§2.6.1Hoc erat in votis: modus agri non ita magnus, §2.6.2hortus ubi et tecto vicinus iugis aquae fons §2.6.3et paulum silvae super his foret.
This was among my prayers: a piece of land, not so very large, where there would be a garden, and a spring of ever-flowing water near the house, and a little woodland besides.
auctius atque §2.6.4Di melius fecere.
The gods have done more bountifully and better than my wish.
bene est.
It is well.
nil amplius oro, §2.6.5Maia nate, nisi ut propria haec mihi munera faxis.
I pray for nothing more, O son of Maia, except that you make these gifts lasting for me.
§2.6.6si neque maiorem feci ratione mala rem §2.6.7nec sum facturus vitio culpave minorem, §2.6.8si veneror stultus nihil horum ‘o si angulus ille §2.6.9proximus accedat, qui nunc denormat agellum!’ §2.6.10‘o si urnam argenti fors quae mihi monstret, ut illi, §2.6.11thesauro invento qui mercennarius agrum §2.6.12illum ipsum mercatus aravit, dives amico §2.6.13Hercule!’, si quod adest gratum iuvat, hac prece te oro: §2.6.14pingue pecus domino facias et cetera praeter §2.6.15ingenium, utque soles, custos mihi maximus adsis.
If I have neither made my estate larger by evil means, nor am about to make it smaller by vice or fault; if I, like a fool, make no such prayer as: "Oh, if that neighboring corner could be added, which now spoils the shape of my little field!" "Oh, if some chance would show me a jar of silver, like him who, having found a treasure, bought and plowed that very field which he used to till, made rich by the favor of his friend Hercules!", if what I have pleases and contents me, with this prayer I entreat you: make the flock fat for its master, and everything else except my intellect, and, as you are wont, stand by me as my greatest guardian.
§2.6.16ergo ubi me in montes et in arcem ex Urbe removi, §2.6.17quid prius inlustrem Satyris Musaque pedestri?
Therefore, now that I have removed myself from the City to the mountains and my stronghold, what should I celebrate first with my Satires and my pedestrian Muse?
§2.6.18nec mala me ambitio perdit nec plumbeus auster §2.6.19Autumnusque gravis, Libitinae quaestus acerbae.
Here neither bad ambition ruins me, nor the leaden south wind, nor the oppressive Autumn, that harvest-time for bitter Libitina.
§2.6.20matutine pater, seu Iane libentius audis, §2.6.21unde homines operum primos vitaeque labores §2.6.22instituunt — sic Dis placitum —, tu carminis esto §2.6.23principium.
Father of the morning, or if you prefer to hear the name of Janus, from whom men begin the first labors of their works and life — for so it has pleased the gods —, be you the beginning of my song.
Romae sponsorem me rapis: ‘eia, §2.6.24ne prior officio quisquam respondeat, urge. ’ §2.6.25sive aquilo radit terras seu bruma nivalem §2.6.26interiore diem gyro trahit, ire necesse est.
At Rome you hurry me off to be a surety: "Come, hasten, lest anyone should answer to the duty before you!" Whether the north wind sweeps the earth, or winter drags the snowy day in a narrower circle, go I must.
§2.6.27postmodo quod mi obsit clare certumque locuto §2.6.28luctandum in turba et facienda iniuria tardis.
Afterwards, when I have spoken clearly and definitely what may harm myself hereafter, I must struggle in the crowd and do injury to those who are slow.
§2.6.29‘quid tibi vis, insane?’ et ‘quam rem agis?’ inprobus urget §2.6.30iratis precibus, ‘tu pulses omne quod obstat, §2.6.31ad Maecenatem memori si mente recurras. ’ §2.6.32hoc iuvat et melli est, non mentiar.
"What do you want, madman?" and "What are you doing?" an insolent fellow urges with angry curses: "You would push down everything that blocks you, if you are running back to Maecenas with a mindful heart!" This pleases me and is as sweet as honey, I will not lie.
at simul atras §2.6.33ventum est Esquilias, aliena negotia centum §2.6.34per caput et circa saliunt latus.
But as soon as I reach the gloomy Esquiline, a hundred affairs of other people leap through my head and around my side.
‘ante secundam §2.6.35Roscius orabat sibi adesses ad Puteal cras. ’ §2.6.36‘de re communi scribae magna atque nova te §2.6.37orabant hodie meminisses, Quinte, reverti. ’ §2.6.38‘inprimat his cura Maecenas signa tabellis. ’ §2.6.39dixeris: ‘experiar’: ‘si vis, potes,’ addit et instat.
"Before the second hour, Roscius entreated that you would support him at the Puteal tomorrow." "The scribes entreated that you, Quintus, would remember to return today on a matter of great and fresh concern to their body." "Do see that Maecenas imprints his seal on these tablets." If you say, "I will try," "You can, if you will," he adds, and insists.
§2.6.40septimus octavo propior iam fugerit annus, §2.6.41ex quo Maecenas me coepit habere suorum §2.6.42in numero, dumtaxat ad hoc, quem tollere raeda §2.6.43vellet iter faciens et cui concredere nugas §2.6.44hoc genus: ‘hora quota est?’ ‘Thraex est Gallina Syro par?’ §2.6.45‘matutina parum cautos iam frigora mordent’, §2.6.46et quae rimosa bene deponuntur in aure.
The seventh year, closer now to the eighth, will have already fled, since Maecenas began to hold me in the number of his friends, but only to this extent: as one whom he would like to take in his carriage when making a journey, and to whom he might entrust trifles of this sort: "What is the hour?" "Is Gallina the Thracian a match for Syrus?" "The morning frosts are already biting those who are not careful enough," and such things as are safely deposited in a leaky ear.
Through all this time, day by day and hour by hour, our friend has been more and more exposed to envy.
ludos spectaverat, una §2.6.49luserat in campo: ‘Fortunae filius’ omnes.
"Had he watched the games," "had he played in the Campus together?" "He is a child of Fortune!" say all.
§2.6.50frigidus a Rostris manat per compita rumor: §2.6.51quicumque obvius est, me consulit: ‘o bone — nam te §2.6.52scire, Deos quoniam propius contingis oportet —, §2.6.53numquid de Dacis audisti?’ ‘nil equidem. ’ ‘ut tu §2.6.54semper eris derisor. ’ ‘at omnes Di exagitent me, §2.6.55si quicquam. ’ ‘quid? militibus promissa Triquetra
If a chilling rumor flows from the Rostra through the crossroads, whoever meets me consults me: "O my good friend — for you must know, since you touch the gods more closely —,, have you heard anything about the Dacians?" "Nothing indeed." "How you will always be a mocker!" "May all the gods torment me, if I know a thing!" "What?
§2.6.56praedia Caesar an est Itala tellure daturus?’
Is Caesar about to give the promised estates to the soldiers, or on Italian soil?"