Page 123 - Manual of Roman Everyday Writing Volume 2: Writing Equipment

122| MANUAL OF ROMAN EVERYDAY WRITING VOLUME 2: WRITING EQUIMENT | 123

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