Humanitext Reader

Ovid · Sorrows §3.12.1-3.12.54

The Arrival of Spring and Longing for Rome

Passage 33 of 60 · Latin

Summary

With the arrival of spring, the poet recalls the vibrant seasonal activities in Rome and eagerly awaits any incoming ship to ask for news of Rome and the Emperor's triumphs, praying that Tomis does not become his permanent home.

§3.12.1Frigora iam Zephyri minuunt, annoque peracto §3.12.2longior antiquis visa Maeotis hiems, §3.12.3inpositamque sibi qui non bene pertulit Hellen, §3.12.4tempora nocturnis aequa diurna facit,
Now the Zephyrs diminish the cold, and with the year completed, the Maeotian winter, which seemed longer than those of old, has passed, and he who did not carry well the Helle placed upon him makes the daytime equal to the night-time hours.
§3.12.5iam violam puerique legunt hilaresque puellae, §3.12.6rustica quae nullo nata serente venit; §3.12.7prataque pubescunt variorum flore colorum, §3.12.8indocilique loquax gutture vernat avis; §3.12.9utque malae matris crimen deponat hirundo §3.12.10sub trabibus cunas tectaque parva facit:
Now both boys and cheerful girls gather the violet, which comes born in the countryside with no one sowing it; and the meadows grow young with the blossom of various colors, and the talkative bird sings of spring with an untaught throat; and so that she may lay down the crime of her wicked mother, the swallow makes her cradle and small home under the beams.
§3.12.11herbaque, quae latuit Cerealibus obruta sulcis, §3.12.12exit et expandit molle cacumen humo;
And the blade of grass, which lay hidden, buried in the fields of Ceres, comes out and expands its soft tip from the ground.
§3.12.13quoque loco est vitis, de palmite gemma movetur: §3.12.14nam procul a Getico litore vitis abest; §3.12.15quoque loco est arbor, turgescit in arbore ramus: §3.12.16nam procul a Getieis finibus arbor abest, §3.12.17otia nunc istic, iunctisque ex ordine ludis §3.12.18cedunt verbosi garrula bella fori.
And wherever there is a vine, the bud is moved from the branch; (for the vine is far away from the Getic shore;) and wherever there is a tree, the branch swells on the tree; (for the tree is far away from the Getic territory.) Now there is leisure over there, and with games joined in order, the talkative battles of the wordy forum give way.
lusus §3.12.19equi nunc est, levibus nunc luditur armis, §3.12.20nunc pila, nunc celeri volvitur orbe trochus; §3.12.21nunc ubi perfusa est oleo labente iuventus, §3.12.22defessos artus Virgine tinguit aqua.
Now there is the sport of the horse, now they play with light arms, now the ball, now the hoop is rolled in a swift circle; now, when the youth, drenched in slipping oil, bathe their tired limbs in the Aqua Virgo.
§3.12.23scaena viget studiisque favor distantibus ardet, §3.12.24proque tribus resonant terna theatra foris.
The stage is thriving, and enthusiasm burns with divided factions, and instead of three forums, the three theatres resound.
§3.12.25o quater, o quotiens §3.12.26non est numerare, beatum, non interdicta cui licet urbe frui!
O four times, O as many times as cannot be numbered, blessed is he who is allowed to enjoy the city from which he is not banned!
§3.12.27at mihi sentitur nix verno sole soluta, §3.12.28quaeque lacu durae non fodiantur aquae.
But by me, there is felt only the snow melted by the spring sun, and waters that are not dug out as hard ice from the lake.
§3.12.29nec mare concrescit glacie, nec, ut ante, per Histrum §3.12.30stridula Sauromates plaustra bubulcus agit.
The sea does not freeze with ice, nor, as before, across the Danube does the Sarmatian herdsman drive his creaking wagons.
§3.12.31incipient aliquae tamen huc adnare carinae, §3.12.32hospitaque in Ponti litore puppis erit.
Yet some ships will begin to sail hither, and there will be a guest ship on the shore of Pontus.
§3.12.33sedulus occurram nautae, dictaque salute, §3.12.34quid veniat, quaeram, quisve quibusve locis.
Eagerly I shall run to meet the sailor, and with greeting spoken, I shall ask why he comes, who he is, or from what places.
§3.12.35ille quidem mirum ni de regione propinqua §3.12.36non nisi vicinas tutus ararit aquas.
He indeed, it would be a wonder if not from a neighboring region, has safely sailed only nearby waters.
§3.12.37rarus ab Italia tantum mare navita transit, §3.12.38litora rarus in haec portubus orba venit,
Rare is the sailor who crosses so great a sea from Italy, rare is he who comes to these shores devoid of harbors.
§3.12.39sive tamen Graeca scierit, sive ille Latina §3.12.40voce loqui—certe gratior huius erit; §3.12.41fas quoque ab ore freti longaeque Propontidos undis §3.12.42huc aliquem certo vela dedisse Noto— §3.12.43quisquis is est, memori rumorem voce referre §3.12.44et fieri famae parsque gradusque potest.
Yet whether he knows how to speak in Greek or in Latin tongue—surely the latter's voice will be more welcome; it is possible also that some one from the mouth of the strait and the waves of long Propontis has set sail hither with a favorable South wind— whoever he is, he can bring back the rumor with a mindful voice, and become both a part and a step of the news.
§3.12.45is, precor, auditos possit narrare triumphos §3.12.46Caesaris et Latio reddita vota Iovi, §3.12.47teque, rebellatrix, tandem, Germania, magni §3.12.48triste caput pedibus supposuisse ducis.
May he, I pray, be able to tell of the heard triumphs of Caesar, and the vows paid to Latian Jupiter, and that you, rebellious Germany, at last have placed your sad head beneath the feet of the great leader.
§3.12.49haec mihi qui referet, quae non vidisse dolebo, §3.12.50ille meae domui protinus hospes erit.
He who brings these things to me, which I shall grieve not to have seen, he will straightway be a guest in my house.
§3.12.51ei mihi, iamne domus Scythico Nasonis in orbe est?
Woe to me! Is the home of Naso already in the Scythian world?
§3.12.52iamque suum mihi dat pro Lare poena locum?
And does my punishment now give me its own place instead of a Lar?
§3.12.53di facite ut Caesar non hic penetrale domumque, §3.12.54hospitium poenae sed velit esse meae.
Ye gods, bring it to pass that Caesar may wish this to be not my shrine and home, but only the temporary lodging of my punishment.

