TRAIĀNUS PLĪNIŌ
Quid oporteat fierī circā theātrum, quod incohātum apud Nicaeēnsēs est, in rē praesentī optimē dēlīberābis et cōnstituēs. Mihi sufficiet indicārī, cui sententiae accesseris. Tunc autem ā prīvātīs exige opera, cum theātrum, propter quod illa prōmissa sunt, factum erit. (2) Gymnasiīs indulgent Graeculī; ideō forsitan Nicaeensēs maiōre animō cōnstrūctiōnem eius adgressī sunt: sed oportet illōs eō contentōs esse, quod possit illīs sufficere. (3) Quid Claudiopolītānīs circā balineum quod parum, ut scrībīs, idōneō locō incohāvērunt suādendum sit, tū cōnstituēs. Architectī tibi dēesse nōn possunt. Nūlla prōvincia nōn et perītōs et ingeniōsōs hominēs habet; modo nē exīstimēs brevius esse ab urbe mittī, cum ex Graeciā etiam ad nōs venīre solitī sint.
notes
Trajan’s response to letter 10.39.
Quid oporteat fierī: “what ought to be done.” Indirect question.
circā: "about"—a late usage; almost dē + abl. (Kingery).
in rē praesentī: "on the spot," "at the scene of the action." OLD praesens 11.a.
sufficiet: “it will be sufficient” + infinitive (indicārī).
accesseris: "you have agreed to," + dat. LS accedo II.B.3. Pf. subj. in an indirect question.
Tunc autem ā prīvātīs exige opera, cum theātrum, propter quod illa prōmissa sunt, factum erit: order: Tunc autem exige opera ā prīvātīs, cum theātrum factum erit, propter quod illa (opera) prōmissa sunt.
Tunc ... cum: "at that point ... when."
exige: "exact payment for," "demand the construction of" + acc. LS exigo I.B.2.
opera: the basilicae and porticūs of 10.39 (Kingery).
(2)
Graeculī: contemptuous diminutive (Kingery). The tone is patronizing (Sherwin-White).
maiōre animō: ablative of manner, "with too much spirit," i.e. "over-zealously." For this common use of the comparative to denote excess, see AG 291.a.
eō: ablative after contentōs esse, looking forward to quod.
(3)
Quid Claudiopolītānīs circā balineum quod parum, ut scrībīs, idōneō locō incohāvērunt suādendum sit, tū cōnstituēs: order: tū cōnstituēs quid suādendum sit Claudiopolītānīs circā balineum quod parum idōneō locō incohāvērunt, ut scrībīs. Trajan's order highlights first the transition to a new topic (Claudiopolītānīs), and finally his instruction to Pliny, with the emphatic pronoun (tū cōnstituēs).
Claudiopolītānīs: dat. obj. of suadendum sit, as normal after suadeō.
cōnstituēs: "decide," "determine," LS constituo II.E. The future indicative = imperative (AG 449.b).
modo nē exīstimēs: "only don't imagine" (Kingery).
urbe: = Romā.
mittī: supply architectōs.
solitī sint: supply architectī.
vocabulary
(1)
incohō incohāre incohāvī incohātus: to lay the foundation, begin
Nicaeēnsis –e: Nicaean, of or from Nicaea
dēlīberō dēlīberāre dēlīberāvī dēlīberātus: to consider, deliberate
sufficiō sufficere suffēcī suffectum: to suffice, be sufficient
indicō -āre: inform
theātrum theātrī, n.: theater
(2)
gymnasium –iī, n.: an athletic center
indulgeō indulgēre indulsī indultus: to take pleasure in, indulge in, + dat.
Graeculus –a –um: Greek, Greekling
cōnstrūctiō –ōnis, f.: building, construction
adgredior (aggredior) aggredī aggressus sum: to embark upon
contentus –a –um: content, satisfied
(3)
Claudiopolītānus –a –um: of or from Claudiopolis
balineum –ī, n.: a bath building
idōneus –a –um: appropriate, suitable
suādeō suādēre suāsī suāsus: to advise, urge, persuade, + dat. of person
architectus –ī, m.: architect, engineer
perītus –a –um: skilled
ingeniōsus –a –um: talented, naturally clever
Graecia Graeciae, f.: Greece