Interim Miseni ego et mater eramus. Profecto avunculo ego ipse

Classical Association of Canada
La Société Canadienne des Études Classiques
National Junior Latin Sight Translation Contest, 2009
Concours national de version latine, niveau initiation, 2009
The Eruption of Vesuvius, C.E. 79
L’éruption du Vésuve en 79 d.n.è.
After writing for Tacitus a description of his uncle’s death, Pliny received a second request to
supply the details of his own experiences during the eruption, after the time his uncle had left him
and his mother at Misenum.
Dans une première lettre adressée à Tacite, Pline avait décrit la mort de son oncle, parti
observer le terrible évènement. Dans celle-ci, il explique ce que lui et sa mère ont subi à Misène
après le départ de l’oncle.
Interim Miseni ego et mater eramus. Profecto avunculo ego ipse reliquum tempus,
hac de causa enim remanseram, studebam. Mox balineum, cena, somnus inquietus
et brevis. Praecesserat per multos dies tremor terrae minus formidolosus quia
Campaniae solitus. Illa vero nocte ita auctus est ut omnia non modo moveri sed
etiam verti viderentur. Inrumpit cubiculum meum mater me excitatura. Iam hora
diei erat prima, et adhuc dubius et quasi languidus dies. Muros intra villam
cadentes veriti, speravimus nos ex oppido discedere posse. Sequitur vulgus
territum. Interim multa ibi miranda patimur; nam vehicula quae produci
iusseramus, quamquam in aequissimo campo stabant, huc illuc agebantur ac ne
lapidibus quidem retenta in eodem loco quiescebant. Praeterea mare in se resorberi
tremore terrae quasi repelli videbamus. Certe processerat litus multaque animalia
maris in siccis harenis detinebat. Ab altero latere nubes atras et horrendas
conspiciebamus.
Adapted from the Younger Pliny’s Letters, vi, 20
Adaptation de Pline le Jeune, Lettres, VI, 20
rester (là)
remaneo,-ere,-mansi,-mansum
I stay behind, remain
bain
balineum,-i (n)
bath
terrible, effrayant
formidolosus,-a,-um
fear inspiring, terrible
réveiller, exciter, provoquer
excito,-are-,avi, -atum
I arouse, startle, summon up
faible, languissant
languidus,-a,-um
faint, weak
égal, plat
aequus,-a,-um
level, even
ravaler, engloutir
resorbeo,-ere (2)
I swallow, suck in
sable
harena,-ae (f)
sand