1.11

To Fabius Justus, a senator, close friend, and correspondent of Pliny. 

This letter is notable for Pliny’s uncharacteristically short, succinct sentences.

(1)

Ōlim: = iam pridem, "for a long time."

mittis: the present form with words like ōlim, iam diū, or iam dūdum, signifies a continuous action begun in the past. Translate as present perfect. AG 466.

quod scrībam: relative clause of characteristic (AG 534) set up by nihil est, “there is nothing (for me) to write about.” 

At hoc ipsum scrībe: “but write this very thing [at least]!”

nihil esse: indirect statement dependent on scrībe.

quod scrībās: another relative clause of characteristic also set up by nihil esse, “that there is nothing (for you) to write about.”

sōlum illud unde: direct object of scrībe, understood in this clause, “write only that (heading) under which.”

incipere: supply epistulās.

priōrēs: “our ancestors.” Literally: “those people who came before us.” LS prior I.B.

Sī valēs, bene est; ego valeō: “If you are well, that is good; I am well.” To Pliny, the act of writing, the act of communication, matters far more than the substance of that communication. 

These words make up a conventional opening formula in Roman letters, such as the letters of Cicero. They are sometimes represented by initials, with such variants as S.V.B. (sī valēs, bene [est]), S.V.B.E., S.V.B.E.V., and S.V.B.E.E.V. Seneca (Letters to Lucilius 15.1) describes Sī valēs, bene est; ego valeō as an old-fashioned formula traditionally placed at the beginning of a letter.

(2) 

maximum: “the most important part.” His health is the most important thing. LS magnus II A.

Lūdere mē: indirect statement after putās. Lūdere = iocāre.  

Sēriō petō: “I am perfectly serious.”

Fac sciam quid agās: “Make it so that I may know what you are doing.” Quid agās is an indirect question governed by sciam. Sciam is a jussive noun clause with the ut omitted, which is common after volō, dīc, and fac. AG 565.

sine sollicitūdine summā: alliteration.