§1.15.1Quae sit hiems Veliae, quod caelum, Vala, Salerni, §1.15.2quorum hominum regio et qualis via (nam mihi Baias §1.15.3Musa supervacuas Antonius, et tamen illis §1.15.4me facit invisum, gelida cum perluor unda §1.15.5per medium frigus, sane murteta relinqui §1.15.6dictaque cessantem nervis elidere morbum §1.15.7sulfura contemni vicus gemit, invidus aegris, §1.15.8qui caput et stomachum supponere fontibus audent §1.15.9Clusinis Gabiosque petunt et frigida rura.
What sort of winter Velia has, what the climate of Salernum is, Vala, what kind of people inhabit the region, and of what sort the road is (for Antonius Musa makes Baiae useless to me, and yet makes me hated by those people, when I am bathed in cold water in the midst of frost; indeed, that the myrtle groves are deserted and that the sulfur baths, said to expel a lingering disease from the nerves, are despised, the town groans, envying the sick, who dare to submerge their head and stomach in the springs of Clusium, and seek Gabii and the cold countryside.
§1.15.10mutandus locus est et deversoria nota §1.15.11praeteragendus equus, “quo tendis? non mihi Cumas
The location must be changed, and past the well-known inns the horse must be driven. "Where are you heading?
§1.15.12est iter aut Baias,” laeva stomachosus habena §1.15.13dicet eques; sed equi frenato est auris in ore); §1.15.14maior utrum populum frumenti copia pascat; §1.15.15collectosne bibant imbres puteosne perennis §1.15.16iugis aquae (nam vina nihil moror illius orae: §1.15.17rure meo possum quidvis perferre patique; §1.15.18ad mare cum veni, generosum et lene requiro, §1.15.19quod curas abigat, quod cum spe divite manet §1.15.20in venas animumque meum, quod verba ministret, §1.15.21quod me Lucanae iuvenem commendet amicae); §1.15.22tractus uter pluris lepores, uter educet apros; §1.15.23utra magis piscis et echinos aequora celent, §1.15.24pinguis ut inde domum possim Phaeaxque reverti, §1.15.25scribere te nobis, tibi nos accredere par est.
I have no journey to Cumae or Baiae," the angry rider will say, pulling the left rein; but the horse's ear is in its bitted mouth); which of the two peoples a greater abundance of corn feeds; whether they drink collected rainwaters or perennial wells of flowing water (for I do not care at all for the wine of that coast: at my country estate I can endure and suffer anything; but when I come to the sea, I require a noble and smooth wine, such as may drive away cares, such as may flow with rich hope into my veins and mind, such as may supply me with words, such as may recommend me as a young man to a Lucanian mistress); which tract of land rears more hares, which produces boars; which seas conceal more fish and sea urchins, so that I may return home from there fat and like a Phaeacian, it is right that you write to us, and that we trust you.
§1.15.26Maenius, ut rebus maternis atque paternis §1.15.27fortiter absumptis urbanus coepit haberi §1.15.28scurra vagus, non qui certum praesepe teneret, §1.15.29impransus non qui civem dinosceret hoste, §1.15.30quaelibet in quemvis opprobria fingere saevus, §1.15.31pernicies et tempestas barathrumque macelli, §1.15.32quidquid quaesierat, ventri donabat avaro.
Maenius, when, his maternal and paternal property having been courageously consumed, he began to be regarded as a witty, wandering parasite, not one who kept to a fixed manger, when hungry, not one who could distinguish a citizen from an enemy, merciless in fabricating any insults against anyone, the ruin and tempest and abyss of the market, whatever he had acquired, he would give to his greedy belly.
§1.15.33hic ubi nequitiae fautoribus et timidis nil §1.15.34aut paulum abstulerat, patinas cenabat omasi, §1.15.35vilis et agninae, tribus ursis quod satis esset; §1.15.36scilicet ut ventres lamna candente nepotum §1.15.37diceret urendos correctus Bestius.
When this man had taken nothing or very little from the supporters of his wickedness and those who feared him, he would sup on dishes of tripe and cheap mutton, as much as would be enough for three bears; of course, so that, like a reformed Bestius, he might say that the bellies of spendthrifts ought to be branded with white-hot iron.
idem, §1.15.38quidquid erat nactus praedae maioris, ubi omne §1.15.39verterat in fumum et cinerem,
non hercule miror, §1.15.40aiebat, “si qui comedunt bona, cum sit obeso §1.15.41nil melius turdo, nil vulva pulchrius ampla. ” §1.15.42Nimirum hic ego sum.
Yet the same man, whenever he had obtained any greater prey, when he had turned all of it into smoke and ashes, would say, "By Hercules, I do not wonder if some eat up their estates, since there is nothing better than a fat thrush, nothing more beautiful than a large sow's womb." No doubt, this is what I am.
nam tuta et parvola laudo, §1.15.43cum res deficiunt, satis inter vilia fortis: §1.15.44verum ubi quid melius contingit et unctius, idem §1.15.45vos sapere et solos aio bene vivere, quorum §1.15.46conspicitur nitidis fundata pecunia villis.
For I praise safe and humble things when resources fail, strong enough among cheap things; but when something better and richer comes along, I, the same man, say that you are wise and you alone live well, whose wealth is seen founded on splendid villas.