by Frontinus
[78] Fit ergo distributio quinariarum quattuordecim milium decem et octo, ita ut quinariae DCCLXXI, quae ex quibusdam aquis in adiutorium aliarum dantur et bis in speciem erogationis cadunt, semel in computationem veniant. Ex his dividuntur extra urbem quinariae quattuor milia sexaginta tres: ex quibus nomine Caesaris quinariae mille septingentae decem et octo, privatis quinariae § § CCCXXXXV. Reliquae intra urbem VIIII milia nongentae quinquaginta quinque distribuebantur in castella ducenta quadraginta septem: ex quibus erogabantur sub nomine Caesaris quinariae mille septingentae septem semis, privatis quinariae tria milia octingentae quadraginta septem, usibus publicis quinariae quattuor milia quadringentae una: ex eo castris ducentinarie quinariae ducentae septuaginta novem, operibus publicis septuaginta quinque quinariae § § CCCI, muneribus triginta novem quinariae CCCLXXXVI, lacibus quingentis nonaginta uni quinariae § trecentae triginta quinque. Sed et haec ipsa dispensatio per nomina aquarum et regiones urbis partienda est.
[78] Now the distribution of the 14,018 quinariae is so recorded that the 771 quinariae which are transferred from certain aqueducts to supplement others and are set down twice in showing the distribution, figure only once in reckoning. Of this quantity there are delivered outside the City, 4,063 quinariae, 1,718 quinariae in the name of Caesar, to private parties, 2,345. The remaining 9,955 were distributed within the City to 247 reservoirs; of these there were delivered in the name of Caesar 1,707½ quinariae, to private parties 3,847 quinariae, for public uses 4,401 quinariae, — namely to … camps 279 quinariae, to seventy-five public structures 2,301 quinariae, to thirty-nine ornamental fountains 386 quinariae, to five hundred and ninety-one water-basins 1,335 quinariae. But the schedule must be made to apply also to the several aqueducts and to the several wards of the City.
[79] Ex quinariis ergo quattuordecim milibus decem et octo, quam summam erogationibus omnium aquarum seposuimus, dantur nomine Appiae extra urbem quinariae tantummodo quinque, quoniam humilior turetia metitoribus. Reliquae quinariae sescentae nonaginta novem intra urbem dividebantur per regiones secundam IIX VIIII XI XII XIII XIV in castella viginti: ex quibus nomine Caesaris quinariae centum quinquaginta una, privatis quinariae centum nonaginta quattuor, usibus publicis quinariae trecentae quinquaginta quattuor: ex eo castris I quinariae quattuor, operibus publicis quattuordecim quinariae centum viginti tres, muneri uni quinariae duae, lacibus nonaginta duobus quinariae ducentae viginti sex.
[79] Of the 14,018 quinariae, then, which we set down as the total discharge of all the aqueducts, only 5 quinariae are given from Appia outside the City because [its source is so low]. The remaining 699 quinariae were distributed within the City throughout the second, eighth, ninth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth wards, among twenty reservoirs. Of these there were furnished in the name of Caesar 151 quinariae, to private parties 194 quinariae, for public uses 354 quinariae, — namely, to one camp 4 quinariae, to fourteen public structures 123 quinariae, to one ornamental fountain 2 quinariae, to ninety-two water-basins 226 quinariae.
[80] Anionis Veteris erogabantur extra urbem nomine Caesaris quinariae centum sexaginta novem, privatis quinariae CCCCIIII. Reliquae quinariae mille quingentae octo semis intra urbem dividebantur per regiones primam III IIII V VI VII VIII VIIII XII XIIII in castella triginta quinque: ex quibus nomine Caesaris quinariae sexaginta VI S, privatis quinariae CCCCXC, usibus publicis quinariae quingentae tres: ex eo castris unis quinariae quinquaginta, operibus publicis XIX quinariae centum nonaginta sex, muneribus novem quinariae octoginta octo, lacibus nonaginta quattuor quinariae octoginta decem et octo.
[80] Out of Old Anio were delivered outside the City in the name of Caesar 169 quinariae, to private parties 404 quinariae. The remaining 1,508½ quinariae were distributed inside the City through the first, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, twelfth, and fourteenth wards, among thirty-five reservoirs. Of these there were furnished in the name of Caesar 66½ quinariae, for the use of private parties 490 quinariae, for public uses 503 quinariae, — namely, to one camp 50 quinariae, to nineteen public structures 196 quinariae, to nine ornamental fountains 88 quinariae, to ninety-four water-basins 218 quinariae.
