Humanitext Reader

Horace · Epistles §1.13.1-1.13.19

Letter to Vinius: Instructions on Presenting Poems to Augustus

Passage 14 of 29 · Latin

Summary

The poet instructs Vinius, his messenger, on how to deliver his sealed volumes to Augustus with utmost care, cautioning him against clumsy behavior that might cause offense or invite public ridicule.

§1.13.1Ut proficiscentem docui te saepe diuque, §1.13.2Augusto reddes signata volumina, Vini, §1.13.3si validus, si laetus erit, si denique poscet; §1.13.4ne studio nostri pecces odiumque libellis §1.13.5sedulus importes opera vehemente minister.
As I taught you often and at length when you were setting out, you shall deliver the sealed volumes to Augustus, Vinius, if he is well, if he is cheerful, if in short he demands them; lest through zeal for me you make a mistake, and as an over-busy servant bring hatred upon my little books by your vehement efforts.
§1.13.6si te forte meae gravis uret sarcina chartae, §1.13.7abicito potius, quam quo perferre iuberis §1.13.8clitellas ferus impingas, Asinaeque paternum §1.13.9cognomen vertas in risum et fabula fias.
If by chance the heavy burden of my paper chafes you, throw it away rather than, at the place where you are ordered to carry it, brutally slam down the pack-saddle, and turn your father's cognomen of Asina into a laughing-stock, and become a public jest.
§1.13.10Viribus uteris per divos, flumina, lamas.
Use your strength, by the gods, through rivers and bogs.
§1.13.11victor propositi simul ac perveneris illuc, §1.13.12sic positum servabis onus, ne forte sub ala §1.13.13fasciculum portes librorum ut rusticus agnum, §1.13.14ut vinosa glomus furtivae Pyrria lanae, §1.13.15ut cum pilleolo soleas conviva tribulis.
As soon as you arrive there, having achieved your purpose, you shall keep the burden placed in such a way, lest by chance under your arm you carry the bundle of books as a rustic does a lamb, as drunken Pyrria does a ball of stolen wool, or as a fellow-tribesman guest does his slippers and cap.
§1.13.16neu volgo narres te sudavisse ferendo §1.13.17carmina, quae possint oculos aurisque morari §1.13.18Caesaris, oratus multa prece, nitere porro, §1.13.19vade; vale; cave ne titubes mandataque frangas.
Nor tell the crowd that you sweated in carrying poems which might delay the eyes and ears of Caesar; though entreated with many a prayer, push forward, go; farewell; take care lest you stumble and break your commission.

Notes

  1. 1.13.4studio nostri — nostri is the genitive plural of the personal pronoun nos, functioning here as an objective genitive, meaning "zeal for me (us)."
  2. 1.13.7potius, quam — The present subjunctives impingas, vertas, and fias introduced by potius quam express an undesirable consequence to be avoided. The syntax means "throw it away rather than [doing these things]."
  3. 1.13.10per divos, flumina, lamas — The preposition per is used in two different senses: per divos is an oath ("by the gods"), while flumina, lamas denotes physical pathways or obstacles ("through rivers and bogs").
  4. 1.13.18oratus multa prece — The perfect passive participle oratus ("having been entreated") functions as an appositive participle expressing cause, referring to the current situation ("since you are earnestly entreated by me").

Cite this passage

Horace, Epistles §1.13.1-1.13.19. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0893.phi005.humanitext-lat2:1.13.1-1.13.19

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.