Epistula 15

In letter to Mary of Hungary from March 1558, Luisa Sigaea apologizes for being unable to travel to her, due to a difficult pregnancy. 

Madrid manuscript, pp. 15-16.

ad eandem Augustam tertia: a scribal note: "a third (letter) to the same empress," i.e. Mary of Hungary.

Augusta = Imperial Highness, empress.

clausulated version

Eram quidem in prōcīnctū itineris 

cum prīmum vēnit coniūnx, 

ut Maiestātis tuae pedibus uterque prōvolverēmur 

ac dē rēbus nostrīs cōram Celsitūdine tuā agerēmus, 

ut scrīpsī, 

cum mē ilicō subtrīstis stomachī nausea, 

dūraque fastīdia, 

praegnantium tandem tormenta omnia 

adeō discruciāre coepissent 

ut vix ē domō hūcusque pedem movēre sinant.

in prōcīnctū itineris: "in preparation of a journey," “in preparation for my journey.” 

cum primum: "as soon as."

ut ... prōvolverēmur: purpose clause. “In order that we may both throw ourselves at your majesty’s feet.” The uterque refers to both Luisa and her husband, which is why prōvolverēmur is plural. 

ac dē rēbus nostrīs … agerēmus: the ac means that the ut is also governing this clause, and that this is also a purpose clause, “and in order that we might discuss our affairs” (OLD ago 40.b).

coram: "before the eyes of," "in front of," "face to face with," + abl., as normal with this preposition.

ut scrīpsī: i.e. in the last letter. 

cum mē ... adeō discruciāre coepissent: “when … began to torture me so much.” 

ilicō: "immediately," "suddenly."

fastidia: "lack of appetite," "queasiness." 

ut ... sinant: result clause introduced by adeo. 

hūcusque: = hūc usque, “to such an extent," "to such a point.”

praegnantium tormenta omnia: subject of sinant. 

2

Condonabit: understand mē, "must pardon me," "will forgive me." The subject is tua Maiestās.

dum valeō, dumque ... luō: "until I have the strength ... and until I pay the penalty." For the indicative, see LS dum II.β.

huius prōcrāstinātiōnis: “for this delay,” genitive of charge or penalty, as normal (AG 352) with verbs of paying. See Cicero, Letter to Atticus 3.9.1, mei peccati luo poenas.

Doleō … quod: “I am sad that.”

teste Deō: ablative absolute, “with God as my witness.”

nōn vulgāriter: "uncommonly."

gravida … sim effecta: “I have been made pregnant," "I have become pregnant" (OLD efficio 10.b).

nunc temporis: "at this time," made emphatic by its position. This was an unfortunate time to become pregnant.

aliās: (adv.) "at another time."

id optāverim: “I would wish it,” i.e. I would have wished for this pregnancy, potential subjunctive (AG 447).

maximē eō quod:  "most of all for this reason, because...." Supply doleo, "I am especially sad that.”

ad ... conspectum: "to the sight of," "to see" + gen. (Maiestātis tuae). For the construction, see Apuleius, Metamorphoses 4.29.7, ad conspectum deae Veneris navigabant.

hāc dē causā: "for this reason."

nōn statim valeam: valeam = posssim, “I am not immediately able” + infinitive (advolāre). 

animum hunc: "this mind" of mine, i.e. "my heart." For animus = the heart, the feelings, affections, inclinations, disposition, see LS animus II.B.

tuō obsequiō addictissimum: "extremely devoted to your service" (see LS addico II.E).

lūce clārius: "more clearly than light," i.e. fully. The expression appears occasionally in Cicero and other authors.

aperīre: "show," "reveal," supply valeam.

3

ut primum poterō: “as soon as I am able.”

per: "through the agency of," "by" (OLD per 15), governs both valētūdinem and coniugis cōnsanguineōs.

coniugis consanguineōs: “my husband’s family members,” "my in-laws." 

dabitur: impersonal: "(permission) is granted," "it is allowed." (LS do II.B.2). The future indicative with cum indicates a definite time (LS cum I.A.3.c).

nullō modō: "in no way."

mē itinerī committere: "expose me to (the hardships of) the journey" (OLD committo 10).

adhūc: "as yet, " yet."

nē abortum patiātur foetus: “lest the fetus should suffer a miscarriage.” 

quod nefās esset: "which would be unspeakable."

Valeat … vivat: "be healthy … live," optative subjunctive (AG 441). Maria of Hungary died later this year, on October 18, 1558, at age 53.

Burgīs: "(this letter was written) in Burgos," locative. A standard way to close, familiar for example from Cicero's letters.

sequentī annō: "in the following year," i.e. 1558. Apparently a scribal notation (?).