Letter 104.4

Marcus Caesar to his master Marcus Fronto, greeting. 1. After I had climbed into the carriage, after I had said my farewell to you, we made the journey not too uncomfortably, though we were sprinkled a little by the rain. But before we reached the country house, we turned aside to Anagnia, about a mile off the road. Then we looked over that ancient town, a tiny place indeed, but one that holds within it many ancient things: shrines and sacred rites beyond measure. There was no corner where there was not a chapel or a sanctuary or a temple. Besides this, there are many linen books, in matters touching the sacred rites. Then on the gate, as we were going out, this was written there in two places: "Flamen, take the samentum." I asked one of the townspeople what that word might be. He said that in the Hernican tongue it means the little pelt from the sacrificial victim, which the flamen [a Roman priest dedicated to a particular deity] sets upon his peaked cap when he enters the city. We learned besides a great many other things which we were glad to know; but there is one thing only that we do not like, that you are away from us: that is our greatest concern. 2. Now then, after you set out from there, did you go off to the Aurelian district or to Campania? See that you write to me, both whether you have begun the vintage, and whether you have carried a multitude of books to your country house, and this too, whether you miss me, which I am foolish to ask, since you surely do so. Now, if you miss me and if you love me, you will send your letters to me often, that they may be a solace and a comfort to me. For I would ten times rather read your letters than all the vine-shoots of the Massic or the Gauran [hills famous for their wine]; for those Signian vines of yours have grapes too rank and berries too sour, so that I would rather drink the wine of them than the new must. Moreover, those grapes are far more agreeable to eat dried than ripe; for I would truly rather tread them with my feet than chew them with my teeth. But all the same, may they be gracious and well-disposed, and grant me a kind pardon for these jests of mine. Farewell, my most loving, most charming, most eloquent of men, my sweetest master. 3. When you see the new must fermenting in the vat, let it come into your mind that my longing for you thus seethes and overflows and foams up in my breast. Be ever well.

Signia , ? 144–145 A.D. to his master M. Fronto, greeting. 1. After getting into the carriage, when I had said good-bye to you, we did not have such a bad journey, though we got a slight wetting from the rain. But before reaching our country house we turned aside to Anagnia, about a mile off the main road. Then we inspected that ancient township, a tiny place, indeed, but containing many antiquities and buildings, and religious ceremonies beyond number. There was not a corner without its chapel or shrine or temple. Many books too, written on linen, and this has a religious significance. Then on the gate, as we came out, we found an inscription twice over to this effect: Flamen sume samentum . I asked one of the townsmen what the last word meant. He said it was Hernican for the pelt of the victim, which the priest draws over his peaked cap on entering the city. Quite a number of other things we learnt which we were glad to know; but the one thing we are not glad of is that it was in your absence: that is our chief concern. 2. Now for yourself, did you, when you left us, go to the Aurelian district or into Campania? Mind you tell me, and whether you have begun the vintage, and whether you have brought crowds of books to your country house, yes, and this, too, whether you miss me; and yet that is a foolish question, for you need no reminder to do that. Well, then, if you do miss me and do love me, you will write to me often to console me and cheer me up. For I would ten times rather have the run of your letters than of all the vineyards of the Massic and the Gauran Mount: for your clusters of Signia are too nauseous and their hemes too bitter, wherefore I would prefer their wine to their must for drinking. Besides it is much more agreeable to masticate the grapes parched than pulpy, for beyond question I would rather stamp them with my feet than champ them with my teeth. Yet may they be gracious and forgiving, and for these pleasantries a kindly pardon grant. Farewell, to me most affectionate, most delightful, most eloquent of men, master most sweet. When you see the must fermenting in the cask, let it remind you that my longing for you wells up thus and overflows and foams in my breast. Fare ever well.

ad M. Caesarem 4.4 [60 Hout; 1.174 Haines] M. Caesar M. Frontoni magistro suo salutem 1 Postquam vehiculum inscendi, postquam te salutavi, iter non adeo incommodum nos fecimus sed paululum pluvia aspersi sumus. Sed priusquam ad villam venimus, Anagniam devertimus mille fere passus a via. Deinde id oppidum anticum vidimus, minutulum quidem, sed multas res in se antiquas habet, aedes sanctasque caerimonias supra modum. Nullus angulus fuit ubi delubrum aut fanum aut templum non sit. Praeterea multi libri lintei, quod ad sacra adtinet. Deinde in porta cum eximus ibi scriptum erat bifariam sic: “Flamen sume samentum”. Rogavi aliquem ex popularibus quid illud evrbum esset. Ait lingua Hernica pelliculam de hostia, quam in apicem suum flame,n cum in urbem introeat, inponit. Multa adeo alia didicimus, quae vellemus scire; verum id solum est, quod nolimus, cum tu a nobis abes: Ea nobis maxima sollicitudo est. 2 Nunc tu postquam inde profectus est, utrumne in Aureliam an in Campaniam abisti? Fac scribas mihi, et an vindemias inchoaveris, et an ad villam multitudinem librorum tuleris, et illud quoque an me desideres, quod ego stulte requiro, quom tu certe facis. Nunc tu si me desideres atque si me ames, litteras tuas ad me frequentes mittes, quod mihi solacium atque fomentum sit. Nam decem partibus tuas litteras legere malim quam omnes Massicos aut Gauranos palmites; nam Signini quidem isti nimis rancidos racemos et acidos acinos habent, quod vinum malim quam mustum bibere. Praeterea istas uvas multo commodius passas quam puberes manducare; nam profecto malim eas pedibus calcare quam dentibus comesse. Sed tamen propitiae placataequa sint et mihi pro istic jocularibs bonam veniam duint. Vale mihi homo amicissime, suavissime, disertissime, magister dulcissime. 3 Quom videbis in dolio mustum fervere, in mentem tibi veniat mihi sic in pectore tuum desiderium scatere et abundare et spumas facere. Semper vale.