§1.17.1Quamvis, Scaeva, satis per te tibi consulis et scis, §1.17.2quo tandem pacto deceat maioribus uti, §1.17.3disce, docendus adhuc quae censet amiculus, ut si §1.17.4caecus iter monstrare velit; tamen aspice si quid §1.17.5et nos, quod cures proprium fecisse, loquantur.
Although, Scaeva, you consult for yourself sufficiently well and know in what manner indeed it is proper to treat your superiors, learn what your little friend, who still needs to be taught, thinks, as if a blind man wished to show the way; yet see if we too speak anything that you would care to make your own.
§1.17.6Si te grata quies et primam somnus in horam §1.17.7delectat, si te pulvis strepitusque rotarum, §1.17.8si laedit caupona, Ferentinum ire iubebo, §1.17.9nam neque divitibus contingunt gaudia solis, §1.17.10nec vixit male, qui natus moriensque fefellit.
If a pleasing rest and sleep until the first hour delights you, if the dust and noise of wheels, if the tavern offends you, I will bid you go to Ferentinum; for joys do not fall to the rich alone, nor has he lived badly who has born and died unnoticed.
§1.17.11si prodesse tuis pauloque benignius ipsum §1.17.12te tractare voles, accedes siccus ad unctum.
If you wish to benefit your people and to treat yourself a little more genially, you, dry, will approach the anointed.
§1.17.13“Si pranderet holus patienter, regibus uti §1.17.14nollet Aristippus. ” “si sciret regibus uti, §1.17.15fastidiret holus qui me notat. ” utrius horum §1.17.16verba probes et facta doce, vel iunior audi §1.17.17cur sit Aristippi potior sententia, namque §1.17.18mordacem Cynicum sic eludebat, ut aiunt: §1.17.19“scurror ego ipse mihi, populo tu; rectius hoc et §1.17.20splendidius multo est.
“If Aristippus could dine on herbs patiently, he would not wish to use kings.” “If he knew how to use kings, he who censures me would despise herbs.” Teach me which of these two men's words and deeds you approve, or, as a junior, hear why the opinion of Aristippus is preferable; for he used to elude the biting Cynic in this way, as they say: “I play the buffoon for myself, you for the people; this is much more right and splendid.
equus ut me portet, alat rex, §1.17.21officium facio; tu poscis vilia, verum §1.17.22dante minor, quamvis fers te nullius egentem. ” §1.17.23omnis Aristippum decuit color et status et res, §1.17.24temptantem maiora, fere praesentibus aequum, §1.17.25contra, quem duplici panno patientia velat, §1.17.26mirabor, vitae via si conversa decebit.
That a horse may carry me, and a king feed me, I perform my duty; you beg for cheap things, but are inferior to the giver, although you boast that you need nothing.” Every color, state, and circumstance suited Aristippus, as he aimed at greater things, yet was mostly content with the present; on the other hand, him whom patience clothes in a double rag, I shall wonder if a changed way of life will suit.
§1.17.27alter purpureum non exspectabit amictum, §1.17.28quidlibet indutus celeberrima per loca vadet, §1.17.29personamque feret non inconcinnus utramque; §1.17.30alter Mileti textam cane peius et angui §1.17.31vitabit chlamydem, morietur frigore, si non §1.17.32rettuleris pannum.
The one will not wait for a purple cloak, clothed in whatever he pleases, he will go through the most crowded places, and will sustain either role not awkwardly; the other will avoid a cloak woven at Miletus worse than a dog and a snake, he will die of cold if you do not return his rag.
refer et sine vivat ineptus.
Return it, and let the fool live.
§1.17.33Res gerere et captos ostendere civibus hostis §1.17.34attingit solium Iovis et caelestia temptat: §1.17.35principibus placuisse viris non ultima laus est.
To perform deeds and show captive enemies to the citizens reaches the throne of Jupiter and aims at heavenly things: to have pleased leading men is not the lowest praise.
§1.17.36non cuivis homini contingit adire Corinthum.
It does not happen to every man to reach Corinth.
§1.17.37sedit qui timuit ne non succederet. “Esto.
He sat still who feared lest he should not succeed. “Granted.
§1.17.38quid, qui pervenit, fecitne viriliter?” atqui
What about him who arrived?
§1.17.39hic est aut nusquam, quod quaerimus, hic onus horret,
Did he not act manfully?” And yet, here or nowhere is what we seek.
§1.17.40ut parvis animis et parvo corpore maius; §1.17.41hic subit et perfert, aut virtus nomen inane est, §1.17.42aut decus et pretium recte petit experiens vir.
One dreads the burden, as too great for a small mind and a small body; the other undergoes and bears it to the end, or virtue is an empty name, or the active man rightly seeks honor and reward.
§1.17.43Coram rege sua de paupertate tacentes §1.17.44plus poscente ferent: distat, sumasne pudenter §1.17.45an rapias; atqui rerum caput hoc erat, hic fons.
Those who keep silent about their poverty before their king will bear away more than the solicitor; there is a difference whether you take modestly or snatch; and yet this was the head and source of the matter.
§1.17.46“indotata mihi soror est, paupercula mater, §1.17.47et fundus nec vendibilis nec pascere firmus,” §1.17.48qui dicit, clamat,
victum date!
succinit alter, §1.17.49et mihi!
dividuo findetur munere quadra, §1.17.50sed tacitus pasci si posset corvus, haberet §1.17.51plus dapis et rixae multo minus invidiaeque.
“My sister is portionless, my mother is poor, and my farm is neither saleable nor sufficient to feed me,” he who says this, cries out, “Give me food!” Another chimes in, “And me!” The loaf will be split by a divided gift; but if the crow could feed in silence, he would have much more food and far less strife and envy.
§1.17.52Brundisium comes aut Surrentum ductus amoenum §1.17.53qui queritur salebras et acerbum frigus et imbres, §1.17.54aut cistam effractam et subducta viatica plorat, §1.17.55nota refert meretricis acumina, saepe catellam, §1.17.56saepe periscelidem raptam sibi flentis, uti mox §1.17.57nulla fides damnis verisque doloribus adsit, §1.17.58nec semel irrisus triviis attollere curat §1.17.59fracto crure planum, licet illi plurima manet §1.17.60lacrima, per sanctum iuratus dicat Osirim: §1.17.61credite, non ludo; crudeles, tollite claudum! §1.17.62quaere peregrinum,
vicinia rauca reclamat.
He who, led as a companion to Brundisium or pleasant Surrentum, complains of the rough roads and bitter cold and rains, or laments a broken chest and stolen travel-money, repeats the well-known tricks of a courtesan, who often weeps for a stolen chain, often for an anklet, so that soon no trust is given to her real losses and true griefs, nor does he who has been once mocked in the crossroads care to lift a trickster with a broken leg, though many a tear flows from him, and swearing by holy Osiris he says: “Believe me, I do not play; cruel people, lift up the lame man!” “Seek a stranger,” the hoarse neighborhood shouts back.