§1.11.1Littera quaecumque est toto tibi lecta libello, §1.11.2est mihi sollicito tempore facta viae.
Whatever letter has been read by you in this whole little book, was made by me during the anxious time of my journey.
§1.11.3aut haec me, gelido tremerem cum mense Decembri, §1.11.4scribentem mediis Hadria vidit aquis, §1.11.5aut, postquam bimarem cursu superavimus Isthmon, §1.11.6alteraque est nostrae sumpta carina fugae, §1.11.7quod facerem versus inter fera murmura ponti, §1.11.8Cycladas Aegaeas obstipuisse puto.
Either the Adriatic saw me writing these in the midst of the waters, when I was shivering in the cold month of December, or, after we crossed the Isthmus between two seas in our course, and another ship was taken for our flight, I think the Aegean Cyclades were astonished that I should make verses amid the fierce murmur of the deep.
I myself now wonder that, amidst such great waves both of my mind and of the sea, my talent did not fail.
§1.11.11seu stupor huic studio sive est insania nomen, §1.11.12omnis ab hac cura cura levata mea est,
Whether stupor or madness be the name for this study, all my care has been eased by this care.
§1.11.13saepe ego nimbosis dubius iactabar ab Haedis, §1.11.14saepe minax Steropes sidere pontus erat, §1.11.15fuscabatque diem custos Atlantidos Ursae, §1.11.16aut Hyadas seris hauserat Auster aquis,
Often was I tossed in doubt by the rainy Kids, often the sea was threatening because of Sterope's star, and the guardian of the Arcadian Bear darkened the day, or the South wind had overwhelmed the Hyades with late rains.
Often part of the sea was inside the ship, yet I myself kept spinning whatever verses I could with a trembling hand.
§1.11.19nunc quoque contenti stridunt Aquilone rudentes, §1.11.20inque modum tumuli concava surgit aqua.
Now too, the tight rigging screeches with the North wind, and the hollow water rises in the manner of a burial mound.
The helmsman himself, lifting his palms to the stars, begs for help with vows, forgetful of his art.
§1.11.23quocumque aspexi, nihil est nisi mortis imago, §1.11.24quam dubia timeo mente timensque precor.
Wherever I look, there is nothing but the image of death, which I fear with an anxious mind, and fearing, I pray.
If I reach port, I shall be terrified by the port itself: the hostile land has more of fear than the water.
§1.11.27nam simul insidiis hominum pelagique laboro, §1.11.28et faciunt geminos ensis et unda metus,
For at the same time I suffer from the treachery of men and of the sea, and both the sword and the wave produce double fears.
§1.11.29ille meo vereor ne speret sanguine praedam, §1.11.30haec titulum nostrae mortis habere velit.
I fear lest that one expects plunder from my blood, and this one wants to have the title of my death.
§1.11.31barbara pars laeva est avidaeque adsueta rapinae, §1.11.32quam cruor et caedes bellaque semper habent, §1.11.33cumque sit hibernis agitatum fluctibus aequor, §1.11.34pectora sunt ipso turbidiora mari.
The left side is barbarian and accustomed to greedy plunder, which blood and slaughter and wars always occupy; and though the sea is agitated by winter waves, their hearts are more turbulent than the sea itself.
Wherefore you ought the more to pardon these, gentle reader, if they are, as they are, inferior to your expectations.
§1.11.37non haec in nostris, ut quondam, scripsimus hortis, §1.11.38nec, consuete, meum, lectule, corpus habes,
I did not write these in my gardens, as of old, nor do you, my customary couch, hold my body.
I am tossed on the untamed deep in the wintry light, and the paper itself is struck by the dark blue waters.
The fierce winter fights and is indignant that I should dare to write while it is striking its harsh threats.
§1.11.43vincat hiems hominem! sed eodem tempore, quaeso,
Let winter conquer man!
§1.11.44ipse modum statuam carminis, illa sui.
But at the same time, I pray, let me set a limit to my poem, and let it set a limit to its own.