§1.16.1Ne perconteris, fundus meus, optime Quincti, §1.16.2arvo pascat erum an bacis opulentet olivae, §1.16.3pomisne an pratis an amicta vitibus ulmo, §1.16.4scribetur tibi forma loquaciter et situs agri.
Do not inquire, my dearest Quinctius, whether my farm feeds its master with arable land, or enriches him with the berries of the olive, or with orchards, or meadows, or the elm clothed with vines; the form and situation of the land shall be described to you loquaciter.
§1.16.5Continui montes, ni dissocientur opaca §1.16.6valle, sed ut veniens dextrum latus aspiciat sol, §1.16.7laevum discedens curru fugiente vaporet.
There are continuous mountains, except that they are separated by a shady valley, but in such a way that the coming sun looks upon the right side, and departing, warms the left with his fleeing chariot.
§1.16.8temperiem laudes, quid si rubicunda benigni §1.16.9corna vepres et pruna ferant? si quercus et ilex §1.16.10multa fruge pecus, multa dominum iuvet umbra?
You would praise its mildness. What if the generous brambles bear red cornel-berries and plums? If the oak and the holm-oak gladden the cattle with abundant fruit, and the master with abundant shade?
§1.16.11dicas adductum propius frondere Tarentum,
You would say that Tarentum, brought closer, is in leaf.
§1.16.12fons etiam rivo dare nomen idoneus, ut nec §1.16.13frigidior Thracam nec purior ambiat Hebrus, §1.16.14infirmo capiti fluit utilis, utilis alvo.
There is also a spring, fit to give its name to a river, so that Hebrus flows through Thrace neither colder nor purer; it flows useful for an infirm head, useful for the stomach.
§1.16.15hae latebrae dulces, etiam, si credis, amoenae, §1.16.16incolumem tibi me praestant Septembribus horis.
This sweet, and even, if you believe me, lovely retreat preserves me safe and sound for you during the hours of September.
§1.16.17Tu recte vivis, si curas esse quod audis,
You live rightly, if you take care to be what you are reputed to be.
§1.16.18iactamus iam pridem omnis te Roma beatum; §1.16.19sed vereor ne cui de te plus quam tibi credas, §1.16.20neve putes alium sapiente bonoque beatum, §1.16.21neu, si te populus sanum recteque valentem §1.16.22dictitet, occultam febrem sub tempus edendi §1.16.23dissimules, donec manibus tremor incidat unctis.
We, all of Rome, have long since been proclaiming you happy; but I fear lest you believe anyone about yourself more than yourself, or lest you think anyone happy other than the wise and good, or lest, if the people repeatedly declare you healthy and well, you should disguise an unspoken fever up to the time of eating, until tremor falls upon your greasy hands.
§1.16.24stultorum incurata pudor malus ulcera celat.
The false shame of fools conceals uncured ulcers.
§1.16.25Si quis bella tibi terra pugnata marique §1.16.26dicat et his verbis vacuas permulceat auris: §1.16.27“tene magis salvum populus velit an populum tu, §1.16.28servet in ambiguo, qui consulit et tibi et urbi, §1.16.29Iuppiter,” Augusti laudes agnoscere possis:
If anyone should tell you of wars fought by you on land and sea, and soothe your empty ears with these words: “Whether the people wish you more safe, or you the people, may Jupiter, who cares for both you and the city, keep in doubt,” you would be able to recognize the praises of Augustus.
§1.16.30cum pateris sapiens emendatusque vocari, §1.16.31respondesne tuo, dic sodes, nomine? “nempe §1.16.32vir bonus et prudens dici delector ego ac tu. ” §1.16.33qui dedit hoc hodie, cras, si volet, auferet, ut si §1.16.34detulerit fasces indigno, detrahet idem.
When you allow yourself to be called wise and faultless, do you answer, tell me please, in your own name? “Of course, I delight to be called a good and prudent man, as do you.” He who gave this today, will take it away tomorrow, if he wishes, just as if he had conferred the fasces on an unworthy man, the same will take them back.
§1.16.35pone, meum est
inquit: pono tristisque recedo.
“Lay it down, it is mine,” he says; I lay it down and depart sad.
§1.16.36idem si clamet furem, neget esse pudicum, §1.16.37contendat laqueo collum pressisse paternum, §1.16.38mordear opprobriis falsis mutemque colores?
If the same man should cry out that I am a thief, deny that I am chaste, contend that I have strangled my father's neck with a noose, should I be bitten by false reproaches and change colors?
§1.16.39falsus honor iuvat et mendax infamia terret §1.16.40quem nisi mendosum et medicandum? Vir bonus est quis?
