§1.18.1Si bene te novi, metues, liberrime Lolli, §1.18.2scurrantis speciem praebere, professus amicum
If I know you well, most free-spoken Lollius, you will fear to present the appearance of a flatterer, having professed yourself a friend.
As a matron will be different and of a different color from a courtesan, so a friend will differ from an unfaithful flatterer.
§1.18.5est huic diversum vitio vitium prope maius, §1.18.6asperitas agrestis et inconcinna gravisque, §1.18.7quae se commendat tonsa cute, dentibus atris, §1.18.8dum volt libertas dici mera veraque virtus,
There is a different vice opposite to this, almost greater, a rustic, unpolished, and heavy roughness, which commends itself by a close-shaven skin and black teeth, while it wishes to be called pure freedom and true virtue.
§1.18.9virtus est medium vitiorum et utrimque reductum.
Virtue is the middle of vices and removed from both sides.
§1.18.10alter in obsequium plus aequo pronus et imi §1.18.11derisor lecti sic nutum divitis horret, §1.18.12sic iterat voces et verba cadentia tollit, §1.18.13ut puerum saevo credas dictata magistro §1.18.14reddere vel partis mimum tractare secundas.
The one, prone to compliance more than is right, a mocker of the lowest couch, so dreads the nod of the rich man, so repeats his words and catches his falling terms, that you would believe a boy was repeating his lessons to a cruel master or a mime was playing the second parts.
§1.18.15alter rixatur de lana saepe caprina, §1.18.16propugnat nugis armatus: “scilicet, ut non §1.18.17sit mihi prima fides, et vere quod placet ut non §1.18.18acriter elatrem! pretium aetas altera sordet.
The other often quarrels about goat's wool, and fights armed with trifles: "Indeed, that first credit should not be given to me, and that I should not bark out fiercely what truly pleases me!
” §1.18.19ambigitur quid enim? Castor sciat an Dolichos plus;
Another lifetime is too cheap a price for this." For what is disputed?
§1.18.20Brundisium Minuci melius via ducat an Appi.
Whether Castor or Dolichos knows more; whether the Minucian or the Appian road leads better to Brundisium.
§1.18.21Quem damnosa Venus, quem praeceps alea nudat, §1.18.22gloria quem supra vires et vestit et unguit, §1.18.23quem tenet argenti sitis importuna famesque, §1.18.24quem paupertatis pudor et fuga, dives amicus, §1.18.25saepe decem vitiis instructior, odit et horret, §1.18.26aut, si non odit, regit ac veluti pia mater §1.18.27plus quam se sapere et virtutibus esse priorem §1.18.28volt et ait prope vera: “meae (contendere noli) §1.18.29stultitiam patiuntur opes; tibi parvola res est.
Him whom ruinous love, whom headlong dice strip bare, whom vanity clothes and anoints beyond his means, whom an importunate thirst and hunger for money holds, whom shame and flight of poverty possess, his rich friend, often furnished with ten times more vices, hates and dreads; or, if he does not hate, he rules him, and like a pious mother wishes him to be wiser than himself and superior in virtues, and says what is nearly true: "My wealth (do not strive to compete) allows my folly; your property is very small.
§1.18.30arta decet sanum comitem toga; desine mecum §1.18.31certare. ” Eutrapelus, cuicumque nocere volebat, §1.18.32vestimenta dabat pretiosa: “beatus enim iam §1.18.33cum pulchris tunicis sumet nova consilia et spes, §1.18.34dormiet in lucem, scorto postponet honestum §1.18.35officium, nummos alienos pascet, ad imum §1.18.36Thraex erit aut holitoris aget mercede caballum. ” §1.18.37Arcanum neque tu scrutaberis illius umquam, §1.18.38commissumque teges et vino tortus et ira.
A narrow toga becomes a sensible companion; cease to contend with me." Eutrapelus, to whomever he wished to do harm, would give precious clothes: "For now, happy, with beautiful tunics he will take up new plans and hopes, he will sleep until daylight, postpone honorable duty for a courtesan, feed other people's money, and at last become a gladiator or drive a vegetable seller's horse for pay." You will never pry into his secrets, and you will conceal what is committed to you, though tortured by wine and anger.
§1.18.39nec tua laudabis studia aut aliena reprendes, §1.18.40nec, cum venari volet ille, poemata panges.
Neither praise your own pursuits nor find fault with those of others, nor write poems when he wishes to hunt.
§1.18.41gratia sic fratrum geminorum, Amphionis atque §1.18.42Zethi, dissiluit, donec suspecta severo §1.18.43conticuit lyra.
Thus the brotherly love of the twins, Amphion and Zethus, was broken, until the lyre, suspected by the severe brother, fell silent.
fraternis cessisse putatur §1.18.44moribus Amphion: tu cede potentis amici §1.18.45lenibus imperiis, quotiensque educet in agros §1.18.46Aetolis onerata plagis iumenta canesque, §1.18.47surge et inhumanae senium depone Camenae, §1.18.48cenes ut pariter pulmenta laboribus empta:
Amphion is believed to have yielded to his brother's habits: you yield to the gentle commands of your powerful friend, and as often as he leads out into the fields the beasts and dogs laden with Aetolian nets, rise and lay aside the moodiness of your unsocial Muse, so that you may dine together on the food bought by your labors.
§1.18.49Romanis sollemne viris opus, utile famae §1.18.50vitaeque et membris; praesertim cum valeas et §1.18.51vel cursu superare canem vel viribus aprum
This is a customary work for Roman men, useful for fame, for life, and for limbs; especially since you are well and can surpass a dog in running or a boar in strength.
§1.18.52possis, adde virilia quod speciosius arma §1.18.53non est qui tractet; scis, quo clamore coronae §1.18.54proelia sustineas campestria; denique saevam §1.18.55militiam puer et Cantabrica bella tulisti §1.18.56sub duce qui templis Parthorum signa refigit
Add that there is no one who handles manly weapons more gracefully; you know with what applause of the spectators you sustain the battles of the Campus; finally, as a youth you endured harsh military service and the Cantabrian wars under the leader who is now reclaiming our standards from the temples of the Parthians.