nostrum 'pater
familiae'.
quod si essem natura asperior et durior, frangeret me tamen infirmitas liberti mei Zo
simi, cui tanto maior humanitas exhibenda est, quanto nunc illa magis eget. 3 homo
probus officiosus litteratus; et ars quidem eius et quasi inscriptio comoedus, in
qua plurimum facit. nam pronuntiat acriter sapienter apte decenter etiam; utitur et
cithara perite, ultra quam comoedo necesse est. idem tam
commode orationes et historias et carmina legit, ut hoc solum didicisse videatur. 4
haec tibi sedulo exposui, quo magis scires, quam multa unus mihi
et quam iucunda ministeria praestaret. accedit longa iam caritas
hominis, quam ipsa pericula auxerunt. 5
est enim itanatura comparatum, ut nihil aeque amorem incitet et accendat quam car
endi metus; quem ego pro hoc non semel patior.
Lines 1–5, translation
C. Pliny to his dear Valerius Paulinus, greetings.
I see how gently you treat your household; so I will all the more simply confess to
you with what indulgence I treat mine. I always keep in mind our Roman phrase, “the
father of the household.” And even if by nature I were rather harsh and strict, the
illness of my freedman Zosimus would still soften me—Zosimus, to whom the greater
kindness ought to be shown, the more he now needs it. He is an upright man,
helpful, educated; and his craft—almost his “label,” so to speak—is that of a comic
actor, in which he excels. For he delivers his lines with force, intelligence, fitness, and
even with propriety; he also plays the lyre skillfully—more than is necessary for a
comic actor. The same man reads speeches, histories, and poems so aptly that he
seems to have learned only that. I have set these details before you carefully so that
you may understand how many services, and how pleasant ones, one man used
to render me. Added to this is the affection I have long felt for him—an affection
increased by the very dangers he has faced. For nature is so arranged that nothing
stirs up and kindles love so much as fear of losing someone; and for his sake I suffer
that fear more than once.
Lines 6-9, original Latin
Nam ante
aliquot annos, dum intente instanterque pronuntiat, sanguinem reiecit atque ob hoc
in Aegyptum missus a me
post longam peregrinationem confirmatus rediit nuper; deinde dum per continuosdie
s nimis imperat voci, veteris infirmitatis tussicula admonitus rursus sanguinem reddid
Pliny writes to his friend Valerius Paulinus regarding his ill freedman, Zosimus.
Lines 1-5, original Latin
C. PLINIVS VALERIO PAVLINO SVO S.
Video quam molliter tuos habeas; quo simplicius tibi confitebor,
qua indulgentia meos tractem. est mihi semper in animo hoc nostrum 'pater
familiae'.
quod si essem natura asperior et durior, frangeret me tamen infirmitas liberti mei Zo
simi, cui tanto maior humanitas exhibenda est, quanto nunc illa magis eget. 3 homo
probus officiosus litteratus; et ars quidem eius et quasi inscriptio comoedus, in
qua plurimum facit. nam pronuntiat acriter sapienter apte decenter etiam; utitur et
cithara perite, ultra quam comoedo necesse est. idem tam
commode orationes et historias et carmina legit, ut hoc solum didicisse videatur. 4
haec tibi sedulo exposui, quo magis scires, quam multa unus mihi
et quam iucunda ministeria praestaret. accedit longa iam caritas
hominis, quam ipsa pericula auxerunt. 5
est enim itanatura comparatum, ut nihil aeque amorem incitet et accendat quam car
endi metus; quem ego pro hoc non semel patior.
Lines 1–5, translation
C. Pliny to his dear Valerius Paulinus, greetings.
I see how gently you treat your household; so I will all the more simply confess to
you with what indulgence I treat mine. I always keep in mind our Roman phrase, “the
father of the household.” And even if by nature I were rather harsh and strict, the
illness of my freedman Zosimus would still soften me—Zosimus, to whom the greater
kindness ought to be shown, the more he now needs it. He is an upright man,
helpful, educated; and his craft—almost his “label,” so to speak—is that of a comic
actor, in which he excels. For he delivers his lines with force, intelligence, fitness, and
even with propriety; he also plays the lyre skillfully—more than is necessary for a
comic actor. The same man reads speeches, histories, and poems so aptly that he
seems to have learned only that. I have set these details before you carefully so that
you may understand how many services, and how pleasant ones, one man used
to render me. Added to this is the affection I have long felt for him—an affection
increased by the very dangers he has faced. For nature is so arranged that nothing
stirs up and kindles love so much as fear of losing someone; and for his sake I suffer
that fear more than once.
Lines 6-9, original Latin
Nam ante
aliquot annos, dum intente instanterque pronuntiat, sanguinem reiecit atque ob hoc
in Aegyptum missus a me
post longam peregrinationem confirmatus rediit nuper; deinde dum per continuosdie
s nimis imperat voci, veteris infirmitatis tussicula admonitus rursus sanguinem reddid