[81] Marciae erogabantur extra urbem nomine Caesaris quinariae CCLXI S. Reliquae quinariae mille quadringenta septuaginta duae intra urbem dividebantur per regiones primam tertiam quartam V VI VII VIII VIIII X XIIII in castella quinquaginta unum: ex quibus nomine Caesaris quinariae CXVI, privatis quinariae quingentae quadraginta tres, usibus publicis quinariae CCCCXXXVIIII: ex eo castris IIII quinariae XLIIS, operibus publicis quindecim quinariae XLI, muneribus XII quinariae CIIII, lacibus CXIII quinariae CCLVI.
[81] Out of Marcia were delivered outside the City in the name of Caesar 261½ quinariae. The remaining 1,472 quinariae were distributed inside the City through the first, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, and fourteenth wards, among fifty-one reservoirs. Of these there were furnished in the name of Caesar 116 quinariae, to private parties 543 quinariae, for public uses 439 quinariae, — namely, to four camps 42½ quinariae, to fifteen public structures 41 quinariae, to twelve ornamental fountains 104 quinariae, to one hundred and thirteen water-basins 256 quinariae.
[82] Tepulae erogabantur extra urbem nomine Caesaris quinariae LVIII, privatis quinariae quinquaginta sex. Reliquae quinariae CCCXXXI intra urbem dividebantur per regiones quartam V VI VII in castella XIIII: ex quibus nomine Caesaris quinariae XXXIIII, privatis quinariae CCXXXVII, usibus publicis quinariae quinquaginta: ex eo castris I quinariae duodecim, operibus publicis III quinariae septem, lacibbus XIII quinariae XXXII.
[82] Out of Tepula there were delivered outside the City in the name of Caesar 58 quinariae, to private parties 56 quinariae. The remaining 331 quinariae were distributed within the City through the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh wards among fourteen reservoirs. Of these there were furnished in the name of Caesar 34 quinariae, to private parties 237 quinariae, for public uses 50 quinariae, — namely, to one camp 12 quinariae, to three public structures 7 quinariae, to thirteen basins 32 quinariae.
[83] Iuliae fluebant extra urbem nomine Caesaris quinariae LXXX quinque, privatis quinariae CXXI. Reliquae quinariae quingentae quadraginta octo intra urbem dividebantur per regiones secundam III V VI VIII X XII in castella decem et septem: ex quibus nomine Caesaris quinariae decem et octo, privatis quinariae, CXCVI, usibus publicis quinariae CCCLXXXIII: ex eo castris octo usibus publicis quinariae sexaginta novem, operibus publicis quinariae CXXCI, muneribus III quinariae sexaginta septem, lacibus viginti octo quinariae sexaginta quinque.
[83] Out of Julia there were flowed outside the City in the name of Caesar 85 quinariae, to private parties 121 quinariae. The remaining 548 quinariae were distributed within the City to the second, third, fifth, sixth, eighth, tenth, and twelfth wards, among seventeen reservoirs. Of these there were furnished in the name of Caesar 18 quinariae, to private parties 196 quinariae, for public uses 383 quinariae, — namely, to … camps 69 quinariae, to … public structures 181 quinariae, to three ornamental fountains 67 quinariae, to twenty-eight basins 65 quinariae.
[84] Virginis nomine exibant extra urbem quinariae ducentae. Reliquae quinariae duo milia trecentae quattuor intra urbem dividebantur per regiones septimam nonam quartamdecimam in castella decem et octo: ex quibus nomine Caesaris quinariae quingentae novem, privatis quinariae CCCXXXVIII, usibus publicis § centum sexaginta septem: ex eo muneribus II quinariae XXVI, lacibus viginti quinque quinariae quinquaginta una, operibus publicis sedecim quinariae § CCCLXXX, in quibus per se Euripo, cui ipsa nomen dedit, quinariae CCCCLX.
[84] Virgo delivered outside the City 200 quinariae. The remaining 2,304 quinariae were distributed within the City to the seventh, ninth, and fourteenth wards, among eighteen reservoirs. Of these there were furnished in the name of Caesar 509 quinariae, to private parties 338 quinariae, for public uses 1,167 quinariae, — namely, to two ornamental fountains 26 quinariae, to twenty-five basins 51 quinariae, to sixteen public structures 1,380 quinariae. In the amount d
elivered to public structures are included 460 quinariae for the Euripus alone, to which Virgo itself gave its name.
[85] Alsietinae quinariae trecentae nonaginta duae. Haec tota extra urbem consumitur, nomine Caesaris quinariae ducentae quinquaginta quattuor, privatis quinariae centum triginta octo.
