Regulus
GCSE Latin prose literature booklet
2012-2014
REGULUS (Pliny the Younger, Letters II.20)
Regulus, of aristocratic background, made his name by convicting and securing the execution of three
ex-consuls; for this (probably) financially- and politically-motivated prosecution, he received seven
million sesterces and a priesthood from Emperor Nero. Under Emperor Domitian he helped
prosecute Q. Junius Arulenus Rusticus, whom he described as a "Stoic ape", afterwards publishing his
speech and incurring Pliny's hostility. Pliny quotes with approval that he was "the most evil fellow on
two legs".
Verania was the widow of Piso, who in AD 69 was chosen as successor to Emperor Galba.
Unfortunately, shortly afterwards Galba and Piso were murdered. Piso was thirty years old, Verania a
similar age or probably younger. As Pliny probably wrote this letter around AD 97-102, Verania was
aged anywhere between 60-80 years old... an old woman by Roman standards.
Latin text
C. Plinius Calvisio suo S.
assem pare et accipe auream fabulam, fabulas immo; nam me priorum
nova admonuit, nec refert a qua incipiam.
Verania graviter iacebat: ad hanc Regulus venit. primum impudentiam
hominis, qui venerit ad aegram, cuius marito inimicissimus, ipsi
invisissimus fuerat! esto, si venit tantum; at ille etiam proximus toro sedit;
quo die, qua hora nata esset interrogavit. ubi audivit, componit vultum,
intendit oculos, movet labra, agitat digitos, computat.
nihil.
ut diu
miseram exspectatione suspendit, "habes" inquit "climactericum tempus,
sed evades.
quod ut tibi magis liqueat, haruspicem consulam, quem
frequenter expertus sum."
sine mora sacrificium facit, affirmat exta cum siderum significatione
congruere.
illa, ut in periculo credula, poscit testamentum, legatum
Regulo scribit.
mox ingravescit, clamat moriens hominem scelestum,
perfidumque ac plus etiam quam periurum esse, qui sibi per salutem filii
peieravisset. facit hoc Regulus non minus scelerate quam frequenter,
quod iram deorum, quos ipse cotidie fallit, in caput infelicis pueri
detestatur.
Velleius Blaesus, ille dives consularis, novissima valetudine conflictabatur:
cupiebat mutare testamentum. Regulus, qui sperabat aliquid ex novo
testamento, quia nuper captare eum coeperat, medicos hortari et rogare
ut quoquo modo vitam hominis prorogarent. postquam signatum est
testamentum, mutat personam, vertit adlocutionem eisdemque medicis,
"quousque” inquit “miserum cruciatis? cur invidetis bona morte, cui dare
vitam non potestis?" moritur Blaesus et, tamquam omnia audivisset,
Regulo ne tantulum quidem.
Translation
Gaius Pliny sends greetings to his Calvisius.
Pay a penny and receive a golden story, stories rather; for a new one has reminded me of earlier ones,
nor does it matter from where I begin. Verania was lying extremely ill: Regulus came to her. First
(note) the impudence of the man, who came to a sick woman to whose husband he had been most
hostile and most hateful to her!
Above: A Roman As coin from the brief reign of Emperor Galba
It would have been enough if he only came; but he even sat next to her bed and asked on which day,
at which hour she was born. When he heard (this information), he composes his expression, stares
intently, moves his lips, moves his fingers quickly and counts. Nothing. When he (had) kept the
wretched woman in suspense for a long time he says, "You are having a dangerous time but you will
recover. So that this is clearer to you I will consult a haruspex, whom I have used frequently."
Without delay he makes a sacrifice, (and) declares that the entrails agree with the indication of the
stars. That woman, as you might expect ready to believe (him) (whilst) in danger, asks for her will
(and) writes down a legacy for Regulus. Soon she grows worse (and) while dying shouts that he is a
wicked, untrustworthy man and worse than perjured, who had sworn a false oath over his son’s
welfare. Regulus does this no less wickedly than frequently, because the anger of the gods, whom he
deceives every day, he calls down onto the unlucky boy’s head.
Velleius Blaesus, that rich ex-consul, was afflicted by a terminal illness: he wanted to change his will.
Regulus, who was hoping for something from the new will, because recently he had begun to try to
win his favour, encouraged the doctors and asked them to prolong the man’s life in any way
(possible). After the will was signed, he changes his character, alters his tone and says to the same
doctors, "How long are you torturing this wretched man? Why do you begrudge him a good death, (a
man) for whom you cannot give life?” Blaesus dies and, as if he had heard everything, leaves Regulus
not even the least amount.