Stories from Aulus Gellius Being Selections And Adaptations From The Noctes Atticae

Nothing is known about the life of A. Gellius beyond what can be gathered from occasional hints in his own writings; it has even been disputed whether his name was Agellius or A. Gellius. Probably he was a Roman by birth, of good family and connections. He seems to have spent his early years at Rome, studying under the celebrated teachers, Sulpicius Apollinaris, T. Castricius, and Antonius Julianus (cf. xxxiv. 1): to have continued his studies at Athens, where he lived on terms of familiarity with Herodes Atticus, Calvisius Taurus, Peregrinus Proteus, and other famous philosophers of that day: and after the lapse of many years to have returned to Rome, and devoted the remaining years of his life to literary pursuits and the society of a large circle of friends. The dates of his birth and death are unknown, but from the names of his teachers and friends it is certain that he lived during the reigns of Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius, 117-180 A.D.

The only work of A. Gellius that has reached us, possibly the only one that he wrote, is the "Noctes Atticae," so called because it was begun during the long nights of winter in a country house in Attica (longinquis per hiemen noctibus in agro terrae Atticae). It consists of numerous extracts from Greek and Roman writers on subjects connected with history, philosophy, philology, and antiquities, illustrated by abundant criticisms and discussions. These extracts are thrown together without any attempt at order or arrangement, and divided into twenty books. He had been accustomed whilst reading, he says, to make notes upon anything which struck him as worth remembering. These notes he embodied with little change in his work, in the same haphazard order in which they had been made (usi autem sumus ordine rerum fortuito quem antea in excerpendo feceramus).

Naturally the various parts of such a 'Miscellany' vary greatly in quality. Some portions of it are highly valuable and interesting. For instance, many quotations are preserved from ancient authors whose works have perished, some of which throw light upon questions of constitutional and antiquarian interest, which would otherwise have remained obscure; many literary and historical anecdotes are given which are valuable in themselves; and some important grammatical usages and theories are noted. But the author's appetite was omnivorous. He is as eager to tell the story of a marvellous African serpent, 120 feet in length, whose destruction required the utmost efforts of a whole Roman army, with their ballistae and catapultae (magna totius exercitus conflictione, ballistis atque catapultis diu oppugnatum. --_N. A._ vii. 3), or to discuss some absurd etymology, such as that of avarus from avidus aeris, as to preserve some really valuable detail of senatorial procedure, or record the use and origin of obscure constitutional phrases. His own criticisms, moreover, are as a rule worthless, and his translations are feeble; but in spite of all these defects his work is exceedingly interesting, and we could ill afford to lose it.

His Latin style shows the defects of his age, an age in which the Romans had ceased to feel the full meaning of the words which they used, and endeavoured to gain emphasis by employing obscure phrases and unnatural turns of expression. But these peculiarities are even more noticeable in the writings of his contemporaries.

STORIES FROM AULUS GELLIUS.

I. VERGIL AND HIS POEMS.

Vergil, who spent much labour in polishing his verses, used to compare himself to a bear, which licks its cubs into shape.

Dicebat P. Vergilius, ut amici eius familiaresque ferunt, se parere versus more ursino. "Namque ut illa bestia" inquit, "fetum edit informem lambendoque postea conformat et fingit, sic ingenii quoque mei partus primum rudes et inperfecti sunt, sed tractando corrigendoque reddo iis oris et vultus liniamenta." {6}

II. MENANDER AND PHILEMON.

The poet Menander, meeting his successful rival Philemon, asked him if he did not feel ashamed to defeat him.

Menander a Philemone, nequaquam pari scriptore, in certaminibus comoediarum ambitu gratiâque saepenumero vincebatur. Ei forte obviam factus est Menander, et "Quaeso" inquit, "Philemo, bonâ veniâ dic mihi, cum me vincis, nonne erubescis?" {5}

III. THE PALM TREE.

The palm has been made the emblem of victory, because its wood does not yield, when heavy weights are placed upon it.

Rem hercle mirandam Aristoteles et Plutarchus dicunt. "Si super palmae arboris lignum" inquiunt "magna pondera imponis, non deorsum palma cedit nec intra flectitur, sed adversus pondus resurgit et sursum recurvatur; propterea in certaminibus palma signum victoriae facta est, quoniam urgentibus opprimentibusque non cedit." {7}

IV. SOCRATES AND HIS WIFE.

Socrates, when asked why he endured his quarrelsome wife, replied that to bear her temper was good discipline.

Xanthippe, Socratis philosophi uxor, admodum morosa et litigiosa fuisse fertur, irisque muliebribus per diem perque noctem scatebat. Quam rem in maritum Socraten Alcibiades demiratus, "Cur mulierem" inquit "tam acerbam domo non exigis?" "Quoniam," respondit Socrates, "cum illam domi talem perpetior, insuesco et exerceor, ut ceterorum quoque foris petulantiam et iniuriam facilius feram." {8}

V. THE SELF-DISCIPLINE OF SOCRATES.

Socrates used to train himself to bear fatigue by standing motionless for twenty-four hours at a time. His health was always perfect.

