§1.9.1Ibam forte Via Sacra, sicut meus est mos,
I was walking by chance along the Sacred Way, as is my custom, thinking of I know not what trifles, completely absorbed in them.
§1.9.2nescio quid meditans nugarum, totus in illis: §1.9.3accurrit quidam notus mihi nomine tantum: §1.9.4arreptaque manu, ‘quid agis, dulcissime rerum?’ §1.9.5‘suaviter, ut nunc est,’ inquam ‘et cupio omnia quae vis. ’ §1.9.6cum adsectaretur, ‘numquid vis?’ occupo. at ille §1.9.7‘noris nos’ inquit; ‘docti sumus. ’ hic ego ‘pluris §1.9.8hoc’ inquam ‘mihi eris. ’ misere discedere quaerens §1.9.9ire modo ocius, interdum consistere, in aurem §1.9.10dicere nescio quid puero, cum sudor ad imos §1.9.11manaret talos.
A certain man, known to me by name only, ran up, and having seized my hand, said: "How are you, sweetest of things?" "Pleasantly, as things are now," I say, "and I wish you all that you desire." When he kept following me, I anticipate him: "Do you want anything?" But he: "You should know us," he says; "we are men of learning." Here I say: "On this account you will be of more value to me." Miserably seeking to depart, I walked now faster, sometimes stopped, whispered into the ear of my slave boy I know not what, while the sweat was flowing down to my lowest ankles.
‘o te, Bollane, cerebri §1.9.12felicem’ aiebam tacitus, cum quidlibet ille §1.9.13garriret, vicos, urbem laudaret.
"O Bollanus, happy in your hot temper," I kept saying to myself, while he babbled about whatever he pleased, praising the streets and the city.
ut illi §1.9.14nil respondebam, ‘misere cupis’ inquit ‘abire: §1.9.15iamdudum video; sed nil agis: usque tenebo; §1.9.16persequar hinc quo nunc iter est tibi. ’ ‘nil opus est te §1.9.17circumagi: quendam volo visere non tibi notum; §1.9.18trans Tiberim longe cubat is prope Caesaris hortos. ’ §1.9.19‘nil habeo quod agam et non sum piger: usque sequar te. ’ §1.9.20demitto auriculas, ut iniquae mentis asellus, §1.9.21cum gravius dorso subiit onus.
As to him I replied nothing, "You wretchedly desire to get away," he says, "I have seen it for a long time; but you accomplish nothing: I will hold on to you all the way; I will follow you from here to where your journey is now." "There is no need for you to be dragged out of your way: I want to visit someone not known to you; he lies ill far across the Tiber, near Caesar's gardens." "I have nothing to do and I am not lazy: I will follow you all the way." I let down my ears, like a disgruntled donkey when a heavier load has come upon its back.
incipit ille: §1.9.22‘si bene me novi, non Viscum pluris amicum, §1.9.23non Varium facies; nam quis me scribere pluris
He begins: "If I know myself well, you will not value Viscus more as a friend, nor Varius; for who can write more verses or more quickly than I?
§1.9.24aut citius possit versus? quis membra movere
Who can move his limbs more gracefully?
§1.9.25mollius? invideat quod et Hermogenes, ego canto. ’ §1.9.26interpellandi locus hic erat ‘est tibi mater, §1.9.27cognati, quis te salvo est opus?’ ‘haud mihi quisquam.
Even Hermogenes might envy what I sing." Here was an opportunity to interrupt: "Have you a mother, or relatives, who have need of you safe and sound?" "Not a single one to me.
§1.9.28omnis conposui.
I have laid them all to rest." "Happy ones!
’ ‘felices. nunc ego resto.
Now I remain.
§1.9.29confice; namque instat fatum mihi triste, Sabella §1.9.30quod puero cecinit divina mota anus urna: §1.9.31“hunc neque dira venena nec hosticus auferet ensis §1.9.32nec laterum dolor aut tussis nec tarda podagra: §1.9.33garrulus hunc quando consumet cumque: loquaces, §1.9.34si sapiat, vitet, simul atque adoleverit aetas. ” §1.9.35ventum erat ad Vestae, quarta iam parte diei §1.9.36praeterita, et casu tum respondere vadato §1.9.37debebat, quod ni fecisset, perdere litem.
Finish me off; for a sad fate hangs over me, which a Sabellian old crone foretold to me when I was a boy, having shaken her divine urn: 'This boy neither dreadful poisons nor a hostile sword will carry off, nor pleurisy nor a cough nor slow gout; a babbler will destroy him sometime or other: talkative people, if he is wise, let him avoid, as soon as his age has grown up.'" We had come to Vesta's temple, a fourth part of the day already having passed, and by chance he was bound to answer to his bail at that time, which unless he had done, he would lose his lawsuit.
