§4.6.1Tempore ruricolae patiens fit taurus aratri, §4.6.2praebet et incurvo colla premenda iugo; §4.6.3tempore paret equus lentis animosus habenis, §4.6.4et placido duros accipit ore lupos; §4.6.5tempore Poenorum compescitur ira leonum, §4.6.6nec feritas animo, quae fuit ante, manet; §4.6.7quaeque sui monitis obtemperat Inda magistri §4.6.8belua, servitium tempore victa subit.
With time, the rustic bull becomes patient of the plow, and offers its neck to be pressed by the curved yoke; with time, the spirited horse obeys the pliant reins, and receives the hard bits with a gentle mouth; with time, the anger of Carthaginian lions is subdued, nor does the wildness, which was there before, remain in their spirit; and the Indian beast which obeys the warnings of its master submits to servitude, conquered by time.
§4.6.9tempus ut extensis tumeat facit uva racemis, §4.6.10vixque merum capiant grana quod intus habent; §4.6.11tempus et in canas semen producit aristas, §4.6.12et ne sint tristi poma sapore cavet.
Time causes the grape to swell on the extended clusters, so that the grains can scarcely contain the wine which they have within; time also coaxes the seed forth into white ears of corn, and takes care lest fruits should have a bitter taste.
§4.6.13hoc tenuat dentem terram renovantis aratri, §4.6.14hoc rigidas silices, hoc adamanta terit; §4.6.15hoc etiam saevas paulatim mitigat iras, §4.6.16hoc minuit luctus maestaque corda levat, §4.6.17cuncta potest igitur tacito pede lapsa vetustas §4.6.18praeterquam curas attenuare meas.
This thins the tooth of the plow that renews the earth, this wears away the hard flints, this wears away adamant; this also gradually softens fierce wraths, this diminishes griefs and relieves sorrowful hearts; therefore, age, gliding with silent foot, can diminish all things, except for my cares.
Since I have been deprived of my country, twice has the threshing-floor been trodden with grain, twice has the pressed grape burst open under bare feet.
§4.6.21nec quaesita tamen spatio patientia longo est, §4.6.22mensque mali sensum nostra recentis habet, §4.6.23scilicet et veteres fugiunt iuga saepe iuvenci, §4.6.24et domitus freno saepe repugnat equus.
Yet patience has not been acquired through this long span of time, and my mind has the perception of a fresh misfortune, to be sure, even old bullocks often flee the yoke, and the horse, though broken to the bit, often fights against the rein.
§4.6.25tristior est etiam praesens aerumna priore: §4.6.26ut sit enim sibi par, crevit et aucta mora est.
Even the present tribulation is sadder than the previous one; for though it may be equal to itself, it has grown and been increased by delay.
§4.6.27nec tam nota mihi, quam sunt, mala nostra fuerunt; §4.6.28nunc magis hoc, quo sunt cognitiora, gravant.
Nor were our evils so well known to me as they are now; now they oppress me the more for this, that they are better known.
§4.6.29est quoque non nihilum vires afferre recentes, §4.6.30nec praeconsumptum temporis esse malis, §4.6.31fortior in fulva novus est luctator harena, §4.6.32quam cui sunt tarda brachia fessa mora.
It is also no small matter to bring fresh strength, and not to be pre-exhausted by the evils of time; a fresh wrestler is stronger on the yellow sand than he whose arms are tired and slowed by long delay.
§4.6.33integer est melior nitidis gladiator in armis, §4.6.34quam cui tela suo sanguine tincta rubent.
An uninjured gladiator is better in his shining armor than he whose weapons are red, stained with his own blood.
§4.6.35fert bene praecipites navis modo facta procellas: §4.6.36quamlibet exiguo solvitur imbre vetus.
A newly built ship bears headlong tempests well; an old one is shattered by howsoever slight a shower.
§4.6.37nos quoque quae ferimus, tulimus patientius ante quam §4.6.38mala sunt longa multiplicata die!
We too bore more patiently what we now bear before our evils were multiplied by the long passage of days!
Believe me, I am failing, and as much as I divine from my body, only a little time is added to my evils.
§4.6.41nam neque sunt vires, nec qui color esse solebat: §4.6.42vix habeo tenuem, quae tegat ossa, cutem, §4.6.43corpore sed mens est aegro magis aegra, malique §4.6.44in circumspectu stat sine fine sui.
For there is neither strength, nor the color that used to be; I scarcely have thin skin to cover my bones; but the mind is sicker than the sick body, and stands without end in the contemplation of its own misfortune.
§4.6.45urbis abest facies, absunt, mea cura, sodales, §4.6.46et, qua nulla mihi carior, uxor abest, §4.6.47vulgus adest Scythicum bracataque turba Getarum: §4.6.48sic me quae video non videoque movent.
The sight of the City is absent, absent are my companions, my care, and my wife, than whom none is dearer to me, is absent; the Scythian crowd is present, and the trousered mob of the Getae; thus both what I see and what I do not see trouble me.