What Happens

Pliny continues describing his uncle's extraordinary dedication to learning in every possible context. Even amidst the busy work and noise of Rome, his uncle maintained his scholarly routine. When at his country villa, only bath time was exempt from study - but even then, only the actual washing part! While being scraped and towelled down, he still listened to readings or dictated notes. Travel became pure study time since he was freed from other duties. His secretary travelled with him, equipped with mittens in winter so cold weather couldn't interrupt their work. He used a sedan chair in Rome for the same reason - to maximise study opportunities. The section ends with a personal anecdote: young Pliny was once criticised by his uncle for walking instead of being carried, because walking time was "wasted" time that could have been spent studying. The letter concludes with a simple "vale" (farewell).

Historical Context

This passage reveals much about Roman elite lifestyle and transport. Country retreats (secessus) were common for wealthy Romans seeking escape from urban pressures. Roman bathing involved being scraped with a strigil and towelled down - a time-consuming process that Pliny's uncle optimised for productivity. The use of secretaries (notarii) for dictation was standard practice for important Romans, and the mention of winter mittens shows attention to practical details. Sedan chairs (sellae) were luxury transport in Rome, typically used by the very wealthy or those of high status - using one purely to create study time shows both wealth and priorities. Roman letters typically ended with "vale," making this a conventional epistolary closure. The uncle's obsession with never wasting time reflects Roman values around otium (leisure) versus negotium (business), though he transforms both into opportunities for learning.

Questions to Consider

• What does the contrast between "city noise" and country retreat suggest about Roman urban life and the need for escape?
• How does the detailed description of the secretary with mittens show the uncle's thoroughness in eliminating obstacles to learning?
• What does the criticism of walking reveal about different attitudes toward time and productivity between generations?
• How does the uncle's philosophy that "all time not spent on studies was wasted" compare with modern ideas about work-life balance?
• What does the simple "vale" ending suggest about the tone and purpose of this letter - is it admiring, critical, or simply descriptive?