Humanitext Reader

Horace · Epistles §1.3.1-1.3.36

Letter to Florus on Literary Pursuits and Wisdom

Passage 4 of 29 · Latin

Summary

Horace writes to Julius Florus, who is campaigning with Augustus' stepson Tiberius, inquiring about the literary pursuits of Florus and his companions, and urging wisdom and reconciliation.

§1.3.1Iuli Flore, quibus terrarum militet oris §1.3.2Claudius Augusti privignus, scire laboro.
Julius Florus, in what regions of the earth Claudius, the stepson of Augustus, is campaigning, I am anxious to know.
§1.3.3Thracane vos Hebrusque nivali compede vinctus, §1.3.4an freta vicinas inter currentia turris, §1.3.5an pingues Asiae campi collesque morantur?
Does Thrace and the Hebrus bound in icy fetters detain you, or the strait flowing between the neighboring towers, or do the rich plains and hills of Asia delay you?
§1.3.6Quid studiosa cohors operum struit? hoc quoque curo.
What works is his studious cohort preparing? This also is my concern.
§1.3.7quis sibi res gestas Augusti scribere sumit?
Who takes it upon himself to write the exploits of Augustus?
§1.3.8bella quis et paces longum diffundit in aevum?
Who diffuses his wars and peaces into the long ages?
§1.3.9quid Titius, Romana brevi venturus in ora?
What is Titius doing, who will soon be on Roman lips?
§1.3.10Pindarici fontis qui non expalluit haustus, §1.3.11fastidire lacus et rivos ausus apertos, ut valet?
He who did not shrink from draughts of the Pindaric spring, daring to despise open lakes and streams, how is his health?
§1.3.12ut meminit nostri? fidibusne Latinis §1.3.13Thebanos aptare modos studet auspice Musa, §1.3.14an tragica desaevit et ampullatur in arte?
How does he remember us? Does he study to adapt Theban measures to Latin strings, under the auspices of the Muse, or does he rage and puff himself up in the tragic art?
§1.3.15quid mihi Celsus agit? monitus multumque monendus, §1.3.16privatas ut quaerat opes et tangere vitet §1.3.17scripta Palatinus quaecumque recepit Apollo, §1.3.18ne, si forte suas repetitum venerit olim §1.3.19grex avium plumas, moveat cornicula risum
What is my Celsus doing? He who has been warned and is much to be warned to seek private resources and to avoid touching whatever writings Palatine Apollo has received, lest, if by chance the flock of birds should come some day to reclaim their feathers, the little crow, stripped of its stolen colors, should move laughter.
§1.3.20furtivis nudata coloribus, ipse quid audes?
What are you yourself venturing?
§1.3.21quae circumvolitas agilis thyma? non tibi parvum
Around what wild thyme are you nimbly hovering?
§1.3.22ingenium, non incultum est et turpiter hirtum.
You have no small genius, nor is it uncultivated and shamefully shaggy.
§1.3.23seu linguam causis acuis seu civica iura §1.3.24respondere paras seu condis amabile carmen, §1.3.25prima feres hederae victricis praemia, quod si
Whether you sharpen your tongue for lawsuits, or prepare to give answers in civil law, or compose a lovely poem, you will bear away the first rewards of the victorious ivy.
§1.3.26frigida curarum fomenta relinquere posses, §1.3.27quo te caelestis sapientia duceret, ires.
But if you could abandon the cold compresses of cares, you would go whither divine wisdom would lead you.
hoc opus, §1.3.28hoc studium parvi properemus et ampli, §1.3.29si patriae volumus, si nobis vivere cari.
This work, this pursuit, let us, both small and great, hasten, if we wish to live dear to our country and to ourselves.
§1.3.30Debes hoc etiam rescribere, sit tibi curae §1.3.31quantae conveniat Munatius;
You must also write back this: is Munatius a matter of as much concern to you as is fitting?
an male sarta §1.3.32gratia nequiquam coit et rescinditur? at vos
Or does the ill-patched friendship knit in vain and rip open again?
§1.3.33seu calidus sanguis seu rerum inscitia vexat §1.3.34indomita cervice feros, ubicumque locorum §1.3.35vivitis, indigni fraternum rumpere foedus, §1.3.36pascitur in vestrum reditum votiva iuvenca.
But whether hot blood or ignorance of things vexes you two, wild with untamed neck, wherever in the world you live, unworthy to break your brotherly covenant, a votive heifer is being fed for your return.

Notes

  1. 1.3.1quibus terrarum militet oris — The phrase 'quibus... oris' introduces an indirect question depending on 'scire laboro', with the adjective 'quibus' modifying 'oris'. The genitive plural 'terrarum' depends on 'oris', meaning 'in which regions of the earth'.
  2. 1.3.10Pindarici fontis qui non expalluit haustus — 'haustus' is the accusative plural (or singular) of the fourth-declension noun 'haustus, -us', acting as the object of 'expalluit' (to shrink from, grow pale at). 'Pindarici fontis' is a genitive modifying 'haustus', metaphorically referring to the act of drinking from the Pindaric spring (i.e., attempting Pindaric lyric poetry).
  3. 1.3.15quid mihi Celsus agit? — 'mihi' is an ethical dative (dative of feeling), expressing the speaker's personal interest in and affection for Celsus, rather than representing a literal indirect object.
  4. 1.3.16privatas ut quaerat opes — The 'ut' clause is a substantive clause of purpose (indirect command) depending on 'monitus' (warned). The phrase 'privatas opes' metaphorically urges Celsus to rely on his own creative resources and originality rather than copying from established authors.
  5. 1.3.30sit tibi curae — This is a double dative construction, featuring 'tibi' (dative of reference) and 'curae' (dative of purpose/service), meaning 'let it be a matter of care to you' or 'may you care about'.
  6. 1.3.35indigni fraternum rumpere foedus — The adjective 'indigni' is followed by the prolative infinitive 'rumpere', meaning 'unworthy to break the brotherly covenant'. This construction, restricting the meaning of the adjective with an infinitive, is a poetic usage influenced by Greek syntax.

Cite this passage

Horace, Epistles §1.3.1-1.3.36. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0893.phi005.humanitext-lat2:1.3.1-1.3.36

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