Whom does false honor delight, and lying infamy terrify, except the faulty and him who needs medicine? Who is the good man?
§1.16.41“qui consulta patrum, qui leges imaque servat, §1.16.42quo multae magnaeque secantur iudice lites, §1.16.43quo res sponsore et quo causae teste tenentur. ” §1.16.44sed videt hunc omnis domus et vicinia tota §1.16.45introrsum turpem, speciosum pelle decora.
“He who keeps the decrees of the fathers, who preserves the laws and rights, by whose judgment many and great disputes are decided, by whose security property is held, and by whose testimony cases are won.” But all his household and the whole neighborhood see him foul within, though specious with a fair skin.
§1.16.46nec furtum feci nec fugi,
si mihi dicat §1.16.47servus,
habes pretium, loris non ureris,
aio.
“I have neither committed a theft nor run away,” if a slave should say to me, “You have your reward, you are not burned with whips,” I say.
§1.16.48non hominem occidi:
non pasces in cruce corvos. §1.16.49sum bonus et frugi:
renuit negitatque Sabellus.
“I have not killed a man.” “You shall not feed crows on a cross.” “I am good and honest.” The Sabellian shakes his head and denies it.
§1.16.50cautus enim metuit foveam lupus accipiterque §1.16.51suspectos laqueos et opertum miluus hamum,
For the cautious wolf fears the pitfall, and the hawk the suspected snares, and the kite the concealed hook.
The good hate to sin from the love of virtue; you will commit nothing from the fear of punishment.
§1.16.54sit spes fallendi, miscebis sacra profanis.
Let there be a hope of escaping detection, you will mix sacred things with profane.
§1.16.55nam de mille fabae modiis cum surripis unum, §1.16.56damnum est, non facinus, mihi pacto lenius isto.
For when you steal one bushel of beans out of a thousand, the loss is lighter in that deal for me, but not the crime.
§1.16.57vir bonus, omne forum quem spectat et omne tribunal, §1.16.58quandocumque deos vel porco vel bove placat, §1.16.59Line pater!
clare, clare cum dixit,
Apollo! §1.16.60labra movet metuens audiri: “pulchra Laverna, §1.16.61da mihi fallere, da iusto sanctoque videri, §1.16.62noctem peccatis et fraudibus obice nubem. ” §1.16.63Qui melior servo, qui liberior sit avarus, §1.16.64in triviis fixum cum se demittit ob assem, §1.16.65non video; nam qui cupiet, metuet quoque; porro, §1.16.66qui metuens vivet, liber mihi non erit umquam,
The good man, whom the whole forum and every tribunal looks upon, whenever he placates the gods with either a pig or an ox, after he has said clearly, clearly: “Father Janus! Apollo!” moves his lips, fearing to be heard: “Beautiful Laverna, grant me to deceive, grant me to appear just and holy, cast night over my sins, and a cloud over my frauds.” How the covetous man is better than a slave, or how he is freer, when he bends down for an as fixed in the crossroads, I do not see; for he who desires, will also fear; moreover, he who lives in fear will never, in my opinion, be free.
§1.16.67perdidit arma, locum Virtutis deseruit, qui §1.16.68semper in augenda festinat et obruitur re.
He has lost his weapons, he has deserted the post of Virtue, who is always hastening in increasing his wealth and is overwhelmed by it.
§1.16.69vendere cum possis captivum, occidere noli; §1.16.70serviet utiliter; sine pascat durus aretque, §1.16.71naviget ac mediis hiemet mercator in undis, §1.16.72annonae prosit, portet frumenta penusque.
When you can sell a captive, do not kill him; he will serve usefully; let him feed cattle and plow, hardy as he is; let him sail and winter as a merchant in the midst of the waves; let him assist the market, let him carry corn and provisions.
§1.16.73Vir bonus et sapiens audebit dicere: “Pentheu, §1.16.74rector Thebarum, quid me perferre patique §1.16.75indignum coges?”
Adimam bona. “Nempe pecus, rem, §1.16.76lectos, argentum: tollas licet. ” “In manicis ot §1.16.77compedibus saevo te sub custode tenebo. ” §1.16.78Ipse deus, simul atque volam, me solvet. opinor, §1.16.79hoc sentit
moriar. mors ultima linea rerum est.
A good and wise man will dare to say: “Pentheus, ruler of Thebes, what unworthy treatment will you force me to suffer and endure?” “I will take away your goods.” “You mean my cattle, my property, beds, silver: you may take them.” “In hand-shackles and foot-fetters I will keep you under a cruel guard.” “The god himself, as soon as I wish, will release me.” I think he means this: “I shall die.” Death is the final boundary of things.