[Sighting][First Hand] An Astonishing book
Posted: November 5th, 2024, 12:38 am
[x]Sighting - [ ]Unconfirmed
[x]First Hand - [ ]Second Hand - [ ]Questionable
Date of Encounter: November 3, 1995
Time; N/A
Location: New York, NY, USA
I am pleased to have found this forum, as I fear it may be the only place where I can relate a strange incident that recently occurred. I had decided to revisit my Latin studies, considering all the years I spent learning it in school but never applying it. I began with Caesar’s Gallic Wars, which I am sure many of you also remember from your own schooling, and all went well. Having completed that, I sought something different and chose Tacitus’ Annals. I attempted to order it through a new online bookstore called Amazon, selecting the Loeb volume containing the first three books. I am certain you have all seen the bookstore shelves lined with those small red and green hardcovers; it was from that very collection. All proceeded smoothly, and I was quite satisfied with my progress.
However, when I attempted to purchase the Loeb edition of Books 4-6, I found it sold out. Not wanting to wait, I opted to find the cheapest softcover edition available and begin with that. At the time, I thought the idea of an online bookstore seemed absurd and bound to fail—perhaps there was something else at play.
To my surprise, it was not a cheap softcover that arrived at my door. Instead, I received an old, well-worn, leather-bound volume that appeared to date back to at least the 19th century. Although unexpected, I was delighted; it was certainly worthy of a place on my bookshelf. I began translating from this book, progressing smoothly until I reached Book 5.
Quite unexpectedly, I translated the following passage: “I, Lucius Aelius Sejanus, write this in my final hours before execution as a warning to others who may find themselves about to embark upon my path. You must not accept him. You will not recognize the transaction, which will come from a trusted mentor, until the final instant. These past few weeks, I have endeavored to trace the voice back to prior victims. I shall attempt, as best I can in the time remaining, to record what I have discovered.”
Imagine my astonishment. As you all know, Sejanus rose from obscurity to become nearly a co-emperor during the later years of Tiberius Caesar’s reign. He carried what he believed to be an imperial decree from Tiberius on Capri to the Senate, confident it would confirm his elevation. Instead, it ordered his execution. In all of history, few have risen and then fallen as swiftly as Lucius Sejanus.
Since discovering this text, I have been feverishly translating it into English. While I have no way of verifying its authenticity or understanding how Sejanus might have learned of the information he references, what I have translated thus far is nothing short of astonishing. I would share a precise translation here, but I have somehow misplaced both the book and my notes. Some may describe my apartment as disheveled, but I pride myself on always knowing where I leave a book or note, even if it’s been five years. I will return with the translation once I locate it.
Marcus Tullius
[x]First Hand - [ ]Second Hand - [ ]Questionable
Date of Encounter: November 3, 1995
Time; N/A
Location: New York, NY, USA
I am pleased to have found this forum, as I fear it may be the only place where I can relate a strange incident that recently occurred. I had decided to revisit my Latin studies, considering all the years I spent learning it in school but never applying it. I began with Caesar’s Gallic Wars, which I am sure many of you also remember from your own schooling, and all went well. Having completed that, I sought something different and chose Tacitus’ Annals. I attempted to order it through a new online bookstore called Amazon, selecting the Loeb volume containing the first three books. I am certain you have all seen the bookstore shelves lined with those small red and green hardcovers; it was from that very collection. All proceeded smoothly, and I was quite satisfied with my progress.
However, when I attempted to purchase the Loeb edition of Books 4-6, I found it sold out. Not wanting to wait, I opted to find the cheapest softcover edition available and begin with that. At the time, I thought the idea of an online bookstore seemed absurd and bound to fail—perhaps there was something else at play.
To my surprise, it was not a cheap softcover that arrived at my door. Instead, I received an old, well-worn, leather-bound volume that appeared to date back to at least the 19th century. Although unexpected, I was delighted; it was certainly worthy of a place on my bookshelf. I began translating from this book, progressing smoothly until I reached Book 5.
Quite unexpectedly, I translated the following passage: “I, Lucius Aelius Sejanus, write this in my final hours before execution as a warning to others who may find themselves about to embark upon my path. You must not accept him. You will not recognize the transaction, which will come from a trusted mentor, until the final instant. These past few weeks, I have endeavored to trace the voice back to prior victims. I shall attempt, as best I can in the time remaining, to record what I have discovered.”
Imagine my astonishment. As you all know, Sejanus rose from obscurity to become nearly a co-emperor during the later years of Tiberius Caesar’s reign. He carried what he believed to be an imperial decree from Tiberius on Capri to the Senate, confident it would confirm his elevation. Instead, it ordered his execution. In all of history, few have risen and then fallen as swiftly as Lucius Sejanus.
Since discovering this text, I have been feverishly translating it into English. While I have no way of verifying its authenticity or understanding how Sejanus might have learned of the information he references, what I have translated thus far is nothing short of astonishing. I would share a precise translation here, but I have somehow misplaced both the book and my notes. Some may describe my apartment as disheveled, but I pride myself on always knowing where I leave a book or note, even if it’s been five years. I will return with the translation once I locate it.
Marcus Tullius