[85] Alsietina has 392 quinariae. These are all used outside the City, 254 quinariae being furnished in the name of Caesar, and to private parties 138 quinariae.
[86] Claudia et Anio Novus extra urbem proprio quaeque rivo erogabantur, intra urbem confundebantur. Et Claudia quidem extra urbem dabat nomine Caesaris quinarias CC XI VI, privatis quinarias CCCCXXX novem; Anio Novus nomine Caesaris quinarias septingentas viginti octo. Reliquae utriusque quinariae tria milia quadringentae nonaginta octo intra urbem dividebantur per regiones urbis XIIII in castella nonaginta duo; ex quibus nomine Caesaris quinariae octingentae XV V, privatis quinariae § sexaginta septem, usibus publicis quinariae § XIV: ex eo castris novem quinariae centum quadraginta novem, operibus publicis decem et octo quinariae CCCLXXIIII, muneribus XII quinariae centum septem, lacibus CC viginti sex quinariae CCCCXXCII.
[86] Outside the City, Claudia and New Anio delivered each from its own channel; inside the City they were mixed together. Claudia discharged outside the City in the name of Caesar 217 quinariae, to private parties 439 quinariae; New Anio delivered in the name of Caesar 728 quinariae. The remaining 3,498 quinariae belonging to these two were distributed inside the City through all the fourteen wards, among ninety-two reservoirs. Of these, there were furnished in the name of Caesar 820 quinariae, to private parties 1,067 quinariae, for public uses 1,014 quinariae, — namely, to nine camps 149 quinariae, to eighteen public structures 374 quinariae, to twelve ornamental fountains 107 quinariae, to two hundred and twenty-six basins 482 quinariae.
[87] Haec copia aquarum ad Nervam imperatorem usque computata ad hunc modum discribebatur. Nunc providentia diligentissimi principis quicquid aut fraudibus aquariorum intercipiebatur aut inertia pervertebatur, quasi nova inventione fontium accrevit. Ac prope duplicata ubertas est et tam sedula deinde partitione distributa, ut regionibus quibus singulae serviebant aquae plures darentur, tamquam Caelio et Aventino in quos sola Claudia per arcus Neronianos ducebatur, quo fiebat ut quotiens refectio aliqua intervenisset, celeberrimi colles sitirent. Quibus nunc plures aquae et in primis Marcia reddita amplo opere a Spe in Aventinum usque perducitur. Atque etiam omni parte urbis lacus tam novi quam veteres plerique binos salientes diversarum aquarum acceperunt, ut si casus alterutram impedisset, altera sufficiente non destitueretur usus.
[87] This is the schedule of the amount of water as reckoned up to the time of the Emperor Nerva and this is the way in which it was distributed. But now, by the foresight of the most painstaking of sovereigns, whatever was unlawfully drawn by the water-men, or was wasted as the result of negligence, has been added to our supply: just as though new sources had been discovered. And in fact the supply has been almost doubled, and has been distributed with such careful allotment that wards which were previously supplied by only one aqueduct now receive the water of several. Take for example the Caelian and Aventine hills, to which Claudia alone used to run on the arches of Nero. The result was, that whenever any repairs caused interruptions, these densely inhabited hills suffered a drought. They are all now supplied by several aqueducts, above all, by Marcia, which has been rebuilt on a substantial structure and carried from Spes Vetus to the Aventine. In all parts of the City also, the basins, new and old alike, have for the most part been connected with the different aqueducts by two pipes each, so that if accident should put either of the two out of commission, the other may serve and the service may not be interrupted.
[88] Sentit hanc curam imperatoris piissimi Nervae principis sui regina et domina orbis in dies et magis sentiet salubritas eiusdem aucto castellorum, operum, munerum et lacuum numero. Nec minus ad privatos commodum ex incremento beneficiorum eius diffunditur; illi quoque qui timidi inlicitam aquam ducebant, securi nunc ex beneficiis fruuntur. Ne pereuntes quidem aquae otiosae sunt: alia munditiarum facies, purior spiritus, et causae gravioris caeli quibus apud veteres urbis infamis aer fuit, sunt remotae. Non praeterit me, deberi operi novae erogationis ordinationem; sed haec cum incremento adiunxerimus; intellegi oportet, non esse ea ponenda nisi consummata fuerint.
[88] The effect of this care displayed by the Emperor Nerva, most patriotic of rulers, is felt from day to day by the present queen and empress of the world; and will be felt still more in the improved health of the city, as a result of the increase in the number of the works, reservoirs, fountains, and water-basins. No less advantage accrues also to private consumers from the increase in number of the Emperor’s private grants; those also who with fear drew water unlawfully, now free from care, draw their supply by grant from the sovereign. Not even the waste water is lost; the appearance of the City is clean and altered; the air is purer; and the causes of the unwholesome atmosphere, which gave the air of the City so bad a name with the ancients, are now removed. I am well aware that I ought to indicate in detail the manner of the new distribution; but this I will add when the additions are made; it ought to be understood that no account should be given until they are completed.
