§1.18.57nunc et, si quid abest. Italis adiudicat armis.
and now, if anything is still lacking, he adjudges it to Italian arms.
§1.18.58Ac ne te retrahas et inexcusabilis absis, §1.18.59quamvis nil extra numerum fecisse modumque §1.18.60curas, interdum nugaris rure paterno: §1.18.61partitur lintres exercitus, Actia pugna §1.18.62te duce per pueros hostili more refertur; §1.18.63adversarius est frater, lacus Hadria, donec §1.18.64alterutrum velox Victoria fronde coronet,
And lest you withdraw yourself and be absent without excuse, although you take care to have done nothing out of rhythm and measure, you sometimes play on your father's estate: the army divides the boats; the battle of Actium with you as leader is reenacted by the boys in hostile fashion; your brother is the adversary, the lake is the Adriatic, until swift Victory crowns one or the other with foliage.
§1.18.65consentire suis studiis qui crediderit te, §1.18.66fautor utroque tuum laudabit pollice ludum.
He who believes you agree with his pursuits will as a supporter praise your play with both thumbs.
§1.18.67Protinus ut moneam (si quid monitoris eges tu) §1.18.68quid de quoque viro et cui dicas, saepe videto,
Further, to advise you (if you have any need of an adviser), see to it often what you say of any man, and to whom.
§1.18.69percontatorem fugito: nam garrulus idem est, §1.18.70nec retinent patulae commissa fideliter aures, §1.18.71et semel emissum volat irrevocabile verbum,
Avoid an inquisitive person, for he is also a gossip; nor do wide-open ears faithfully retain what is committed to them, and a word once sent forth flies, irrevocable.
§1.18.72non ancilla tuum iecur ulceret ulla puerve §1.18.73intra marmoreum venerandi limen amici, §1.18.74ne dominus pueri pulchri caraeve puellae §1.18.75munere te parvo beet aut incommodus angat.
Let no maidservant or boy inflame your liver within the marble threshold of your revered friend, lest the master of the handsome boy or dear girl make you happy with a small gift or torment you by being difficult.
§1.18.76qualem commendes, etiam atque etiam aspice, ne mox §1.18.77incutiant aliena tibi peccata pudorem, §1.18.78fallimur et quondam non dignum tradimus: ergo §1.18.79quem sua culpa premet, deceptus omitte tueri, §1.18.80ut penitus notum, si temptent crimina, serves §1.18.81tuterisque tuo fidentem praesidio: qui §1.18.82dente Theonino cum circumroditur, ecquid §1.18.83ad te post paulo ventura pericula sentis?
What sort of person you introduce, look to again and again, lest soon other people's sins strike shame into you; we are deceived and sometimes introduce one who is not worthy; therefore, him whom his own fault presses down, cease to defend if you have been deceived, so that you may preserve him whom you thoroughly know, if accusations test him, and protect him who trusts in your patronage; who, when he is gnawed by the tooth of Theon, do you not feel the dangers that will come to you a little later?
§1.18.84nam tua res agitur, paries cum proximus ardet, §1.18.85et neglecta solent incendia sumere vires.
For your own property is at stake when the next wall is on fire, and neglected fires are wont to gather strength.
Sweet to the inexperienced is the cultivation of a powerful friend; he who has experience fears.
tu, dum tua navis in alto est, §1.18.88hoc age, ne mutata retrorsum te ferat aura.
You, while your ship is on the deep, attend to this, lest the changed wind carry you backward.
§1.18.89oderunt hilarem tristes tristemque iocosi, §1.18.90sedatum celeres, agilem navumque remissi; §1.18.91potores §1.18.92porrecta negantem pocula, quamvis §1.18.93nocturnos iures te formidare tepores.
The sad hate the cheerful, and the jocular the sad; the swift hate the calm, and the lazy the active and industrious; Drinkers [hate] him who refuses proffered cups, even though you swear you fear the nightly heats.
§1.18.94deme supercilio nubem: plerumque modestus §1.18.95occupat obscuri speciem, taciturnus acerbi.
Remove the cloud from your brow: often the modest man takes on the appearance of a secretive person, and the silent man of a harsh one.
§1.18.96Inter cuncta leges et percontabere doctos, §1.18.97qua ratione queas traducere leniter aevum, §1.18.98num te semper inops agitet vexetque cupido, §1.18.99num pavor et rerum mediocriter utilium spes, §1.18.100virtutem doctrina paret Naturane donet, §1.18.101quid minuat curas, quid te tibi reddat amicum, §1.18.102quid pure tranquillet, honos an dulce lucellum, §1.18.103an secretum iter et fallentis semita vitae.
Among all things you will read and question the wise, by what means you can pass your life calmly, whether unsatisfied desire always drives and vexes you, or fear and hope of things only moderately useful, whether learning produces virtue or Nature bestows it, what diminishes cares, what restores you as a friend to yourself, what purely tranquilizes: honor or sweet little gain, or a secret path and the track of a life that escapes notice.
§1.18.104Me quotiens reficit gelidus Digentia rivus, §1.18.105quem Mandela bibit, rugosus frigore pagus, §1.18.106quid sentire putas? quid credis, amice, precari?
As often as the cold stream Digentia refreshes me, which Mandela drinks, a village wrinkled with cold, what do you think I feel? what do you believe I pray for, my friend?
§1.18.107sit mihi quod nunc est, etiam minus, et mihi vivam §1.18.108quod superest aevi, si quid superesse volunt di; §1.18.109sit bona librorum et provisae frugis in annum §1.18.110copia, neu fluitem dubiae spe pendulus horae. §1.18.111Sed satis est orare Iovem, qui ponit et aufert, §1.18.112det vitam, det opes; aequum mi animum ipse parabo.
"May I have what I have now, or even less, and may I live for myself what remains of my age, if the gods wish anything to remain; may there be a good supply of books and of provisions stored for the year, lest I drift, hanging on the hope of the uncertain hour." But it is enough to pray to Jupiter, who gives and takes away, Let him grant life, let him grant wealth; an even mind I will provide for myself.