§2.2.69convivis praebebit aquam: vitium hoc quoque magnum.
water to his guests: this too is a great vice.
Hear now what and how great benefits a simple diet brings with it.
in primis valeas bene; nam variae res §2.2.72ut noceant homini credas, memor illius escae, §2.2.73quae simplex olim tibi sederit.
First of all, you would enjoy good health; for various foods you may believe, do harm to a man, if you remember that food which, simple in the past, agreed with you.
at simul assis §2.2.74miscueris elixa, simul conchylia turdis, §2.2.75dulcia se in bilem vertent stomachoque tumultum §2.2.76lenta feret pitvita.
But as soon as you mix boiled things with roast, and shellfish with thrushes, sweet things will turn to bile, and a sluggish phlegm will bring rebellion to the stomach.
vides, ut pallidus omnis §2.2.77cena desurgat dubia? quin corpus onustum
Do you see how pale everyone rises from a 'puzzling dinner'?
§2.2.78hesternis vitiis animum quoque praegravat una §2.2.79atque adfigit humo divinae particulam aurae.
Nay, the body, weighted down by the excesses of yesterday, weighs down the soul as well, and tethers to the earth a particle of the divine breath.
§2.2.80alter ubi dicto citius curata sopori §2.2.81membra dedit, vegetus praescripta ad munia surgit.
The other, when, quicker than a word, he has given his refreshed limbs to sleep, rises refreshed for his prescribed duties.
§2.2.82hic tamen ad melius poterit transcurrere quondam, §2.2.83sive diem festum rediens advexerit annus, §2.2.84seu recreare volet tenuatum corpus, ubique §2.2.85accedent anni, tractari mollius aetas
Yet even he will be able at times to pass over to better cheer, whether the returning year brings a festive day, or he wishes to recruit a weakened body, and when years advance and declining age demands gentler treatment.
§2.2.86imbecilla volet: tibi quidnam accedet ad istam §2.2.87quam puer et validus praesumis mollitiem, seu §2.2.88dura valetudo inciderit seu tarda senectus?
But for you, what will be added to that softness which you anticipate while young and strong, if hard ill-health should fall upon you, or slow old age?
§2.2.89rancidum aprum antiqui laudabant, non quia nasus §2.2.90illis nullus erat, sed, credo, hac mente, quod hospes §2.2.91tardius adveniens vitiatum commodius quam §2.2.92integrum edax dominus consumeret.
The ancients used to praise a rancid boar, not because they had no noses, but, I suppose, with this mind, that a guest arriving late would consume it, though tainted, more fittingly than the greedy master would consume it while fresh.
hos utinam inter §2.2.93heroas natum tellus me prima tulisset.
Would that the early earth had produced me among such heroes!
§2.2.94das aliquid famae, quae carmine gratior aurem
Do you set any store by good reputation, which occupies the human ear more agreeably than song?
Huge turbots and huge dishes bring great disgrace along with great financial loss.
adde §2.2.97iratum patruum, vicinos, te tibi iniquum §2.2.98et frustra mortis cupidum, cum deerit egenti §2.2.99as, laquei pretium.
Add to this the angry uncle, neighbors, yourself hostile to yourself and vainly wishing for death, when to you in your need there will be lacking even an as, the price of a halter.
‘iure’ inquit ‘Trausius istis §2.2.100iurgatur verbis: ego vectigalia magna §2.2.101divitiasque habeo tribus amplas regibus. ’ ergo, §2.2.102quod superat non est melius quo insumere possis?
'With justice,' says one, 'is Trausius scolded with those words; but I have great revenues and wealth ample for three kings.' Well then, is there nothing better on which you could spend what is superfluous?
§2.2.103cur eget indignus quisquam te divite? quare
Why does any undeserving man starve while you are rich?
§2.2.104templa ruunt antiqua Deum? cur, inprobe, carae
Why do the ancient temples of the Gods fall to ruin?
§2.2.105non aliquid patriae tanto emetiris acervo?
Why, shameless man, do you not measure out something for your dear country from so great a heap?
To you alone, no doubt, affairs will always go well, O you who will hereafter be a great laughingstock to your enemies!
uterne §2.2.108ad casus dubios fidet sibi certius? hic qui
Which of the two will trust himself more securely in doubtful times?
§2.2.109pluribus adsuerit mentem corpusque superbum, §2.2.110an qui contentus parvo metuensque futuri §2.2.111in pace, ut sapiens, aptarit idonea bello?
He who has accustomed his mind and proud body to superfluities, or he who, content with a little and fearing the future in peace, like a wise man, has prepared things suitable for war?
§2.2.112quo magis his credas, puer hunc ego parvus Ofellum §2.2.113integris opibus novi non latius usum §2.2.114quam nunc accisis.
That you may believe this the more, I myself when a little boy knew this Ofellus using his intact wealth no more extensively than now when it is cut down.
videas metato in agello §2.2.115cum pecore et gnatis fortem mercede colonum §2.2.116‘non ego’ narrantem ‘temere edi luce profesta §2.2.117quicquam praeter holus fumosae cum pede pernae.
You may see him in his surveyed farm, with his flock and sons, a sturdy tenant-laborer, saying: 'I did not rashly eat anything on a weekday except greens and the foot of a smoked ham.
§2.2.118ac mihi seu longum post tempus venerat hospes §2.2.119sive operum vacuo gratus conviva per imbrem §2.2.120vicinus, bene erat non piscibus urbe petitis, §2.2.121sed pullo atque haedo; tum pensilis uva secundas §2.2.122et nux ornabat mensas cum duplice ficu.
And if a guest came to me after a long interval, or a welcome guest, a neighbor during rain, when free from work, it was well with us, not with fish sought from the city, but with a chicken and a kid; then the hanging grape and nut adorned our second table along with the split fig.
§2.2.123post hoc ludus erat culpa potare magistra §2.2.124ac venerata Ceres, ita culmo surgeret alto, §2.2.125explicuit vino contractae seria frontis.
After this, our play was to drink with forfeit as president, and Ceres, having been worshiped that she might rise with tall stalk, smoothed out with wine the gloom of our furrowed brow.
§2.2.126saeviat atque novos moveat fortuna tumultus: §2.2.127quantum hinc inminuet? quanto aut ego parcius aut vos,
Let Fortune rage and stir up new tumults: how much will she diminish from this?
§2.2.128o pueri, nituistis, ut huc novus incola venit?
How much more sparingly have I, or you, my boys, lived, since this new inhabitant came here?
§2.2.129nam propriae telluris erum natura nec illum §2.2.130nec me nec quemquam statuit: nos expulit ille, §2.2.131illum aut nequities aut vafri inscitia iuris, §2.2.132postremum expellet certe vivacior heres.
For nature has appointed neither him nor me, nor anyone, as lord of his own soil: he drove us out, him either his own worthlessness or ignorance of the subtle law, and in the end a longer-lived heir will surely expel.
§2.2.133nunc ager Umbreni sub nomine, nuper Ofelli §2.2.134dictus, erit nulli proprius, sed cedet in usum §2.2.135nunc mihi, nunc alii.
Now the field goes under the name of Umbrenus, which lately was called Ofellus's; it will belong permanently to no one, but will yield to the use now of me, now of another.
quocirca vivite fortes §2.2.136fortiaque adversis opponite pectora rebus. ’
Therefore, live brave, and oppose brave breasts to adverse things.'