§3.1.1‘Missus in hanc venio timide liber exulis urbem: §3.1.2da placidam fesso, lector amice, manum; §3.1.3neve reformida, ne sim tibi forte pudori: §3.1.4nullus in hac charta versus amare docet.
‘Sent as the book of an exile, I come timidly into this city: friendly reader, give a gentle hand to me in my weariness; and do not fear lest I should by chance be a cause of shame to you: no verse in this paper teaches how to love.
§3.1.5haec domini fortuna mei est, ut debeat illam §3.1.6infelix nullis dissimulare iocis, §3.1.7id quoque, quod viridi quondam male lusit in aevo, §3.1.8heu nimium sero damnat et odit opus!
This is the fortune of my master, that he, unhappy, ought not to conceal it with any jests, that work also, which he once poorly played with in his green youth, alas, too late, he condemns and hates!
§3.1.9inspice quid portem: nihil hic nisi triste videbis, §3.1.10carmine temporibus conveniente suis.
Look at what I bring: you will see nothing here but sadness, with a poem that suits its own times.
§3.1.11clauda quod alterno subsidunt carmina versu, §3.1.12vel pedis hoc ratio, vel via longa facit; §3.1.13quod neque sum cedro flavus nec pumice levis, §3.1.14erubui domino cultior esse meo; §3.1.15littera suffusas quod habet maculosa lituras, §3.1.16laesit opus lacrimis ipse poeta suum.
That the halting poems sink in alternating verses, either the measure of the foot or the long journey causes this; that I am neither yellow with cedar-oil nor smooth with pumice, I blushed to be more adorned than my master; that the spotted letter has smudged erasures, the poet himself harmed his own work with tears.
If any things by chance seem not spoken in Latin, the land in which he wrote was barbarian.
§3.1.19dicite, lectores, si non grave, qua sit eundum, §3.1.20quasque petam sedes hospes in urbe liber. ’ §3.1.21haec ubi sum furtim lingua titubante locutus, §3.1.22qui mihi monstraret, vix fuit unus, iter.
Tell me, readers, if it is not a burden, which way I must go, and what dwellings I, a guest book, should seek in the city.’ When I had spoken these things secretly with a faltering tongue, there was scarcely one who would show me the way.
‘May the gods grant you, what they did not bestow upon our poet, to be able to live softly in your own fatherland.
§3.1.25duc age! namque sequar, quamvis terraque marique
Lead on, then!
§3.1.26longinquo referam lassus ab orbe pedem. ’ §3.1.27paruit, et ducens
haec sunt fora Caesaris,
inquit, §3.1.28‘haec est a sacris quae via nomen habet, §3.1.29hic locus est Vestae, qui Pallada servat et ignem, §3.1.30haec fuit antiqui regia parva Numae. ’ §3.1.31inde petens dextram
porta
est ait ‘ista Palati, §3.1.32hic Stator, hoc primum condita Roma loco est. ’ §3.1.33singula dum miror, video fulgentibus armis §3.1.34conspicuos postes tectaque digna deo.
For I shall follow, although by land and sea, weary, I bring back my foot from a distant world.’ He obeyed, and leading me, said: ‘These are the forums of Caesar, this is the way which has its name from sacred things, this is the place of Vesta, which guards Pallas and the fire, this was the small palace of ancient Numa.’ Then, seeking the right, he said: ‘That is the gate of the Palatine, here is the Stator, in this place Rome was first founded.’ While I marvel at each thing, I see posts conspicuous with gleaming arms, and a dwelling worthy of a god.
§3.1.35et Iovis haec
dixi
domus est?
quod ut esse putarem, §3.1.36augurium monti querna corona dabat,
‘And is this the house of Jupiter?’ I said; that I might think it to be so, an oaken crown gave an omen to the mountain.
§3.1.37cuius ut accepi dominum,
non fallimur,
inquam, §3.1.38et magni verum est hanc Iovis esse domum,
When I learned its master, I said: ‘We are not deceived, and it is true that this is the house of great Jupiter.
Yet why is the gate veiled with laurel set before it, and a shady tree girds the august locks?
§3.1.41num quia perpetuos meruit domus ista triumphos, §3.1.42an quia Leucadio semper amata deo est?
Is it because that house has deserved perpetual triumphs, or because it is always loved by the Leucadian god?
§3.1.43ipsane quod festa est, an quod facit omnia festa?
Is it because it is festive itself, or because it makes all things festive?
§3.1.44quam tribuit terris, pacis an ista nota est?
Or is that a sign of the peace which he has granted to the lands?
§3.1.45utque viret semper laurus nec fronde caduca §3.1.46carpitur, aeternum sic habet illa decus? §3.1.47causa superpositae scripto est testata coronae: §3.1.48servatos cives indicat huius ope.
And just as the laurel is always green and is not plucked with falling leaf, does it thus possess eternal honor?’ The cause of the crown placed above is attested by the writing: it indicates that citizens were saved by his help.
§3.1.49adice servatis unum, pater optime, civem, §3.1.50qui procul extremo pulsus in orbe latet, §3.1.51in quo poenarum, quas se meruisse fatetur, §3.1.52non facinus causam, sed suus error habet.
Best of fathers, add one citizen to those saved, who, driven far away, lies hidden at the edge of the world, in whose case, of the punishments which he confesses he deserved, not crime but his own error is the cause.
§3.1.53me miserum! vereorque locum vereorque potentem,
Wretched me!
§3.1.54et quatitur trepido littera nostra metu.
I fear both the place and the powerful one, and our letter is shaken with trembling fear.
§3.1.55aspicis exsangui chartam pallere colore?
Do you see the paper pale with bloodless color?
§3.1.56aspicis alternos intremuisse pedes?
Do you see the alternating feet tremble?
Sometime, I pray, may this house be seen to be pleasing to our parent, and under the same masters!
§3.1.59inde tenore pari gradibus sublimia celsis §3.1.60ducor ad intonsi candida templa dei, §3.1.61signa peregrinis ubi sunt alterna columnis, §3.1.62Belides et stricto barbarus ense pater, §3.1.63quaeque viri docto veteres cepere novique §3.1.64pectore, lecturis inspicienda patente
Thence, with even pace, I am led to the lofty heights by high steps, to the bright temple of the unshorn god, where alternating statues are among foreign columns, the daughters of Belus and their barbarian father with drawn sword, and whatever things ancient and modern men have conceived in their learned breast, lie open to be inspected by those who would read.
I was seeking my brothers, except those, of course, whom their own father would wish he had not begotten.
As I sought in vain, the guardian appointed over those dwellings ordered me to depart from the sacred place.
§3.1.69altera templa peto, vicino iuncta theatro: §3.1.70haec quoque erant pedibus non adeunda meis.
I seek another temple, joined to the neighboring theater: these too were not to be approached by my feet.
Nor did Liberty, whose halls first lay open to learned books, suffer me to touch her halls.
The fortune of the wretched author overflows onto his race, and we, his children, suffer the exile which he himself bore.
Perhaps one day Caesar will be less harsh to us and to him, overcome by length of time.
§3.1.77di, precor, atque adeo—neque enim mihi turba roganda est §3.1.78Caesar, ades voto, maxime dive, meo!
Ye gods, I pray, and even—for I must not entreat the crowd— Caesar, attend to my prayer, greatest deity!
Meanwhile, since the public station is closed to me, let it be permitted to lie hidden in a private place.