Notes

  1. 3.12.3qui non bene pertulit Hellen — Refers to the golden ram of Greek myth that carried Helle but let her fall, representing the constellation Aries. Its entry by the sun marks the spring equinox (described in line 4 as making day and night equal).
  2. 3.12.21iuventus — A collective noun treated as singular, which is why the verb `tinguit` in the following line is also in the singular. It describes the group of youth as a single entity.
  3. 3.12.28quaeque lacu durae non fodiantur aquae — `durae aquae` (hard waters) refers to ice. The subjunctive `fodiantur` is a subjunctive of characteristic, describing "waters of such a kind that they are no longer dug out (as ice) from the lake," indicating that the ice has melted with the coming of spring.
  4. 3.12.35mirum ni — An idiomatic expression meaning "it would be a wonder if not," which functions as a strong affirmative probability ("most likely," "no doubt"). Here it indicates the poet's certainty that the sailor must have come from a nearby region.
  5. 3.12.41fas quoque — The impersonal expression `fas est` ("it is permitted/possible") with `est` omitted, introducing the accusative-with-infinitve clause `aliquem ... vela dedisse` ("that someone has set sail") as its subject.

Cite this passage

Ovid, Sorrows §3.12.1-3.12.54. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0959.phi008.humanitext-lat2:3.12.1-3.12.54

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