§1.9.38‘si me amas,’ inquit ‘paulum hic ades. ’ ‘inteream, si §1.9.39aut valeo stare aut novi civilia iura; §1.9.40et propero quo scis. ’ ‘dubius sum, quid faciam’, inquit, §1.9.41‘tene relinquam an rem. ’ ‘me, sodes. ’ ‘non faciam’ ille, §1.9.42et praecedere coepit; ego, ut contendere durum §1.9.43cum victore, sequor.
"If you love me," he says, "help me here a little." "May I die if I am either strong enough to stand or know anything of civil law; and I am hurrying where you know." "I am in doubt what to do," he says, "whether to leave you or my case." "Me, please!" "I will not do it," he says, and began to go ahead; I, since it is hard to contend with a victor, follow.
‘Maecenas quomodo tecum?’ §1.9.44hinc repetit.
"How is Maecenas with you?" he resumes from here.
‘paucorum hominum et mentis bene sanae. ’ §1.9.45‘nemo dexterius fortuna est usus.
"He is a man of few associates and of thoroughly sound mind." "No one has used fortune more adroitly.
haberes §1.9.46magnum adiutorem, posset qui ferre secundas, §1.9.47hunc hominem velles si tradere: dispeream, ni §1.9.48summosses omnis. ’ ‘non isto vivimus illic, §1.9.49quo tu rere, modo; domus hac nec purior ulla est §1.9.50nec magis his aliena malis; nil mi officit, inquam, §1.9.51ditior hic aut est quia doctior; est locus uni §1.9.52cuique suus. ’ ‘magnum narras, vix credibile. ’ ‘atqui §1.9.53sic habet. ’ ‘accendis quare cupiam magis illi §1.9.54proximus esse. ’ ‘velis tantummodo: quae tua virtus, §1.9.55expugnabis: et est qui vinci possit eoque §1.9.56difficilis aditus primos habet. ’ ‘haud mihi dero: §1.9.57muneribus servos corrumpam; non, hodie si §1.9.58exclusus fuero, desistam; tempora quaeram, §1.9.59occurram in triviis, deducam. nil sine magno §1.9.60vita labore dedit mortalibus.
You would have a great helper, who could play second part, if you would introduce this man: may I perish, if you would not have cleared the field of everyone." "We do not live there in the way you think; no house is more pure than this one nor more free from these evils; it does not hurt me at all, I say, because this man is richer or more learned; there is a place for each and every one of his own." "You tell a great thing, scarcely credible." "And yet it is so." "You inflame me, making me desire all the more to be close to him." "Only wish it: such is your merit, you will win him over; and he is one who can be conquered, and for that reason he makes the first approaches difficult." "I will not fail myself: I will corrupt the slaves with gifts; if today I am shut out, I will not give up; I will seek opportune moments, I will meet him at crossroads, I will escort him.
’ haec dum agit, ecce §1.9.61Fuscus Aristius occurrit, mihi carus et illum §1.9.62qui pulchre nosset.
Life has given nothing to mortals without great labor." While he is saying this, behold, Aristius Fuscus runs up, dear to me and one who knew him thoroughly.
consistimus.
We stop.
‘unde venis et §1.9.63quo tendis?’ rogat et respondet.
"Where do you come from and where are you heading?" he asks and answers.
vellere coepi §1.9.64et pressare manu lentissima bracchia, nutans, §1.9.65distorquens oculos, ut me eriperet.
I began to tug and squeeze with my hand his unresponsive arms, nodding, distorting my eyes, so that he might rescue me.
male salsus §1.9.66ridens dissimulare; meum iecur urere bilis.
Cruelly witty, laughing, he pretended not to notice; anger burned my liver.
§1.9.67‘certe nescio quid secreto velle loqui te §1.9.68aiebas mecum. ’ ‘memini bene, sed meliore §1.9.69tempore dicam; hodie tricensima sabbata: vin tu §1.9.70curtis Iudaeis oppedere?’ ‘nulla mihi’ inquam §1.9.71‘relligio est.
"Surely you said that you wanted to speak with me about I know not what in private." "I remember well, but at a better time I will tell you; today is the thirtieth Sabbath: do you want to offend the circumcised Jews?" "I have no religious scruple," I say.
’ ‘at mi: sum paulo infirmior, unus §1.9.72multorum.
"But I do: I am a little weaker, one of the many.
ignosces; alias loquar. ’ huncine solem §1.9.73tam nigrum surrexe mihi! fugit inprobus ac me
You will excuse me; I will speak another time." That this sun should have risen so black for me!
§1.9.74sub cultro linquit.
The rogue flees and leaves me under the knife.
casu venit obvius illi §1.9.75adversarius et ‘quo tu, turpissime?’ magna §1.9.76inclamat voce, et ‘licet antestari?’ ego vero §1.9.77oppono auriculam.
By chance his adversary comes face to face with him, and: "Where are you going, most shameful one?" with a loud voice he shouts, and: "May I call you as a witness?" I indeed offer my earlobe.
rapit in ius; clamor utrimque, §1.9.78undique concursus.
He drags him to court; shouting on both sides, running together from all sides.
sic me servavit Apollo.
Thus Apollo saved me.