Regulus

?
Assem pare et accipe auream fabulam, fabulas immo; nam me priorum nova admonuit, nec refert, a qua potissimum incipiam. Verania Pisonis graviter iacebat, huius dico Pisonis, quem Galba adoptavit.
Gaius Plinius sends greetings to his friend Calvisius Prepare a penny and receive a splendid story, stories rather; for a new story reminds me of earlier ones, and it does not matter from which one I begin. Verania was lying extremely ill.
1 of 12
Ad hanc Regulus venit. Primum impudentiam hominis, qui venerit ad aegram, cuius marito inimicissimus, ipsi invisissimus fuerat!
Regulus visited her. First the shamelessness of the man, who visited a sick woman, to whose husband he had been the greatest enemy and to herself most hateful!
2 of 12
Esto, si venit tantum; at ille etiam proximus toro sedit, quo die, qua hora nata esset interrogavit.
It would have been enough, if he had gone as far as this; but he even sat on the bed near her; he asked her what day and hour she was born.
3 of 12
Ubi audiit, componit vultum, intendit oculos, movet labra, agitat digitos, computat; nihil.
When he heard, he composed his face, he stared intently, he moved his lips, he moved his fingers quickly and made calculations. Nothing.
4 of 12
Ut diu miseram exspectatione suspendit, "Habes," inquit, "climactericum tempus, sed evades. Quod ut tibi magis liqueat, haruspicem consulam, quem sum frequenter expertus."
After he had kept the poor woman in suspense for a long time, ‘You are in a critical period’, he said, ‘but you will survive.’ So that it is clearer to you, I shall consult a soothsayer, whom I have used frequently.’
5 of 12
Nec mora, sacrificium facit, adfirmat exta cum siderum significatione congruere. Illa ut in periculo credula poscit codicillos, legatum Regulo scribit.
Without delay, he made a sacrifice, and confirmed that the entrails agreed with the signs of the stars. She, as you might expect ready to believe him because she felt herself in danger, asked for her will, and wrote a legacy to Regulus.
6 of 12
Mox ingravescit; clamat moriens, "O hominem nequam, perfidum, ac plus etiam quam periurum!" qui sibi per salutem filii peierasset.
Soon she grew worse, and dying she shouted that the man was wicked and treacherous and worse even than perjured, who had sworn a false oath on his son’s life.
7 of 12
Facit hoc Regulus non minus scelerate quam frequenter, quod iram deorum, quos ipse quotidie fallit, in caput infelicis pueri detestatur.
Regulus did this no less wickedly than frequently, because he called the wrath of the gods, whom he himself often deceived, upon the head of his unfortunate son.
8 of 12
elleius Blaesus, ille locuples consularis, novissima valetudine conflictabatur. Cupiebat mutare testamentum.
Velleius Blaesus, a rich ex-consul, was afflicted by a terrible illness; he wished to change his will.
9 of 12
Regulus, qui speraret aliquid ex novis tabulis, quia nuper captare eum coeperat, medicos hortari, rogare, quoquo modo spiritum homini prorogarent.
Regulus, who was hoping for something from the new will, because he had recently began to try to win his favour, encouraged and asked the doctors to prolong the life of the man in whatever way.
10 of 12
postquam signatum est testamentum, mutat personam, vertit adlocutionem eisdemque medicis, "quousque" inquit "miserum cruciatis? cur invidetis bona morte, cui dare vitam non potestis?"
After the will was sealed, he changed his tune and altered his tone to the same doctors. "How long, he said, ‘will you be tormenting the poor man?"
11 of 12
moritur Blaesus et, tamquam omnia audivisset, Regulo ne tantulum quidem.
Why are you begrudging him a good death, when you are not able to give him life? Blaesus died and, as if he had heard everything, (he left) nothing to Regulus.
12 of 12

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Regulus visited her. First the shamelessness of the man, who visited a sick woman, to whose husband he had been the greatest enemy and to herself most hateful!

Back

Ad hanc Regulus venit. Primum impudentiam hominis, qui venerit ad aegram, cuius marito inimicissimus, ipsi invisissimus fuerat!

Card 3

Front

It would have been enough, if he had gone as far as this; but he even sat on the bed near her; he asked her what day and hour she was born.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

When he heard, he composed his face, he stared intently, he moved his lips, he moved his fingers quickly and made calculations. Nothing.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

After he had kept the poor woman in suspense for a long time, ‘You are in a critical period’, he said, ‘but you will survive.’ So that it is clearer to you, I shall consult a soothsayer, whom I have used frequently.’

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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