Page 125 - Manual of Roman Everyday Writing Volume 2: Writing Equipment

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Pliny the Younger, Letters 3.5.15: libraries Ptolemy suppressed the export of paper, parchment was
In itinere quasi solutus ceteris curis, huic uni vacabat: ad latus notarius invented at Pergamum.
cum libro et pugillaribus, cuius manus hieme manicis muniebantur, ut (Transl. H. Rackham, Loeb)
ne caeli quidem asperitas ullum studii tempus eriperet. Pliny, Natural History 13.74–82:
When travelling he felt free from other responsibilities to give Praeparatur ex eo charta diviso acu in praetenues sed quam latissimas
every minute to work; he kept a secretary at his side with book philyras; principatus medio, atque inde scissurae ordine. prima
and notebook, and in winter saw that his hands were protected hieratica appellabatur antiquitus religiosis tantum voluminibus dicata,
by long sleeves, so that even bitter weather should not rob him quae adulatione Augusti nomen accepit, sicut (75) secunda Liviae a
of a working hour. coniuge eius: ita descendit hieratica in tertium nomen. proximum
(Transl. B. Radice, Loeb)
amphitheatricae datum fuerat a confecturae loco. excepit hanc Romae
Pliny, Natural History 9.148: Fanni sagax officina, tenuatamque curiosa interpolatione principalem
Spongearum tria genera accepimus: spissum ac praedurum et asperum fecit e plebeia et nomen ei (76) dedit; quae non esset ita recurata in suo
tragos [id] vocatur, spissum et mollius manos, tenue densumque, ex quo mansit amphitheatrica. post hanc Saitica ab oppido ubi maxima
penicilli, Achillium. fertilitas, ex vilioribus ramentis, propiorque etiamnum cortici
We are informed that there are three kinds of sponge: a thick Taeneotica a vicino loco, pondere iam haec, non bonitate, venalis. nam
and very hard and rough one is called goat-thorn sponge, a emporitica inutilis scribendo involucris chartarum segestribusque
less thick and softer one loose-sponge, and a thin one of close mercium usum praebet, ideo a mercatoribus cognominata. post hanc
texture, used for making paint-brushes, Achilles sponge. papyrum est extremumque eius scirpo simile ac ne funibus quidem nisi
(Transl. H. Rackham, Loeb) in umore utile. (77) Texitur omnis madente tabula Nili aqua: turbidus
liquor vim glutinis praebet. in rectum primo supina tabulae schida
Pliny, Natural History 13.30: adlinitur longitudine papyri quae potuit esse resegminibus utrimque
Folia, cultrato mucrone lateribus in sese bifida, tabellas primum amputatis, traversa postea crates peragit. premitur ergo prelis, et
demonstravere geminas, nunc ad funes vitiliumque nexus et capitum siccantur sole plagulae atque inter se iunguntur, proximarum semper
levia umbracula finduntur. bonitatis deminutione ad deterrimas. numquam plures scapo quam
The leaves have a knife-like edge at the sides and are divided vicenae. (78) Magna in latitudine earum differentia: xiii digitorum
into two flanges that fold together; they first suggested folding optimis, duo detrahuntur hieraticae, Fanniana denos habet, et uno
tablets for writing, but at the present day they are split up to minus amphitheatrica, pauciores Saitica nec malleo sufficit, nam
make ropes and plaited wicker-work and parasols. emporiticae brevitas sex digitos non excedit. praeterea spectantur in
(Transl. H. Rackham, Loeb)
(79) chartis tenuitas, densitas, candor, levor. primatum mutavit
Pliny, Natural History 13.70: Claudius Caesar. nimia quippe Augustae tenuitas tolerandis non
Mox aemulatione circa bibliothecas regum Ptolemaei et Eumenis, sufficiebat calamis; ad hoc tramittens litteras liturae metum adferebat
supprimente chartas Ptolemaeo, idem Varro membranas Pergami tradit ex aversis, et alias indecoro visu pertralucida. igitur e secundo corio
repertas. statumina facta (80) sunt, e primo subtemina. auxit et latitudinem
Subsequently, also according to Varro, when owing to the pedali mensura. erat et cubitalis macrocolis, sed ratio deprehendit
rivalry between King Ptolemy and King Eumenes about their vitium unius schidae revolsione plures infestante paginas. ob haec