[89] Quid quod nec hoc diligentiae principis, quam exactissimum civibus suis praestat, sufficit, parum praesidii usibus ac voluptatibus nostris contulisse sese credentis, quod tantam copiam adiecit, nisi eam ipsam sinceriorem iucundioremque faciat? Operae pretium est ire per singula, per quae ille occurrendo vitiis quarundam universis adiecit utilitatem. Etenim quando civitas nostra, cum vel exigui imbres supervenerant, non turbulentas limosasque aquas habuit? Nec quia haec universis ab origine natura est, aut quia istud incommodum sentire debeant quae capiuntur ex fontibus, in primis Marcia et Claudia ac reliquae, quarum splendor a capite integer nihil aut minimum pluvia inquinatur, si putea exstructa et obtecta sint.
[89] What shall we say of the fact that the painstaking interest which our Emperor evinces for his subjects does not rest satisfied with what I have already described, but that he deems he has contributed too little to our needs and gratifications merely by such increase in the water supply, unless he should also increase its purity and its palatableness? It is worth while to examine in detail how, by correcting the defects of certain waters, he has enhanced the usefulness of all of them. For when has our City not had muddy and turbid water, whenever there have been only moderate rain-storms? And this is not because all the waters are thus affected at their sources, or because those which are taken from springs ought to be subject to such pollution. This is especially true of Marcia and Claudia and the rest, whose purity is perfect at their sources, and which would be not at all, or but very slightly, made turbid by rains, if well-basins should be built and covered over.
[90] Duae Anienses minus permanent limpidae, nam sumuntur ex flumine ac saepe etiam sereno turbantur, quoniam Anio quamvis purissimo defluens lacu mollibus tamen cedentibus ripis aufert aliquid quo turbetur, priusquam deveniat in rivos. Quod incommodum non solum hibernis ac vernis, sed etiam aestivis imbribus sentit, quo tempore gratior aquarum sinceritas exigitur.
[90] The two Anios are less limpid, for they are drawn from a river, and are often muddy even in good weather, because the Anio, although flowing from a lake whose waters are very pure, is nevertheless made turbid by carrying away portions of its loose crumbling banks, before it enters the conduits — a pollution to which it is subject not only in the rain-storms of winter and spring, but also in the showers of summer, at which time of year a more refreshing purity of the water is demanded.
[91] Et alter quidem ex his, id est Anio Vetus, cum plerisque libra sit inferior, incommodum intra se tenet. Novus autem Anio vitiabat ceteras, nam cum editissimus veniat et in primis abundans, defectioni aliarum succurrit. Imperitia vero aquariorum deducentium in alienos eum specus frequentius, quam explemento opus erat, etiam sufficientes aquas inquinabat, maxime Claudiam, quae per multa milia passuum proprio ducta rivo, Romae demum cum Anione permixta
in hoc tempus perdebat proprietatem. Adeoque obvenientibus non succurrebatur, ut pleraeque accerserentur per imprudentiam non uti dignum erat aquas partientium. Marciam ipsam splendore et frigore gratissimam balneis ac fullonibus et relatu quoque foedis ministeriis deprehendimus servientem.
[91] One of the Anios, namely Old Anio, running at a lower level than most of the others, keeps this pollution to itself. But New Anio contaminated all the others, because, coming from a higher altitude and flowing very abundantly, it helps to make up the shortage of the others; but by the unskilfulness of the water-men, who diverted into the other conduits oftener than there was any need of an augmented supply, it spoiled also the waters of those aqueducts that had a plentiful supply, especially Claudia, which, after flowing in its own conduit for many miles, finally at Rome, as a result of its mixture with Anio, lost till recently its own qualities. And so far was New Anio from being an advantage to the waters it supplemented that many of these were then called upon improperly through the heedlessness of those who allotted the waters. We have found even Marcia, so charming in its brilliancy and coldness, serving baths, fullers, and even purposes too vile to mention.
[92] Omnes ergo discerni placuit, tum singulas ita ordinari ut in primis Marcia potui tota serviret et deinceps reliquae secundum suam quaeque qualitatem aptis usibus assignarentur sic ut anio Vetus pluribus ex causis (quo inferior excipitur minus salubris) in hortorum rigationem atque in ipsius urbis sordidiora exiret ministeria.