Inter labores voluntarios corporis firmandi causâ id quoque accepimus Socraten facere insuevisse: stabat per diem perque noctem a lucis ortu ad solem alterum orientem immobilis, iisdem in vestigiis, et ore atque oculis eundem in locum directis, cogitans, tamquam quodam secessu mentis atque animi facto a corpore. {7}

Temperantiâ quoque tantâ fuisse traditus est, ut omnem fere vitam valitudine integrâ vixerit. In eâ etiam pestilentiâ, quae in belli Peloponnensiaci principiis Atheniensium civitatem depopulata est, dicitur vigorem corporis retinuisse. {12}

VI. ALEXANDER AND BUCEPHALAS.

How Alexander obtained his famous charger Bucephalas, how it saved his life in battle, and how the King showed his gratitude.

Equus Alexandri regis nomine Bucephalas fuit. Emptum Chares scripsit talentis tredecim et regi Philippo donatum; hoc autem aeris nostri summa est sestertia trecenta duodecim. De hoc equo haec memoriâ digna accepimus. {5} Ubi ornatus erat armatusque ad proelium, haud umquam inscendi sese ab alio, nisi ab rege passus est. Bello Indico cum insidens in eo Alexander facinora faceret fortia, in hostium cuneum, non satis sibi providens, inmisit. Coniectis undique in Alexandrum telis, vulneribus altis in cervice atque in latere equus perfossus est. {11} Moribundus tamen ac prope iam exanguis e mediis hostibus regem citato cursu retulit atque, ubi eum extra tela extulerat, ilico concidit et, domini iam superstitis securus, animam expiravit. Tum rex Alexander, partâ eius belli victoriâ, oppidum in iisdem locis condidit idque ob equi honores Bucephalon appellavit. {17}

VII. ALCIBIADES AND THE PIPES.

Alcibiades, when a boy, refused to learn to play the pipes, because they distorted the player's mouth.

Alcibiades Atheniensis apud avunculum Periclen educatus est, qui artibus ac disciplinis liberalibus puerum docendum curavit. Inter alios magistros tibicinem arcessi iussit, ut eum canere tibiis doceret, quod honestissimum tum videbatur. Traditas sibi tibias Alcibiades ad os adhibuit inflavitque; sed ubi oris deformitatem vidit, abiecit infregitque. Cum ea res percrebuisset, omnium tum Atheniensium consensu disciplina tibiis canendi desita est. {9}

VIII. FABRICIUS AND THE SAMNITE GOLD.

Fabricius refused rich presents, which the Samnites offered him, saying that, while he retained command over his senses, he had all that he needed.

Legati a Samnitibus ad C. Fabricium, imperatorem populi Romani, venerunt et, memoratis multis magnisque rebus, quae bene post redditam pacem Samnitibus fecisset, dono grandem pecuniam obtulerunt. "Quae facimus" Samnites inquiunt, "quod multa ad splendorem domus atque victus defieri videmus." {6} Tum Fabricius manus ab auribus ad oculos et infra deinceps ad nares et ad os et ad gulam deduxit, et legatis ita respondit: "Dum his omnibus membris, quae attigi, imperare possum, numquam quicquam mihi deerit; quamobrem hanc pecuniam, quâ nihil mihi est usus, a vobis, qui eâ uti scitis, non accipio." {12}

IX. HANNIBAL'S JEST.

Antiochus, proud of his army, asked Hannibal if they were 'enough for the Romans.' 'Quite enough,' replied Hannibal, 'however greedy the Romans are.'

Antiochus ostendebat Hannibali in campo copias ingentis, quas bellum populo Romano facturus comparaverat, convertebatque exercitum insignibus argenteis et aureis micantem; inducebat etiam currus cum falcibus et elephantos cum turribus equitatumque frenis, ephippiis, monilibus, phaleris fulgentem. {6} Atque ibi rex Hannibalem aspicit et "Putasne" inquit "satis esse Romanis haec omnia?" Tum Poenus, eludens ignaviam militum eius tam pretiose armatorum, "Satis, plane satis esse credo Romanis haec omnia, etiamsi avarissimi sunt." {11}

X. THE DEATH OF MILO.

Milo, when enfeebled by age, tried to tear a tree open, but the wood closed on his hands and he perished miserably.

Milo Crotoniensis, athleta inlustris, exitum habuit e vita miserandum et mirandum. Cum iam natu grandis artem athleticam desisset iterque faceret forte solus in locis Italiae silvestribus, quercum vidit proxime viam rimis in parte mediâ hiantem. {5} Tum experiri etiam tunc volens, an ullae sibi vires adessent, inmissis in cavernas arboris digitis, diducere et rescindere quercum conatus est. Ac mediam quidem partem discidit divellitque; quercus autem in duas diducta partis, cum ille manus laxasset, rediit in naturam, manibusque eius retentis inclusisque dilacerandum hominem feris praebuit. {12}

XI. A HOAX:--THE STORY OF PAPIRIUS PRAETEXTATUS.

The young Papirius, pressed by his mother to reveal the secret proceedings of the Senate, told her that they had debated whether it was better for one husband to have two wives, or one wife two husbands.

Mos antea senatoribus Romae fuit, in curiam cum praetextatis filiis introire. Forte res maior quaepiam consultata et in diem posterum prolata est, placuitque ut eam rem ne quis enuntiaret, priusquam decreta esset. Sed mater Papirii pueri, qui cum patre suo in curiâ fuerat, percontata est filium, quidnam in senatu patres egissent. {7} Puer respondit tacendum esse neque id dici licere. Mulier autem fit audiendi cupidior, ac tandem puer matre urgente lepidi mendacii consilium capit. Actum in senatu dixit, utrum videretur utilius exque republicâ esse, unusne ut duas uxores haberet, an ut una duobus nupta esset. {12}

XII. THE RESULT OF THE HOAX.