§1.10.1Urbis amatorem Fuscum salvere iubemus §1.10.2ruris amatores, hac in re scilicet una §1.10.3multum dissimiles, at cetera paene gemelli §1.10.4fraternis animis (quidquid negat alter, et alter) §1.10.5adnuimus pariter vetuli notique columbi.
We, lovers of the countryside, bid Fuscus, the lover of the city, hail, indeed in this one matter alone very different, but in other respects almost twins with brotherly minds (whatever one denies, the other denies too), we nod assent together like old and well-known doves.
You keep the nest; I praise the streams of the lovely countryside, and the moss-covered rocks and the grove.
§1.10.8quid quaeris? vivo et regno, simul ista reliqui §1.10.9quae vos ad caelum effertis rumore secundo, §1.10.10utque sacerdotis fugitivus liba recuso; §1.10.11pane egeo iam mellitis potiore placentis.
What do you ask? I live and reign, as soon as I have left those things which you raise to heaven with favorable applause, and like a runaway slave of a priest I refuse sacrificial cakes; I now need bread, better than honeyed cakes.
§1.10.12Vivere Naturae si convenienter oportet, §1.10.13ponendaeque domo quaerenda est area primum, §1.10.14novistine locum potiorem rure beato?
If it is necessary to live agreeably to Nature, and a plot of land must first be sought for building a house, do you know any place better than the blessed countryside?
§1.10.15est ubi plus tepeant hiemes, ubi gratior aura §1.10.16leniat et rabiem Canis et momenta Leonis, §1.10.17cum semel accepit Solem furibundus acutum?
Is there where winters are warmer, where a more pleasant breeze mitigates both the rage of the Dog-star and the fury of the Lion, when once he, raging, has received the sharp Sun?
§1.10.18est ubi divellat somnos minus invida Cura?
Is there where less envious Care disrupts sleep?
§1.10.19deterius Libycis olet aut nitet herba lapillis?
Does the grass smell or shine worse than Libyan pebbles?
§1.10.20purior in vicis aqua tendit rumpere plumbum, §1.10.21quam quae per pronum trepidat cum murmure rivum?
Does the water in the streets strive to burst the lead pipes purer than that which trembles with a murmur through the sloping stream?
§1.10.22nempe inter varias nutritur silva columnas, §1.10.23laudaturque domus longos quae prospicit agros.
Surely a grove is nourished among varied columns, and a house is praised which looks out upon long fields.
§1.10.24Naturam expelles furca, tamen usque recurret, §1.10.25et mala perrumpet furtim fastidia victrix.
You may drive out Nature with a pitchfork, yet she will ever return, and victoriously break through your wicked distastes in secret.
§1.10.26Non, qui Sidonio contendere callidus ostro §1.10.27nescit Aquinatem potantia vellera fucum, §1.10.28certius accipiet damnum propiusve medullis, §1.10.29quam qui non poterit vero distinguere falsum,
Not he, who is not clever enough to compare Aquinum's dye drinking the fleeces with Sidonian purple, will receive a damage more certain or closer to his marrow, than he who shall not be able to distinguish false from true.
Him whom prosperous things have delighted more than enough, changed things will shake.
si quid mirabere, pones §1.10.32invitus, fuge magna: Meet sub paupere tecto §1.10.33reges et regum vita praecurrere amicos.
If you admire anything, you will lay it down unwillingly; flee great things: under a poor roof it is permitted to surpass kings and friends of kings in life.
§1.10.34Cervus equum pugna melior communibus herbis §1.10.35pellebat, donec minor in certamine longo §1.10.36imploravit opes hominis frenum que recepit; §1.10.37sed postquam victor violens discessit ab hoste, §1.10.38non equitem dorso, non frenum depulit ore.
A stag, better in fight, used to drive the horse from the common pastures, until the weaker one in the long contest implored the help of man and received the bridle; but after the violent victor departed from the enemy, he did not shake off the rider from his back, nor the bridle from his mouth.
§1.10.39sic qui pauperiem veritus potiore metallis §1.10.40libertate caret, dominum vehet improbus atque §1.10.41serviet aeternum, quia parvo nesciet uti.
Thus he who, fearing poverty, lacks liberty, which is better than metals, will carry a master, miserable, and serve eternally, because he will not know how to use a little.
§1.10.42cui non conveniet sua res, ut calceus olim, §1.10.43si pede maior erit, subvertet, si minor, uret.
To whom his own fortune does not fit, like a shoe of old, if it is larger than the foot, it will trip him up, if smaller, it will pinch.
§1.10.44Laetus sorte tua vives sapienter, Aristi, §1.10.45nec me dimittes incastigatum, ubi plura §1.10.46cogere quam satis est ac non cessare videbor,
You, happy with your lot, will live wisely, Aristius, nor will you let me go unchastised, when I shall seem to collect more than is enough and not to cease.