Page 122 - Manual of Roman Everyday Writing Volume 2: Writing Equipment

122| MANUAL OF ROMAN EVERYDAY WRITING
In her right hand she holds her pen, in her left an empty waxen
tablet. She begins, then hesitates and stops; writes on and hates
what she has written; writes and erases; changes, condemns,
approves; by turns she lays her tablets down and takes them up
again.
(Transl. F. J. Miller, Loeb)
Ovid, Tristia 1.1.105–110:
Cum tamen in nostrum fueris penetrale receptus, / contigerisque tuam,
scrinia curva, domum, / aspicies illic positos ex ordine fratres, / quos
studium cunctos evigilavit idem. / cetera turba palam titulos ostendet
apertos, / et sua detecta nomina fronte geret; tres procul obscura
latitantes parte videbis,— / sic quoque, quod nemo nescit, amare
docent.
But when you find refuge in my sanctuary, reaching your own
home, the round book-cases, you will behold there brothers
arranged in order—brothers whom the same craftmanship
produced with toil and waking. The rest of the band will display
their titles openly, bearing their names on their exposed edges,
but three at some distance will strive to hide themselves in a
dark place, as you will notice—even so, as everybody knows,
they teach how to love.
(Transl. A. L. Wheeler, Loeb)
Ovid, Tristia 1.1.11–12:
Nec fragili geminae poliantur pumice frontes, / hirsutus passis ut
videare comis.
Let no brittle pumice polish your two edges; I would have you
appear with locks all rough and disordered.
(Transl. A. L. Wheeler, Loeb)
P.Fouad 74:
ὑπομνηστικὸν τῷ τιμιωτάτῳ ἀ[δε]λφῷ Δανιηλίῳ, μυροπώλῃ, / παρʼ ἐμοῦ
Φοιβάμμωνος, νομικοῦ, ὅπως σὺν Θεῷ / παραγιγνομένη ἡ αὐτοῦ διάθεσις
ἐπὶ τῆς μεγαλοπόλεως / Ἀλεξανδρείας συνωνήσῃ μοι τὰ ἑξῆς δηλούμενα,
/ οὕτως· / στιχάριον ἀντιοχήσιον, ἔμπλουμον, ἀπὸ ὀλίγης χρήσεως, / ἕως
τιμῆς κερ(ατίων) ι, πλέον ἔλαττον, / θρόνιον μικρὸν ἕν , πεποιημένον
VOLUME 2: WRITING EQUIMENT | 123
εἰς τὸ ἐργαστήριον, / μέλαν, κάλαμον ἀντιοχήσιον, διπλοῦν ἓν ἕως
κερ(ατίου) α, / δελτάριον τετράγωνον μέγα δεκάπτηχον, τῶν / πτηχίων
γιγνομένων λεπτῶν ὡσεὶ φυλλαρίων / καὶ ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν ξύλον μικρὸν
ἵνα μὴ τὸ κη̣ριο̣ / -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
A reminder for the highly esteemed brother Danielios, the
ointment dealer, from me, the lawyer/scribe Phoibammon, so
that when, God willing, his (i.e. your) sale takes place at the
large city of Alexandria, you will buy for me the following,
namely: an antiochian sticharion (garment), embroidered, little
used, for up to 10 keratia, preferably less; a small stool, made for
the workshop; black (sc. ink); an antiochian reed pen, a double
one, for up to one keration; a rectangular, large writing tablet,
with ten tablets, the tablets thin as leaves (phyllaria) and in
their centre a small piece of wood, so the wax does not…
(Transl. A. Willi)
Persius 3.10–20:
iam liber et positis bicolor membrana capillis / inque manus chartae
nodosaque venit harundo. / tum querimur crassus calamo quod pendeat
umor / nigra sed infusa vanescit sepia lympha, / dilutas querimur
geminet quod fistula guttas. (…) an tali studeam calamo?
Now my book comes to hand, and the two-tone parchment
smoothed of hair, some paper and a jointed reed pen. Then we
start whining: the liquid hangs from the nib too thickly, but
when water’s added, the black cuttle ink thins and we whine
that the reed keeps globbing together the diluted drops. (…) But
how can I work with a pen like this?
(Transl. S. Morton Braund, Loeb)
Plautus, Baccides 4.4.74–112:
CHRYS.: Nunc tu abi intro, Pistoclere, ad Bacchidem, atque ecfer cito /
PIST.: Quid?
CHRYS.: Stilum, ceram et tabellas, linum.
Chrys.: Now go inside to Bacchis, Pistoclerus, and quickly bring
out— / PIST.: (interrupting) What? CHRYS.: A pen, wax and
tablets, and thread.
(Transl. W. de Melo, Loeb)